James Otterbein Batchelor
Now a commercial salesman with home and business headquarters at Marion, J. O. Batchelor has for a number of years been identified with educational work in Indiana, and is also known in the field of authorship, being an intelligent student of history and writer of special ability.
James O. Batchelor was born in Randolph County, Indiana, November 18, 1876, and belongs to a family which has been in Indiana for eighty years or more. His parents were Joseph W. and Nancy (Davis) Batchelor. Grandfather Caswell Batchelor brought his family from North Carolina to Randolph County, Indiana, where he located among the first settlers about 1830. The Batchelor's are of Scotch Irish stock. The grandfather was a substantial farmer.
Joseph W. Batchelor, father of James O., was born in Nash County, North Carolina, was a very small child when the family came to Indiana, and in this state spent all his active career at Bloomingsport, in Randolph County, where he died at the age of seventy-five in 1905. By trade he was a cabinet maker, and he was also a local minister in the Methodist Church. The maiden name of his first wife was Anna Vandergrift, who was the mother of three children, namely: William G., who is a rural mail carrier at Winchester, Indiana; Ezra V., who is a machinist at Indianapolis; and Josephine, now deceased. Nancy D. Davis, the second wife of Joseph W. Batchelor, was born at Martinsville, in West Virginia, and is now living at the age of sixty-three in Richmond, Indiana. She became the mother of seven children, all living but one, namely: Mrs. Emma Burton of Richmond, Indiana; Sevilla Phillips of Fountain City, Indiana; Byron, who lives on the old home place at Bloomingsport; John L., who owns the Consolidated Dairies at Richmond, Indiana; and George W., who is a butcher and baker in Canyon City, Colorado.
James O. Batchelor was reared in his native village of Bloomingsport, attended the public schools of Randolph County, and with an ambition for learning and his aim being to teach school, he continued to study and work until he eventually graduated from the highest institution of learning in the State. He attended the Central Normal school at Danville, Indiana, for three years, and in 1899 first matriculated in the Indiana State University, where he remained a student until 1902. He then left in order to take up teaching, and finally completed his studies there in 1908 when he was graduated with the A. B. degree. For four years Mr. Batchelor was a teacher of the district schools in Randolph County, and for five years was superintendent of schools in Farmland. At the same time he owned and published the Farmland Enterprise. During 1903-04, Mr. Batchelor was an American teacher in the Philippine Islands, and in 1906-07 he was principal of the Ward School in Fort Wayne and was principal of the Union City High School in 1907-08. Mr. Batchelor came to Marion as assistant superintendent, a position which he held from 1908 to 1912. Since leaving school work he has been on the road as special representative of the Osborn Paper Company of Marion.
While in college, on November 17, 1900, Mr. Batchelor married Alice Mae Engle of Winchester, Indiana, a daughter of Calvin Engle, who at the time of the marriage held the office of auditor in Randolph County. Mr. Batchelor's mother was Helen Greeley, who was a cousin of Horace Greeley, the famous editor. Mrs. Batchelor died in May, 1901, without children. On September 9, 1906, Mr. Batchelor married Leota M. Schultz, daughter of William E. and Cora (Alexander) Schultz of Harrisville, Indiana. They have one son, Joseph Alexander Batchelor, born August 2, 1909. Miss Leola Schultz, younger sister of Mrs. Batchelor, has her home with Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor. Mr. Batchelor has been affiliated with the Masonic Order since he was twenty-one years of age, and since the same date has been a member of the Knights of Pythias. He and his family worship in the First Methodist Church at Marion. In politics he is Independent. Mr. Batchelor is a member of the American Historical Association, and his interests and studies in history have been the source of his authorship. He is the author of a textbook on the history of Europe, now in the hands of New York publishers.
On November 5, 1913, Mr. Batchelor was elected mayor of the city of Marion, on a law enforcement proposition. When asked to represent the people he declined to make it a party issue, maintaining his independence in politics, but saying he would accept such office as a popular law and order candidate, receiving support from law-abiding citizens of all political affiliations. Mr. Batchelor became mayor with a council representing all parties, and in making his appointments he recognized all of them, and thus the city government is without definite political stamp, but offenders against the law have discovered that law enforcement is the program of the administration. While the "fly-bob" may be necessary in detecting violations, detection has been part of the show and the law-abiding citizens of Marion are standing behind the administration. The election of Mayor Batchelor is discussed in the chapter on politics in the history section.
Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.