Clayton William Batchelor
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 4 Mar 1898 - , Ohio, Indiana, USA
Christening: 23 Mar 1913 - The Ohio River
Death: 20 Feb 1999 - Lawrenceburg, Dearborn, Indiana, USA
Burial: in Riverview Cemetery, Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA
Cause of Death: bilateral pneumonia
Spouses and Children
1. *Minnie Bell Goodrich
Marriage: 16 Jun 1923 - Aurora Methodist Episcopal Church, Aurora, Dearborn, Indiana, USA
Children:
1. William Batchelor Jr.
Notes
General:
Birth:Marriage Notes (Minnie Bell Goodrich)Mar. 4, 1898
Rising Sun, Ohio County, Indiana, USA
Death: Feb. 20, 1999
Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA
Clayton William Batchelor was born on 4 Mar 1898 on Miller Brick Hill outside of Rising Sun, Indiana, the fifth of seven children born to George and Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) Knipfer Batchelor.
Clayton was baptized on Easter Sunday, 23 Mar 1913, in the Ohio River by Rev. Fisher, pastor of the Christian Church of Petersburg.
On 22 Jun 1916, Clayton enlisted in the U.S. Army in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. He was discharged from the Army on 1 Jul 1919, after his father wrote a letter saying he was needed on the family farm. In 1988, he received a certificate from the government of France for helping to defend that country against Germany during the 1st world war. He was a member of the Aurora Keith Ross American Legion Post # 231. He was the last surviving World War I veteran of Dearborn County, Indiana when he died in 1999.
Clayton married Minnie Belle ("Ted") Goodrich on 16 Jun 1923 in Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana. They raised two daughters in Aurora.
Clayton had several careers. He worked at Royer Wheel Company when he first got home from his military service, having no interest in joining his father in farming. In 1920, he began an apprenticeship at Huff's Bakery in Aurora. He worked as a baker for many years, ending as the owner of a bakery in Aurora. He finally sold it after he got asthma.
Clayton was very active in the business community. He joined the Aurora Chamber of Commerce early in his career, serving as a director for 18 years and as president for five years. In 1987, he was made a lifetime director of the Chamber. He was instumental in numerous developments in and around the City of Aurora, including construction of the first apartment building specially designed for senior citizens.
He was always interested in politics and was an active and effective fundraiser for Democratic candidates. Clayton was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party in Indiana. His first elected office was as city councilman in 1933 in Aurora. Around 1934, he served as acting mayor of Aurora. He refused several requests to run for mayor himself because he believed that Aurora's mayor needed someone who had more than an 8th grade education. He held several other elective offices during his lifetime: city councilman (12 years), chair and precinct chair of the Aurora Democratic Party (12 years), county councilman, and chair of the city park board. In 1991, the Aurora Park Board named the pavilion in the city park the "Clayton Batchelor Pavilion."
Clayton's next career was with Joseph E. Seagrams & Sons, Inc., in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. He worked for them first in 1936 doing construction on a new plant, but then moved to their Police Department and then on to their Fire Department, before returning to the Police Department to stay. During his tenure with Seagrams, he was promoted to sergeant, 1st sergeant and midnight chief.
In 1964 after he retired from Seagram's, Clayton was appointed by Indiana Governor Mathew Welsh to manage the state motor vehicle licensing station in Aurora. He managed the Aurora License Branch for eight years.
On 16 Oct 1988, Clayton lost his beloved wife when they were both 90 years old. In Aug 1989, Clayton sold his home in Aurora and moved to the Pine Knoll Retirement Home in nearby Lawrenceburg.
In 1992, the 107th Indiana General Assembly honored him via House Concurrent Resolution 45 for his "immeasurable contributions to the people of Dearborn County and the City of Aurora."
On 7 Mar 1998, his family gathered in Lawrenceburg for a celebration of his 100th birthday. In addition to many family members and friends, the party was attended by the mayors of Aurora and Lawrenceburg, State Senator Johnny Nugent, State Representative Bob Bischoff, and Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton. As the last living World War I veteran in Dearborn County, Clayton was honored at his party by a number of veterans' organizations, and his birthday party was covered by a Cincinnati (Ohio) television station.
Clayton died of bilateral pneumonia on 20 Feb 1999 in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, Indiana, just a couple of weeks short of his 101st birthday.
Parents:
George McClellan Batchelor (1865 - 1938)
Mary Elizabeth Knipfer Batchelor (1867 - 1910)
Spouse:
Minnie Belle Goodrich Batchelor (1898 - 1988)
Burial: Riverview Cemetery, Aurora, Dearborn County, Indiana, USA
Maintained by: Aunt Hoot
Originally Created by: L Bruns
Record added: Nov 07, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 44022585
Per Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959
Groom: Clayton Batchelor
Bride: Minnie Goodrich
Date of license:16 Jun 1923
County of license:Dearborn
Date of marriage:16 Jun 1923
Place of marriage:Lawrenceburg, Dearborn, Indiana
Film number: 1313306 Digital folder number: 4476673
Image number: 00629 Number of images:1