Ketchum Brown was the Reverend of Swan Cove Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He was married to Ada Brown and sired three children, Channing, Closton and an unknown. In 1942, tragedy struck when Closton was killed from being accidentally shot by Channing. Neither Ketchum nor his wife realized the exact cause of their young son's death. Ketchum performed a service for Closton's funeral the following Tuesday at his Baptist church.