OBITUARY NOTICE OF GEORGE E. KETCHAM.
BY REV. THOMAS GALLIUDET, Rector of St. Ann's Church for Deaf Mutes, New York.

GEORGE ERASTUS KETCHAM was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Ketcham. He was born in the city of New York, January 7th, 1829. His parents did not discover that he was a deaf-mute, until he was over two years old. During the tender period of childhood, he was remarkable for gentleness and sincerity. At the age of nine or ten, he was very ill, and lay for several days at the point of death. Having attracted the attention of his mother, who was anxiously watching at his bed-side, he tried to make her understand by his signs that he wanted something in another part of the room. Being desirous of gratifying him, she brought to him various articles in succession, but all to no purpose. (She) could not find out what it was upon which he had so set his heart. The next morning, renewing her attempts *to get the right thing, she at length brought to him the copy of the Bible which was in general family use. The expression upon his countenance showed that this was the longed for object. He placed the Bible upon his bosom, folded his little arms over
it, and went quietly to sleep. His keen powers of observation had taught him that, among his loved ones, this book was held in great esteem, and in his hour of peril he wanted it near him. Though he was of course ignorant at that time of the great truths of this blessed volume, yet this touching incident proved indeed the key-note to his subsequent life, for as soon as education shed her light upon his imprisoned mind, and gradually unfolded to him the momentous doctrines of revelation, we find him ever embracing them with his heart. Our departed friend and so laborer entered the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in his eleventh year. He graduated in July 1847 and left in 1848.