Ezra Batcheller 1820 - 1890

BATCHELLER, SHIPPEY, BARKER

Posted By: Michael J. Kearney (email)
Date: 1/6/2008 at 09:55:10

Saturday August 28, 1890 p. 5 The Inter Ocean of the 20th contained the following notice: The funeral of Ezra Batcheller, who died at Grand Haven, Mich., Monday, occurs at that city this forenoon at 10 o'clock, and the remains will be taken to Lyons, Iowa, for interment. Mr. Batcheller came to Chicago in 1837 from Paxton, Mass., where he was born Nov. 10, 1820. Arriving in Chicago he entered the employ of Philo Carpenter, who at that primitive day was doing business where the lumber market now stands. Mr. Batcheller saw in Chicago's rapid growth financial gain, and invested in real estate, entering the firm of Holden & Batcheller. In 1865 he removed to Lyons, Iowa, where he entered the real estate business and found a wife. Mr. Batcheller was until ten years ago a prominent and respected citizens of Lyons, being Mayor of the city at one time. In 1880 he returned to Chicago and again entered the real estate business in this city. By dint of hard work he accumulated a large estate. Two years ago his health began to fail him, and last November he went to Grand Haven, Mich., to visit a sister and try and regain his wonted health. Relief did not come, however, and during the last nine months he failed rapidly, a combination of diseases hastening his end. One of the old settlers, his death will cause many reminiscences of the past among many of those who are left and whom in his delightful social way Mr. Batcheller was accustomed to entertain. The deceased leaves a daughter, Mrs. J.F. Barker, Lyons, Iowa; a sister, Mrs. Sarah Shippey, Grand Haven, Michigan; and two brothers, Webster Batcheller of Chicago, and Jenison Batcheller, Glens Falls, New York. As a man and citizen, in all personal and business relations, Mr. Batcheller stood among the highest, and no resident of Lyons ever enjoyed a greater measure of public confidence. He was most prompt, energetic and thorough in everything he undertook, and had a righteous impatience of inattention, procrastination or neglect of the work of like. In addition to the facts given above, it should be noted that Mr. Batcheller spent several years in Milwaukee, in partnership with Mr. L.H. Lowry in the grain and commission business. Mr. Batcheller's remains arrived here Thursday morning, accompanied by his nephew, Mr. C.W. Shippey, of Grand Haven, and later Mr. Webster Betcheller, of Chicago, arrived. The funeral was held at the Congregational Church Thursday afternoon, with services conducted by Rev. M.E. Todd, and interment at Oakland. Messrs. D.B. Snyder, J.H. Barnum, Wm. Holmes, G.A. Russell, W.E. Marquis and M. Michelsen acted as pall bearers, and the closing rites were attended by many of the old friends of the deceased. Mr. Batcheller's only daughter, Mrs. Barker, had the sympathy of all who were acquainted with her father in her great loss.