Biography of William Clayton Kettering, pages 977/978/979.  
History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, 
Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



The record of the gentleman whose name introduces this 
article contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but 
is replete with well defined purposes which, carried to 
successful issue, have won for him an influential place in 
business circles and his personal standing among his fellow 
citizens.   His life work has been one of unceasing 
industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable 
methods which he has ever followed have resulted not only 
in the building up of a large and profitable business. 
William Clayton Kettering, one of the public spirited 
citizens and successful business men of Auburn, was born in 
Steuben township, Steuben county, Indiana, on August 5, 
1874, and is the son of Moses and Eliza (Henderson) 
Kettering. Moses Kettering was born in Wayne county, Ohio, 
and a son of Philip Kettering. In young manhood he went to 
Anamosa, Iowa, where he enlisted in Company H, Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in service in the 
Southland to the end of the war. He was in the attack of 
Fort Donelson, the campaign in Tennessee, on Sherman’s 
march to the sea, including the battle of Atlanta, and 
after the conclusion of the Southern campaigns he took part 
in the Grand Review at Washington, the greatest military 
pageant the world has ever seen, and then received his 
honorable discharge. He has a sister living near 
Kendallville, Indiana, and coming to that place he accepted 
employment in a shoe store. While there he married a Miss 
Haughey and turned his attention to farming, settling on a 
tract of land in Steuben township. She died and he 
afterwards married Eliza Henderson, who was then living in 
the northern part of Lagrange county, this state, her birth 
having occurred at Canal Dover, Ohio. After his marriage 
Moses Kettering, continued his farming operations during 
the remainder of his life in Steuben county. The subject of 
this sketch remained on the home farm there until twenty 
years of age, receiving his education in the public 
schools, graduating from the high school at Pleasant Lake. 
At the age mentioned he went to Ashley and during the 
following three years was employed in Stoner’s drug store.  
One summer he went out of the store and then went to 
Garrett and took a position with the L. W. Stoner drug 
store there until January, 1898, when he returned to Ashley 
and took position temporarily in the store in which he had 
first worked. In May of that year  he came to Auburn and 
took a position in the drug store of H. B. McCord, with 
whom he remained nine years and nine months. He then, with 
his wife, went to Oklahoma on a visit and after his return 
here, on April 1, 1908, he bought the drug store owned by 
H. M. Phillips, at the corner of Seventh and Main streets, 
Auburn, where he has continued in business ever since.  The 
location is as good as can be found in Auburn and here Mr. 
Kettering has built up a large and constantly increasing 
trade due to his courteous treatment and his evident desire 
to please his patrons.  He carries a large and well 
selected line of drugs, books, stationery, wall paper and 
all other accessories of an up-to-date drug store.  On June 
17, 1903, Mr. Kettering married Lella Warrick, of Auburn, 
who was born in Melburn, Ohio, and is a daughter of William 
and Bertha (Poole) Warrick. To whom have been born two 
children, Margaret and William. Fraternally, Mr. Kettering 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Auburn, in which 
he has held the office of master of exchequer for two 
years. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Kettering takes a deep 
interest in the commercial and civic welfare of his city 
and is an active member of the Auburn Commercial club, one 
of the most influential factors in the recent development 
of this locality. Owing to his genial disposition and 
genuine worth, Mr. Kettering has gained the unreserved 
confidence and esteem of the people of this locality and is 
deservedly numbered among Auburn’s representative citizens.

Submitted by: 

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com