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THE HON. THOMAS C. BATCHELOR DIED FRIDAY AT INDIANAPOLIS
April 22, 1909 - North Vernon Plain Dealer
He was a Leading Lawyer of the County and Held Many Public Offices - Was a Loyal Friend and Brilliant Scholar



    After many days of suffering our esteemed citizen. Hon Thomas C. Batchelor, died at Indianapolis Friday of pneumonia, caused by an operation performed the first of the month, it being necessary to use ether, which together with his age and weakness resulted fatally.
    During the past few years he has been confined to the hospital on several occasions, and had always been brought back to health under the close attention of the physicians. He leaves three sons and five daughter's - Geo. H., of Indianapolis; the Rev. A. D., pastor of the M. E. church at Franklin; Chester A. a leading attorney of this county; Mrs. J. M. Coryell, of Union Mills, La-Porte county; Mrs. John W. Todd, of Boswell; Misses Gertrude, Belle and Mary Batchelor, of Vernon.
    The remains were taken to the family home at Vernon Saturday; on Monday funeral services were conducted by Rev. Schell, of Shoals. The body was returned to Indianapolis in the evening and cremated, which was his wish.
    He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 1, 1836, his parents having emigrated to that county from England. He came with his parents as a young man to Jennings county, where he taught school, and later attended Franklin College. While a student there he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was made first lieutenant, his captain being Daniel Wait Howe, now of Indianapolis. He served until 1863, when he was discharged, having received a gunshot wound in his left arm. He entered the law office of Col. S. P. Oyler, at Franklin, and after attending the law school of the Michigan University, he located at Vernon in 1870 for the practice of law, and which place had since been his home.
    During the first Harrison campaign he was elected to the bench of the Sixth judicial circuit and served six years, and in that time made only one decision that was reversed by the Supreme Court of the State. On account of the reputation he had made on the bench he was frequently called upon to serve in counties in southern Indiana as special judge and was counsel in many important cases in this part of the State. He had the reputation of being one of the best lawyers in southern Indiana. He was a member of the Republican State central committee in 1880. His decisions in law were as a rule reliable and many of the best lawyers in this part of the State went to him for advice. During the last few years he has not been able to pay much attention to his profession, but his son, Chester A., has looked after all cases in an able manner.


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