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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Ira Batcheller

Ira Batcheller, a pioneer of Paton township, who for more than forty years was connected with agricultural interests in Iowa, is now living retired in Paton in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil and well directed business activity. He is a native of New Hampshire, where his birth occurred on the 24th of July, 1841, a son of James and Amanda (Brown) Batcheller, who were also born in the Granite state. The father died when the subject of this sketch was only a child and Mrs. Batcheller afterward married Ezra Morton, with whom she came to Cedar, Iowa, which remained her place of residence until the time of her demise.

Ira Batcheller acquired his education in the country schools of his home locality and upon the death of his father was bound out to a Mr. Churchill. When he had attained the age of eighteen years he came to Cedar county, Iowa, working as a farm hand until he reached his majority, when he was married. Wishing to establish a home of his own, he purchased forty acres of land in Jones county, where he resided until 1874 and then bought eighty acres of raw prairie land in Paton township, Greene county, on which he took up his abode. He remained on this tract for six years and during that time brought the land under a high state of cultivation by practical farming and also built a good home for his family. In 1880, however, he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land southeast of Paton, which he still owns, and where he made his home until 1902, when he retired from active business life. He had built a nice residence on his farm and equipped it with all of the accessories of a model property of the twentieth century and the successful conduct of his agricultural interests brought him the measure of prosperity that now enables him to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life without further recourse to active labor in the fields. For seventeen years Mr. Batcheller has been raising and breeding registered Shire horses and this has also proved to him a profitable source of income, although recently he lost a very valuable animal. On coming to Paton he purchased a fine residence in the southwestern part of the village and is well known in the community as one of its enterprising and representative citizens.

Mr. Batcheller was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Simmons, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, November 16, 1843, and was a daughter of Richard and Margaret (Myers) Simmons, both of whom were natives of Virginia. In 1854 they came to Cedar county, Iowa, and later took up their abode in Jones county, the father being a farmer by occupation. He died at the age of seventy-five years and his wife departed this life when she had attained the age of seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. Batcheller are the parents of eight living children, as follows: Martin married Lydia Clipple, by whom he has three children, and makes his home in Lena, Webster county, Iowa. Anna, the widow of George Will, resides in Oklahoma. Henry, who married Clara Hodgston, lives in Jones county, Iowa. Don is still under the parental roof. Loren, who was joined in wedlock to Sylvia McCutcheon, lives on his father’s farm. Cora became the wife of Edward Piatt and now makes her home in Oklahoma. Emory, a farmer of Paton township, married Pearl Nesbitt. Emma also resides in Paton township and became the wife of William Lightfoot. One child of the family, Amanda, died when only four months old.

In his political views Mr. Batchellcr is a republican and has taken an active part in local politics. He served as township trustee for many years, also as school treasurer of his township, as school director and as road supervisor. During his two years’ term as mayor of Paton he gave a public-spirited and progressive administration, characterized by reform and improvement along all those lines which tend to promote the best interests of the town. In his fraternal relations he is connected with the Odd Fellows’ society and is serving as secretary of the lodge, while his wife is a member of the Rebekah. A third of a century has passed since Mr. and Mrs. Batcheller came to Paton township to cast in their lot with its pioneers. People of the present period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difliculties overcome. The prosperity which has come to our subject and his wife has been attained entirely through their own untiring labor and perseverance, so that they well merit the rest which they are now enjoying and have the respect and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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