MABEN, Orville (Ok) Ketcham

  General Notes:

Born in Ellington Township, Forest City, Iowa.

Notes for Orville: O.K. was of hardy pioneer stock, and lived all his y ears in the vicinity of Hancock County. He attended the rural schools in the area, and the Breckenridge Normal Academy at Decorah. He was gradua ted from the Northern Iowa Business College, at the second annual commen cement, in June 1890. He was a farmer for ten years, and then became int erested in the insurance business. In 1900 O.K. was an insurance agent. He was elceted Director of the Hancock County Farmer Mutual Insurance As sociation, which his father Grover, helped to organize fifty years earli er. He held offices in many other insurance associations in succeeding y ears.
He was a Republican, and interested in politics. He served as a represe ntative from Hancock County in the Iowa Legislature. He served many term s beginning in the 1909 session. O.K. was a fluent and authoritive speak er, and was often called upon to give historical speeches. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the Hancock County Farm Bureau. O.K. was one of the few men meriting mention in a county history published in 19 17. He stood for "progress and improvement, for justice, truth" and his "influence was a potent force" in the development of the state and count y. He was one of Garners most widely known citizens. O.K. held the Old Settlers Picnic on his 200 acre farm in Ellington Township. The picnics were an annual affair begun by his parents, Grover and Elvira.

Orville married Jennie (Maben) LEWIS, daughter of Nathan LEWIS and Rhoda E CARPENTER. (Jennie (Maben) LEWIS was born on 26 Apr 1876 and died on 21 Nov 1962.)