BATCHELDER, Franklin P.

BATCHELDER, SNOW, LYTLE, FETTER, METZGER, STEWART

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/19/2003 at 20:49:46

FRANKLIN P. BATCHELDER, M.D.

Dr. Franklin P. Batchelder, one of the foremost men in the medical profession now engaged in practice in Lyons, is a native of Iowa, born near Mitchell, Mitchell county, October 14, 1856, and is a son of William and Lucinda F. (Snow) Batchelder, and grandson of Ebenezer P. and Hannah (Lytle) Batchelder, who came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1854, and improved the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. Swartz. The grandfather died at the age of sixty-eight years, his wife at the age of seventy-five. In their family were twelve children. The Doctor’s maternal grandfather was Irvin H. Snow, an early settler of Clinton county, who was killed by falling from a wagon shortly after locating here and his widow subsequently married E. P. Batchelder.

William Batchelder, our subject’s father, was born in Vermont, and came to Clinton county, Iowa, about 1854. Here he was married, and in 1855 he removed to Mitchell county. Three years later he drove across the plains to California, where he followed mining until 1864, when he returned to Lyons and became foreman of the quarries for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. He was next engaged in the same business in Marshall county, Iowa, and in 1866 removed to Lynn county, locating in Cedar Rapids, where he resided three years. At the end of that period he located in College township, near the city, where he followed farming until 1900. He is now practically living a retired life in Fairfax township, the same county, enjoying a well-earned rest. His children were Franklin P., our subject; Isadore, deceased; Lorette, wife of A. Fetter; Wiliam (sic), deceased; and Walter, who married Ella Metzger.

Dr. Batchelder grew to manhood at Cedar Rapids, and completed his literary education at Coe College. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. George P. Carpenter, of that city, and later attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he was graduated February 22, 1881. That year he located at Denison, Crawford county, Iowa, and from there removed to Brandt, Clinton county. In 1884 he became a resident of Lyons and now has his office in the Gage Block. He has that true love for his work without which there can be no success, and has always been a progressive physician, constantly improving on his own and others’ methods and gaining further encouragement and inspiration from the performance of each day’s duties. His skill and ability are attested by the liberal patronage he enjoys, and ranks him as one of the leading physicians of the county.

In 1882 Dr. Batchelder was united in marriage with Miss Alice E. Stewart, daughter of Daniel Stewart, of Cedar Rapids, and to them were born six children: Holmes; Jennie; William, deceased; Thomas; Edgar; and Gilbert, deceased. The doctor is a Scottish Rite Mason, a member of Lyons Lodge, No. 93, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Woodmen of the World, of which he is examining physician. He is also a member of the State Medical Association, is president of the medical staff of Mercy Hospital, and commissioner of insanity in Clinton county. He is a genial, pleasant man, and is quite popular, both in professional and social circles.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.