Beckham County, OK - Obits: Hillard Batchelor, 1923
10 Aug 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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BATCHELOR, HILLARD
(25 Jan 1923, Sayre Headlight, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Young Man Found Dead Last Week Was Subject to Elyptic (sic) Fits.
Last week we mentioned the fact that just before we went to press the
county officers were notified of the finding of a dead man on a farm in
the vicinity of the Hext school house, and that the officers were then out
investigating.
It seems that the young man Hillard Batchelor, who for the past ten years
has lived with A. F. Carlson, about two miles west of Hext; the two men
living on the farm alone.
On Monday last Mr. Carlson went to Canute, and was away from home until
Wednesday night.  From the condition of things as found by the officers,
it is evident that either Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, the young
man had gone to the barn to feed the cattle and horses, and while in the
barn yard had been taken with an elyptic fit, to which he was subject, and
had died.  Careful investigation revealed no evidences of death from any
but natural causes.
Mr. Carlson informs us that the young man has been subject to these fits
from childhood.  During the war he was called for examination, but on this
account turned back, and on at least one other occasion, he has been
rejected for life insurance.
One the way home Mr. Carlson met the officers just as they returned to
this city, and arrangements were immediately made for ------ (2 lines too
dark to read), the interment in the cemetery in that neighborhood.  The
young man's parents reside at McKinney, Texas, but were unable to come
here for the funeral, which was largely attended by the people of that
section, by whom the young man was highly esteemed.
(25 Jan 1923, Thursday, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Young Man Found Dead.  Last Wednesday word was brought to town that a man
had been found dead on the A. F. Carlson farm, 12 miles west of Sayre. 
Immediately the Sheriff's force and County Attorney left for the scene. 
Upon their arrival they found that Lawrence Batchelor, a young man about
28 years of age who lived with Mr. Carlson, lying on his face in the barn
lot, apparently having been dead for several hours.  Mr. Carlson had left
the house the day before to be gone for a couple of days, and it was
supposed that Mr. Batchelor had been seized with an epileptic attack of
which he was the victim and had fallen face down, in the sand, and had
smothered before regaining consciousness sufficiently to get up.  He was
buried at Hext Switch cemetery Thursday.  His father who lived at
McKinney, Texas, was ill, and unable to attend the burial.
(Research:  Census, 1920, Oklahoma, Beckham Co, Poarch Twp, ED 13, pg 14B,
#249/252 (T625-1451)
Andrew F. Carlson, age 56, b Sweden, immigrated 1883; farmer; divorced;
Hildred D. Bachelor, age 28, boarder, b Tx; f/m b Tx; farm laborer.
WWI Draft Registration Cards: 1917-1918: Oklahoma, Beckham County:
Hilliard Daniel Bachelor (sic), born 24 April 1894, Collin County, Texas;
current address: Doxey, Okla., marked with an "X" for signature, dated 5
June 1917.)