March 12, 1945 (Monday)

A MR. BATEY OF MIDDLEVILLE BURIED

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Another fine day.

Washed and clothes

dried nicely — Did the

most of the ironing

to-nght.

A Mr. Batey of Middleville

was buried this P.M.

Died from suffocation

over result of his

shack burning down.

Henry and Hank

cutting wood.

Harold & Gerald Gless

and Marvin here

playing cards to-night.

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The cemetery in Bowne Center is adjacent to the Johnson farm where Edna and Henry live. I don't think, she knew Mr. Batey. She refers to him in a formal tone with no mention of his first name —"A Mr. Batey." I think she is always aware of burials because she resides next door to the cemetery. Mr. Batey's burial is noteworthy to her because of the manner of his death.

The March 15, 1945 edition of the Hastings Banner includes a brief mention of the death of Charles Francis Batey of Middleville. The headline reads "Burned to Death." Charles was 69 at the time of his death. His death certificate listed his cause of death as "Death from burning."

Charles Francis Batey was born in 1895. His brother, James Patrick Batey, called Bert, was born in 1884. On a Batey family genealogy page that I found on ancestry.com, Charles and Bert had another brother named Thomas and a half brother named Fred.

A WWI draft card for James indicates that he was employed by his brother Charles as a farmer hand. And, according to the 1930 census, James Patrick was residing with Charles at that time.

James' WWII draft card shows he was no longer living with his brother Charles, rather he resided with a Charles Andler. A 1953 obituary for James states that at the time of his death, he had resided with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Andler for 15 years, since 1938.

After his death, James was laid to rest next to his brother, Charles. Neither brother ever married.