The grim reaper, death, has again thinned the ranks of our old settlers and taken from our midst one of Faribault's most honored and highly respected citizens, Hon. George Washington Batchelder, who died at his home on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, the result of a general breaking down caused by old age. Had he lived about a month longer he would have passed his 84th birthday. George W. Batchelder was born at Danville, Caledonia county, Vermont, on February 18th, 1826. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1851, and taught in the high school at Windsor during the years 1851 and 1852. He then removed to Tennessee and taught in Tazewell Academy in 1852 and 1853 and in the Rogersville Academy in 1853 and 1854. He went to Janesville, Wis., and was there admitted to the bar in 1854 and on May 15th, 1855 he established his residence in this city, where he has been engaged in the practice of law up to the present time. In 1858 he went to Calumet, Wis., and was married to Miss Kate E. Davis on July 12th. Mr. Batchelder has been a resident of this city for over 50 years and during that time has held many important offices, and as a lawyer has always stood at the head of his profession. He was elected to the position of state senator in 1872 and held the office one term. In 1880 he was elected mayor of Faribault, and filled the office for two years and was also chairman of the board of education from 1881 to 1895. In 1888 he was the democratic nominee for judge of the Supreme Court. For many years he was the law partner of Judge Thomas S. Buckham under the firm name of Batchelder & Buckham and after the withdrawal of Judge Buckham from the firm, he entered into partnership with his son Charles S. Batchelder under the firm name of Batchelder & Batchelder. Mr. Batchelder was a member of Faribault lodge No. 9 A. F. & A. M.,and had the distinction of being the oldest living member of that order at the celebration of their golden jubilee on February 7th, 1907. He was made a member on June 10th, 1856, before the lodge had its charter and while they were working under dispensation. The funeral will be held from the residence this afternoon at 2:00 o'clock, Rev J. H. Albert will officiate. The honorary pall bearers will be K. D. Chase, William Wachlin, R. A. Mott, T. H. Quinn, A. L. Keyes and John Hutchinson. The active pall bearers will be B. B. Sheffield, Alson Blodgett, Jr., Lynne Peavey, Edward l. Frink, Irving Matteson and Kelsey S. Chase. The remains will be laid to rest in Oak Ridge cemetery. Mr. Batchelder is survived by his wife and two sons, Charles S. of this city and John D. of Cleveland, Ohio, and one daughter, Miss Georgie l. who also resides in Faribault.

The following proclamation has been issued by the mayor: whereas, our city is again called upon to mourn the death of one of its oldest, best known and most highly respected citizens--the author of its charter, its mayor in 1880-1881, chairman of its board of education for fourteen years, state senator 1872-4, a lawyer and citizen of prominence, George W. Batchelder, who answered death's summons, Sunday, January 9, 1910, at the age of almost 84 years. Therefore, I, George l. Smith, mayor of the city of Faribault, do hereby order that all city offices be closed from 2 to 3 o'clock p.m., on Wednesday, January 12, the hour of the funeral, and request as a tribute to the memory of an honored citizen and a conscientious official, that all business places be closed during the same hour, so far as possible. George l. Smith, Mayor. Faribault, Jan. 11, 1910.

Rice County Journal, January 12, 1910