C. L. Battin

C. L. BATTIN. In Central Western Kansas extensive farming is practically the rule everywhere and the handling of large farms for the production of grain and livestock has undoubtedly been one of the biggest contributing causes to the phenomenal agricultural production of the state. One of the men who operates on a large scale in Pratt County is C. L. Battin of Hopewell, who besides looking after several farms aggregating about 1,800 acres is also vice president of the Farmers State Bank and otherwise a man of affairs in that community.

Mr. Battin was born at Alliance, Ohio, March 16, 1871. His grandparents were Alton and Nancy Battin. His grandfather was a native of Ohio and for many years lived in that state, where he followed the business of contracting. He finally came to Kansas and retired at Hopewell, where he died.

J. H. Battin, father of C. L. Battin, is living near Hopewell. He was born in Ohio in 1850, grew up and married in that state, and for several years was a stationary engineer at Alliance. In 1876 he sought the better prospects of the Sunflower state and located on a farm near Lawrence. In 1886 he joined the early settlers of Pratt County, homesteading a hundred twenty acres, and still owns that tract and enough more to make a half section. He is now practically retired from farming enterprise. He is a republican and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. J. H. Battin married Mary Rice, who was born in 1848 in Ohio. C. L. Battin is the oldest of their children. G. E. Battin was an instructor in high school and died at Walton, Kansas, May 28, 1917. Flora, who died at Hopewell November 15, 1898, at the age of twenty-five, was the wife of O. B. Pitts. Anna, who died at Haviland, Kansas, December 8, 1904, also at the age of twenty-five was the wife of L. C. Wagner. Both daughters were teachers in public schools before their marriage. F. M. Battin is a mechanic by trade and is manager of his brother's garage at Hopewell.

The family being members of the Friends Church, after coming to Pratt County felt the need of Sabbath school and church privileges and began at once to have them established. A Sunday school was organized and maintained, from which, with the help of a few more Friends, families coming in, a church was organized in 1888. This church is still in a prosperous condition, has an interested membership and supports a pastor.

C. L. Battin was about four years old when his parents came to Kansas, and he received all his education in the rural schools of this state. He attended school after coming to Pratt County and was on his father's farm until about twenty-two years of age. Starting out with only the average experience and capital, he has made steady progress toward independence as a farmer and his success has practically all been won from Kansas soil. He is now owner of three farms. The largest contains 1,000 acres in Pratt County and he also has a half section in Finney County and 480 acres in Grant County. Besides his own home in Hopewell he has several dwelling houses in the town and owns the only garage in town, located near the Anthony and Northern Railway Depot. He is a director of the Farmers Elevator at Hopewell and is a director and vice president of the Farmers State Bank. Mr. Battin is affiliated with Prattsburg Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America and Macksville Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1894, at Haviland, Kansas, he married Miss Minnie Fisk, daughter of Wiley and Emily Fisk, who are now living retired at Haviland. Mrs. Battin died on the farm near Hopewell in 1907. Her only child is Enid, born September 15, 1896, a graduate of the Macksville High School and now a teacher at Coldwater, Kansas. In March, 1915, in Strafford[sic] County, Kansas, Mr. Battin married Miss Blanche Frazee, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Frazee of Stafford County. Her father was one of the pioneer farmers in Western Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Battin have two children: Ernest, born June 16, 1916, and Merritt, born October 14, 1917.

Pages 2505-2506.