My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. CHARLES W. BATCHELOR was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1823, and received his early education at private schools in his native town. His father was Joseph S. Batchelor, who moved from Philadelphia to Steubenville, in 1810, and engaged in the manufacture of furniture. In 1841 Capt. Batchelor apprenticed himself to Capt. Henry Mason, of Wheeling, on steamer Tioga, to learn to be a pilot. In 1845 he became a full pilot, and in 1849 he bought the interest of Capt. John Klinefelter in the steamer Hibernia No. 2, of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet line, and assumed command. In 1863 he took command of the famous Allegheny, in the same line. In 1854 he sold his interest in the Allegheny, and built the Americus for the Pittsburgh and Nashville trade. In 1805 the Americus burned, and he left the river to become the active vice-president of the Eureka Insurance company, of Pittsburgh, and he acted as the general agent in settling marine losses. In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln surveyor of the port and United States depository at Pittsburgh, where he remained until September, 1866, when he was removed by President Johnson because he would not become a Johnson man. During his connection with the latter office he disbursed over one hundred million dollars, and wound up with the government in his debt. In 1867 he became president of the Eagle Cotton Mills company of Pittsburgh, in which he continued until 1873. In 1868 he was made president of the Masonic Bank of Pittsburgh, where he continued until 1884, when he resigned to become acting vice-president of the Keystone Bank and president of the Pittsburgh Petroleum Exchange. He continues his connection with the Keystone Bank, but resigned the presidency of the Oil Exchange. He is now president of the Manufacturers’& Merchants’ Insurance company, and the Natural Gas company of West Virginia, furnishing gas to the city of Wheeling; and secretary and treasurer of the Natural Gas company, limited, of Pittsburgh, the first gas company that ever handled natural gas for manufacturing purposes, which was in 1875. During his steamboat career he owned in and built the most of the following steamers: Hibernia No. 2, Allegheny, Americus, W. I. Maclay, Eunice, Lucy Gwin, Paragon, Mary E. Forsyth, George W. Graham, W. R. Arthur, Emma Duncan, Darling, Norman, Guidon, F. Y. Batchelor, and the Lac La Bell, of Cleveland, Ohio.

In 1885 he was made chairman of the committee of arrangements, and commodore of the fleet, for the celebration of the opening of Davis Island dam, at Pittsburgh. Capt. Batchelor has been a prominent Mason for years, he having received the highest degree that can be conferred, and was grand commander of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania. He is one of nature’s noblemen, and is respected far and wide. — Marine Journal, New York, Jan. 22, 1887.