signed to him by parental authority. He passed through consecutive grades in the public schools until graduated from the high school of Nevada in March, 1895. He also pursued a commercial course in Capital City Business College at Des Moines. During his school days he learned the painter's trade, which he followed at intervals until 1903. He also spent four years in farming on his own account near Nevada and then entered the county auditor's office as deputy. In the fall of 1910 he was elected by the republican party for the position of county auditor. He has proven capable and methodical in the discharge of his duties and is ever loyal to the trust reposed in him.
On the 21st of November, 1900, Mr. Batman was united in marriage to Miss Alta Morse, who was born in Wisconsin, August 28, 1877, and came to Story county with her parents, C. M. and Lena Morse, who are now living in Nevada. Mrs. Batman died March 5, 1909, leaving a little daughter, Deborah Mary.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Batman is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. He has been a lifelong republican, having been reared in the party to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has a wide acquaintance, and his genial manner, cordial disposition and genuine worth have gained for him an extensive circle of warm friends.
REV. FRANCIS C. Renier.
Rev. Francis C. Renier, pastor of St. Cecelia's Catholic church of Ames, was born in Dubuque, Iowa, December 9, 1877, a son of Philip J. and Mary E. (Strueber) Renier. The father was born in Belgium in 1858 and the mother in Dubuque in 1854. When a lad of five years Philip Renier accompanied his parents to the new world, and one year later the family home was established in Dubuque where he has resided continuously since, being now superintendent of the Milwaukee shops of that place. He has devoted his entire life to car-building, in which line of work he has made steady advancement through his ability and close application. His wife was a daughter of Christ and Pauline (Yunge) Strueber, both of whom were natives of Germany and on coming to America settled in Dubuque where Mr. Strueber passed away but his widow still makes her home there.
The Rev. Francis C. Renier is the eldest of seven children. He attended the parochial schools of Dubuque and later entered St. Joseph's College of that city, completing a six years' course in 1895. He devoted three years to the study of theology in Grand Seminary in Montreal, after which he was ordained to the priesthood. Later he spent two years in study in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., and received his