Untitled Document

RICHARD BATTERSBY

Richard Battersby, merchant at Coal Valley, whose portrait is presented on the opposite page, is a native of England. His parents, Robert and Mary (Hope) Battersby, are also natives of that country. His mother still resides there. She was born Nov. 29, 1803. His father is deceased. He was born in 1798, and died in 1873. In their family were Thomas, Richard, Edmond, James, Elizabeth, Hargraves and John.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born Dec. 14, 1835, in Lancashire England; received a common-school education, and lived at his parental home until he was 24 years of age, when he emigrated to the United States, settling in Rock Island County, Illinois. He was then engaged three years in mining at Carbon cliff, this county; then, after a short residence in Henry County, where he was engaged in the same business, he settled in Coal Valley, in 1862, and assisted his father-in-law, Peter Seville, in his brewery until about 1870. He then engaged in the mining and sale of coal, being a member of the Black Diamond Coal company, which relation he still sustains. In September, 1882, in company of Benjamin Seville, he bought out the stock of merchandise belonging to Lewis B. Thomas. His partnership in that line continued until December, 1884, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Seville and admitted into partnership his son, Robert W. The firm is now Richard Battersby & Son. Under their judicious management their business prospers, and is based upon a substantial and lasting foundation. Mr. B. is also a member of the coal company known as "Mansill, Battersby & Seville", and is also one of the proprietors of the narrow-gauge railroad running from Coal Valley to Moline.
In his political views Mr. Battersby is a Democrat. Socially, he is identified with the Order of Odd Fellows, and officially he has served as Township Collector.
On March 6, 1862, Mr. Battersby married Miss Bettie Seville, daughter of Peter and Peggy (Mills) Seville, her parents natives of England, who came to America in 1847, settling first in Pennsylvania, and in 1849 in Coe Township, this county, then at Carbon Cliff, and finally in Coal Valley, in 1856. Mr. Seville died March 10, 1865, aged 47, and Mrs. S., Feb 21, 1883, aged 77. They had two children Betty and Benjamin B. Mrs. Battersby was born in Lancashire, England, May 27, 1842, and she has become the mother of five children, namely: Robert W., born Feb. 6, 1863; Peter Seville, Nov. 14, 1865; Benjamin Franklin, July 16, 1871; Harry Edmund, Oct. 13, 1879, and Myra Co. E., Sept. 7, 1882.

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