Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 135.
 
JOHN F. KETELS

     Among the progressive and successful business houses of Springfield is the
up-to-date drug store owned by John F. Ketels, who has shown himself a man of
energetic and enterprising methods and is regarded, as one of this city's
foremost business men. Mr. Ketels was born in Midland, Midland county, Texas, in
1884, and is a son of John C. and Ingelena (Klyng) Ketels. His father came to
eastern Oregon in 1893 and followed mining, as an employee of the Eastern Oregon
Gold Mining Company, at Bourne, to which place his family came in 1898. Later
they located at Baker, Oregon, where the children had better educational
advantages. The father is now retired from active business affairs and he and
his wife are living in Springfield. John F. Ketels completed the course in the
public schools and then entered the pharmacy school of the Oregon Agricultural
College, at Corvallis, where he was graduated in 1910. He then went to work as a
drug clerk, following that employment until January 1, 1915, when he came to
Springfield and bought A. Middleton's drug store, which had been established
here in 1909 by a Mr. Surface. Mr. Ketels carries a full line of pure drugs,
with the usual complement of standard proprietary remedies, and such auxiliary
lines as are usually found in a modern drug store. He gives courteous and prompt
attention to his trade and has built up a large patronage. He has also a large
business in the manufacture and sale of a chest ointment, which he originated
and which is sold under the trade name of "Amber-o-latum," which was put on the
market in 1922 and is registered in the United States patent office. This
efficient remedy has a large sale throughout western Oregon and California. It
is manufactured at Springfield by the Amber-o-latum Laboratory.
    In 1922 Mr. Ketels was united in marriage to Miss Jane L. Lindsey, of
Hebron, Nebraska, and they are the parents of a daughter, Barbara Jane, born
March 18, 1926, and a son, John Lindsey, born March 25, 1927. Mr. Ketels is a
member of Liberty Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master;
Keystone Chapter, No. 15, R. A. M., at Baker, Oregon; the Order of the Eastern
Star, of which he is a past worthy patron; the Lions Club, of which he is
president, and the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Ketels is a past worthy matron of
the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Ketels is a republican in his political
views. While closely devoted to his business affairs, he has not permitted
material affairs to interfere with his obligations to the community and has at
all times cooperated with his fellow citizens in all movements for the benefit
of the city and county. Because of his consistent life and his excellent
personal qualities, he is well deserving of the respect which is universally
accorded him by his fellow men.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.