Colonel John Ketcham, who lived from 1782 to 1865, was a fearless pioneer, ranger, surveyor, and public servant who dedicated the public square as the seat of government of Jackson County, Indiana, when Brownstown was founded on April 8, 1816. During the Brownstown area sesquicentennial held October 1-8, 1966, a time capsule was prepared to be opened in preparation for Brownstown, Indiana's bicentennial in 2016 A.D. by a steering committee chaired by Mrs. G. R. Gillespie with R. A. Brodhecker as vice chair, R. R. Robertson and John H. Robertson as secretaries, Kathryn Horstman as treasurer, and Kenneth Ball, Alan D. Beickman, Mrs. James P. Heller, Thomas P. Kieffer, Harry McOsker, Joseph Nierman, Robert Nuss, William Sharp, and Mrs. M. K. Summers as members.