Clarence Albert Batman (1875-1947)

BATMAN, PURKHISER, MORSE, WHELPLEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/1/2015 at 15:04:01

From unknown newspaper April 1947

C. A. Batman was born in Nevada, Iowa, August 15, 1876, the youngest of four children of J. E. and Avanda Purkhiser Batman. Death came to him Sunday evening, April 20, at 8 p.m. at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Whelpley, 1815 Third avenue, Southeast, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he had been making his home the past two years.

With the exception of the two years in Cedar Rapids and an earlier period of four years on a farm near Nevada, he had lived his entire span of years in Nevada.

As a youth he attended the Nevada schools, going through the grades and high school career with the class which graduated in 1895. As a young man, during the pastorate of Dr. A. B. Shrader be became a member of the Memorial Lutheran church.

He later pursued a commercial course at the Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines.

During his younger days he learned the painter's trade, which he followed at intervals until 1903. He spent four years operating a farm near Nevada until 1907 when he entered the county auditor's office as deputy auditor under F. G. Dunahugh, serving for four years.

In the fall of 1910 Mr. Batman was elected by the Republican party to the position of auditor of Story county, in which capacity he served most capably for two terms.

On leaving the Story county office, Mr. Batman entered to office of J. M. Bricker, Abstractor. On the death of Mr. Bricker he purchased the business which he continued alone until joined in partnership with Harold J. Sayers, to whom he sold his share of the business in 1938 and retired. The partnership of Mr. Batman and Mr. Sayers began June 1, 1928 and terminated June 1, 1938.

Mr. Batman was married November 25, 1900 to Miss Alta Morse, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Morse of Nevada. Mrs. Batman passed away March 2, 1909, leaving a little daughter, Deborah Mary, now Mrs. Norman Whelpley, to whom he was both father and mother for many years.

Served as Mayor

Devoted as he was to home and his daughter, Mr. Batman always civic and community minded, served Nevada most efficiently as mayor for two terms. His wise council ant balanced judgment made him a valuable public servant.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Batman was active in the Nevada Knights of Pythias lodge until it disbanded a number of years ago. He had at one time been a member of the Nevada Masonic lodge from which be demitted several years ago. He was a member also of the Modern Woodmen lodge and was charter member of the Nevada Rotary club.

Mr. Batman is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Norman Whelpley, by the grandson, William "Billy" Whelpley, to whom he was devoted, by his brother, F. A. Batman of Ames, by his nieces and nephews, the children of his brother, A. A. Batman, by other relatives, and by a host of friends who respected him most highly for his sterling worth.

He was preceded in death by his wife, whose memory he cherished throughout the years, his parents, his brother, A. A. Batman and his sister, Miss Anna C. Batman, the latter a well known educator for many years.

At the time of Mr. Batman's passing he had reached the age of 71 years, 8 months and 5 days.