Hiram Batchelder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd President of the Board of Trustees of Chico, California | |
| In office 1873–1876[1] | |
| Preceded by | George Dorn |
| Succeeded by | Charles Ball[1] |
| County Clerk ofButte County, California | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hiram Treat Batchelder (1838-12-14)December 14, 1838[2] Waldo County, Maine[2] |
| Died | May 15, 1911(1911-05-15) (aged 73)[3] Chico, California |
| Resting place | Chico Cemetery, Chico, California |
| Political party | Republican[2] |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Whiteside (m. June 3, 1866, Chico, California) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Hampden Academy, Bowdoin College[2] |
| Occupation | educator[4] |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1862 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel, Assistant Adjutant General |
| Unit | Company A of the22nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment,[2] Chico Guard |
Hiram Treat Batchelder (December 14, 1838 – May 15, 1911) was the secondPresident of the Chico Board of Trustees, the governing body of the city ofChico, California from 1873 to 1876. He served as a trustee of theChico Normal School, and asCounty Clerk ofButte County, California.
He was born inWaldo County, Maine on December 14, 1838, the son of Samuel B. Batchelder.[2] He attendedHampden Academy, andBowdoin College, although he did not graduate.[2]
At the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War, he enlisted in Company A of the22nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment under the command of General Banks. In 1862, he was discharged, a disabled man.[2]
Shortly after being discharged, he came toCalifornia by crossing theCentral American isthmus.[2] He landed inSan Francisco on July 19, 1863.[2] He arrived inChico on March 18, 1864.[2]
The same year, he was hired as ateacher, and within a few months, he was appointedprincipal.[2] He held this position for sixteen years.[2] At that time there was only one school, and only one teacher. By 1891, there were four schools and fourteen teachers.[2]
In 1864, he was permitted by thecounty trustees to purchase fencing-boards from a lumber mill in the mountains for the purpose of building a temporary floor for use in his first year of teaching.[5]
In 1865, a tax was approved by the local electorate by a majority of 123 to 53 to fund a proper school house. The building was finished during the spring of 1866, and furnished with desks.[5]
At the general election in September, 1871, Batchelder was electedsuperintendent of Butte County schools. In September, 1873, Batchelder was re-elected. Five months before the close of his second term of office, having been elected principal of the Chico school, Mr. Batchelder sent to the board of supervisors his resignation, to take effect on the first of November.[4][6]
From 1873 to 1876 he was President of the Chico Board of Trustees, and a member until 1878.[1][2]
In 1885, he ended his teaching, and took a position with the Bank of Chico. He remained with the bank until 1889, when he was appointed postmaster of Chico.[2]
He died in Chico on May 15, 1911, and is buried in the Chico Cemetery.[3]
| Preceded by | President of the Board of Trustees of Chico, California 1873–1876 | Succeeded by |