Hon. JOHN W. BATCHELDER, AND FAMILY

Mr. Batchelder was a native of Bradford, a lawyer by profession, and for years filled various offices of trust and importance in this community, with credit to himself and public satisfaction.

His grandfather, Isaiah Batchelder, and family, removed from Warren, N. H., to this town, some time near the close of the last century, and settled on a farm on the west side of Wright's Mountain. After a residence there of twenty years or more he removed to Springfield, Erie County, Penn. His son, Samuel Batchelder, remained in this town, and in 1809 married Jane Wilson, a native of Windham, N. H., daughter of Thomas Wilson, who had for several years been a resident of Bradford. These were the parents of John W. Batchelder, and at the time of his birth were dwelling in a house with Mr. John Flinders, on the farm in the western part of the town, which Mr. David Norcross now occupies. He was born December 9, 1812, and when he was six months of age his parents removed to Topsham, and settled on a farm about one mile and a half north of the East village.   There in his youthful days John was accustomed to work during the summer seasons on the farm, and in the winters to attend the district school at the village. At length, anxious to avail himself of better advantages, he attended Bradford Academy for a term, and that at Norwich for a while, which he was obliged to leave sooner than he intended, on account of a visitation of sickness. Having recovered from this prostration, he pursued his studies with Dr. Hinckley, of Topsharn, for a while, and after that for a year with Rev. James Milligan, the talented Presbyterian minister of Ryegate.

In 1840 he commenced the study of law with P. H.  Baker, Esq., of Topsharn, who died in about a year after Mr. Batchelder entered his office. Then, by advice of two of the neighboring lawyers, who knew the circumstances of the young man, and were disposed to assist him, he opened a law office in Topsharn, and so, in a small way, uniting practice with study, persevered till duly admitted to the bar of Orange County Court, at their December term, in 1843.

January 15, 1844, J. W. Batchelder, Esq., was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Clark, an estimable young lady of Newbury, and thence onward continued in business at Topsharn, till November, 1854, when he moved to Newbury and opened an office there. While in Topsharn, he not only did a fair amount of business as a lawyer, but enjoyed in such measure the favor of his townsmen that they annually elected him Town Clerk and Town Treasurer for seven years ; Town Agent; seven years; Justice of the Peace, ten years; Representative to the Legislature, two years; and a member of the Constitutional Convention for its one term. During his residence there, he also held the office of Register of Probate two years, and that of a Judge of the Court of Orange County for two years. So that he had no lack of honorable and profitable employment. At Newbury he remained till March, 1856, when he moved to Bradford, and became established as an attorney here, doing a fair business in the way of collecting debts, settling estates, and acting as Town Agent for several years. In 1863 he was appointed one of the Directors of Bradford Bank, and from January 1, 1865, was Cashier of the same, till its corporate existence was honorably terminated.  In October, 1867, Esquire Batchelder left Bradford, and with his family resided for the four subsequent years at Almont, Lapeer County, Michigan. He was there chiefly engaged in buying and selling real estate, especially pine lands, in which business he had fair success. In October, 1871, he returned to Bradford, found his old friends still cordial, and business in the line of his profession much as formerly; but after a residence this time of two years, he was induced to remove again to Michigan, and at this date (May, 1874,) is a citizen of Detroit.  In his family Esq. Batchelder has been highly blest.  The wife of his youth, an estimable Christian lady, and while here a member of the Congregational church, and their only daughter and son, worthy young people, still live to comfort him and each other. The son and daughter were both natives of Topsharn.

The daughter, Mattie J., born October 19, 1846, grew up an amiable young lady, having taste and talent for music, but being specially fond of penciling and painting, in which she was quite proficient, and competent to give instruction. She was married August 13, 1873, at Bradford, with Mr. Charles B. Kidder, of Almont, Michigan, and at this date is residing with her husband, at Armada, Macomb county, in the same State, where he, as Principal of the Union School in that place, and a man of intellectual and moral worth, is highly esteemed.  John C. Batchelder, born June 20, 1850, became a young man of decided genius for instrumental music, and skill as a player, especially of the piano and organ. He availed himself of the best advantages for improvement within his reach, and after years of practice commenced giving private instructions to learners in this and some of the neighboring towns, and was also employed as organist here in the choir of the Congregational church. As a teacher and performer of instrumental music he early gained a desirable reputation.

On the removal of his parents to Detroit, in the autumn of 1873, he went with them, and though a stranger in the city, with no influential musical friend to introduce him, he soon obtained one scholar, and that in a little while prepared the way for another, and yet another, until with in the course of a few months he had as many as he could possibly attend to, and was also employed as organist in St. Paul's (Episcopal) Church, his services in all cases being highly appreciated and handsomely compensated.  Mr. Batchelder has made no attempt to play showy music, or anything of the flashy kind, but his aim has been to play, and to teach his scholars to play, truly good music, with scientific correctness, appropriate spirit, and due effect. And as a correct, tasteful performer he has acquired among his scholars and their friends, and the church choirs who have become acquainted with him, an honorable reputation.   Biographie Index

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