Battles, Ephraim C.

BATTLES, LACEY, WILLIAMS, BALDWIN, HILKER, MCCLANNAHAN, SANNON, MILLER, LONGNECKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/21/2009 at 10:45:25

Battles, Ephraim C.

One of the most up-to-date agriculturists of the northwestern portion of Jasper County is Ephraim C. Battles, of Clear Creek Township. Mr. Battles has always followed farming for a livelihood and he is regarded as an enterprising and typical tiller of the soil of the present day. His thorough system of tillage, the good order of his fences, the well-cared-for condition of his fields, the commodious and comfortable buildings, all demonstrate his successful management and substantial thrift. During the past decade he has lived on the farm, which he now owns, and the years of his residence in this community have won for him a very high place in the confidence and esteem of his many neighbors and friends. In every relation of life he has always been regarded as a representative citizen, discharging every duty devolving upon him with commendable fidelity and proving himself worthy the large measure of respect with which he is treated by all who know him, and that embraces much of the population of both Jasper and Polk counties, this state, as well as other sections of the country.

Mr. Battles was born in Polk County, Iowa, on February 18, 1876, and there he grew to manhood and received his educational training, started in life as a farmer and continued to reside there until February 1902, when he moved to Jasper County. He is the son of Hiram and Susan E. (Lacey) Battles, the father born in Ohio on August 24, 1838, and the mother was born in Tennessee on January 25, 1846. They grew up and were married in the East, coming to Iowa in pioneer days and became well established in Polk County, where the father spent the rest of his life, dying on September 17, 1892. The mother is now living in Mitchellville, this State.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Battles thirteen children were born, twelve of whom are living, named as follows: Isaac S., born in Hamilton County, Iowa, August 21, 1867, is living at Santiago, Polk County; Etna, born in Jasper County, Iowa, on December 10, 1868, lives at Mitchellville; Mrs. Bertha Williams, born August 24, 1871, lives at Farrar, Polk County; Delmer, born February 28, 1873, also lives at Farrar; Calla, born November 12, 1874, died August 24, 1875; Ephraim C., of this sketch; Fred, born November 25, 1877, lives in Ira, this County; Edward B., born September 1, 1879, lives at Farrar, Polk County; Mrs. Ella Baldwin, born October 10, 1881, lives at Mingo, this County; Dora Hilker, born August 16, 1883, lives in Polk County; Leroy H., born August 28, 1885, lives at Mitchellville; Asa W., born January 8, 1888, is residing at Pineville, Oregon; Lloyd C., born August 15, 1890, lives at Mitchellville. This family was reared in Polk County.

Ephraim C. Battles located in Clear Creek Township when he came to Jasper County early in the year 1902. Here he began farming on rented land, then purchased the old Byal place, containing two hundred acres of choice land, which he still retains and which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation, until today it is regarded as one of the best farms in this part of the County. Mr. Battles purchased this place in 1909. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings and he always keeps an excellent grade of livestock.

Mr. Battles was married on August 30, 1896, to Mary E. Baldwin, who was born in Jasper County, Iowa, December 26, 1876, and here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools. She is the daughter of Daniel F. and Frances (McClannahan) Baldwin, the father born in Pennsylvania on May l, 1853, and the mother in Iowa, on October 1, 1856. They reside in Mingo, this County, where they have a comfortable home and are well known.

To Daniel F. Baldwin and wife twelve children were born, eleven of whom are living, named as follows: Charles Edward, born March 28, 1874, lives in Montana; Mary E., wife of Mr. Battles, of this review; Frank Elmer, born December 26, 1877, lives at Mingo; Mrs. Gertie Ellen Sannon, born July 12, 1879, lives in Denver, Colorado; Mertie Elizabeth, a twin sister of the last named (Mrs. Sannon), died in infancy; Mrs. Bertha Elizabeth Miller, born May 13, 1884, lives in Mitchellville, Iowa; Jacob Frederick, born January 11, 1887, lives in Jasper County; Mrs. Florence Longnecker, born December 16, 1889, is a resident of Mingo; Roy Wesley, born November 4, 1893; lrvin J., born June 12, 1896; Vera, born August 2, 1898; Ruby, born February 2, 1900, all live at Mingo, Jasper County. This family was reared and educated in this County.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Battles: Pearl, born September 23, 1897; Ethel and Edna, twins, born January 23, 1899, the latter dying on August 30th of the same year; Finley Austin, born May 18, 1904; Coral, born July 25, 1906; Charley Lacey, born December 11, 1907. These children are attending school in their home district.

Politically, Mr. Battles is a Democrat and, fraternally, he belongs to Mingo Lodge No. 174, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mingo, and he and Mrs. Battles belong to the Rebekah Lodge of Mingo, and they also hold membership with the Yeomen Lodge of Ira. He belongs to the encampment of that place and she is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps there. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1312.