John Batchelor

BATCHELOR, CHAPPLE, KERSTEN

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/16/2010 at 18:21:03

JOHN BATCHELOR

John Batchelor, a well known stock dealer of Thompson, was born on the 10th of May, 1867, in New York, and is a son of William and Mary (Chapple) Batchelor, natives of England. At an early day the parents came to America and located in Lyons, New York, where the father engaged in farming for a number of years. They then removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for many years but is now living retired in Ashton, Illinois. His wife is also living.

John Batchelor began his education in the schools of New York, being fourteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family from the Empire state to Illinois, where he continued his studies for some time. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, assisting in the labors of the farm, and on leaving home engaged in farming on his own account in Lee county for three years. In 1896 he came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land one-half mile north of Thompson. He improved and operated that farm until 1910, when he sold the place and removed to Thompson, where he has since engaged in the buying and selling of stock. He still owns two hundred acres of land in Winnebago county and three hundred and twenty acres in South Dakota, and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Farmers Creamery Company. Mr. Batchelor has also successfully and extensively engaged in the breeding of registered Aberdeen Angus cattle, Poland China hogs and fancy poultry and was the first to introduce that breed of cattle into Winnebago county. He has always been a great admirer of fancy stock.

On the 26th of February, 1891, Mr. Batchelor married Miss Sophia Kersten, and they have become the parents of four children: Edward William, who is now engaged in farming in South Dakota; Florence M., who is clerking in a store in Thompson; Willard L. and Wallace Donald, both attending school.

In religious faith the family are Methodists and Mr. Batchelor is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter, consistory. Shrine and Eastern Star. lie is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs. In politics he is independent, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices. He is now efficiently serving on the school board and also as one of the trustees of King township. For several years he served as township clerk and for many years was one of the directors of the Mutual Insurance Company from King township. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed and he has the confidence and respect of all who know him for he has been found thoroughly reliable in every relation of life. He is a shrewd and capable business man and success has attended his efforts until he is now numbered among the substantial citizens of Thompson.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 446-447.