Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/247

Virginia. He was a pronounced abolitionist, and used his influence toward freeing West Virginia from slavery. He was a member of the Constitutional convention which met Nov. 24, 1861, and framed the constitution of the new state. He was chaplain of the 1st Virginia regiment from November, 1861, until the time of his death, which occurred in camp, Jan. 7, 1862.

BATTERSHALL, Jesse Park, chemist, was born at Troy, N.Y., May 26, 1851. After a partial course of study at the Columbia college school of mines, he worked in some of the best German laboratories, where he became practically conversant with the latest discoveries in chemistry and physics, and added to his theoretical knowledge by attending the lectures of Marignac at Geneva. In 1873 the University of Tubingen conferred upon him the degree of D.Sc., and shortly afterwards he returned to America and settled in New York city. He spent several years in the laboratories of various New York commercial houses, but in 1879 he accepted the position of superintendent of analysis at the government laboratory in New York city. He wrote frequent articles on chemistry for scientific periodicals, and a book entitled "Adulteration of Food and Drink and Its Detection" (1887). He also translated Naquet's "Legal Chemistry" (1876). He was a member of several prominent scientific associations, including the American and London chemical societies. He died Jan. 12, 1891.

BATTERSHALL, Walton W., clergyman, was born at Troy, N.Y., Jan. 8, 1840, son of Ludlow A. and Eustatia (Ward) Battershall. His father was a prominent merchant and president of the Union bank of Troy, N.Y., until 1866, when he removed to New York city. The son was graduated from the Kimball union academy, Meriden, N.H., in 1858, and from Yale college in 1864, as class poet, with the degree of M.A. He studied theology under Bishop Potter, who was at that time rector of St. John's, Troy, in which church Dr. Battershall was ordained deacon. He was graduated from the General theological seminary, N.Y., in 1866, when he was also advanced to the priesthood. After serving two years as assistant minister at Zion church, N.Y., he took the rectorship of St. Thomas' church, Ravenswood, N.Y., whence he was, called to Christ church, Rochester, in 1869, where he served as rector for five years, being also a member of the standing committee of the diocese of western New York. In 1874 he was called to the rectorship of St. Peter's church, Albany. N.Y. He received the degree of D.D. from Union college in 1878. He served for several years as trustee of Hobart college, Geneva, a delegate to the triennial conventions, and a member of the diocesan board of missions.

BATTEY, Robert, surgeon, was born in Richmond county, Ga., Nov. 26, 1828, son of Cephas and Mary (Magruder) Battey. He was educated at Augusta, Ga., and at Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and studied medicine at the Philadelphia college of pharmacy, the University of Pennsylvania and the Jefferson medical college, graduating from the college of pharmacy in 1856, and from the Jefferson medical college in 1857. Soon after graduation he began practice at Rome, Ga., residing there during the rest of his life, except during an interval of two years, in which he filled the chair of obstetrics in the Atlanta medical college, and edited the Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal. In 1858 he devised a new and successful method of treating club foot by means of curved splints and roller bandage. In 1859 he suggested and successfully performed a new operation for the cure of vesico-vaginal fistula. He originated and introduced to the profession a new combination known as iodized phenol, for the cure of chronic uterine diseases. In 1859 he visited Europe for study in the hospitals of Great Britain and France, and returned to America in time to take part in the civil war. In July, 1861, he was commissioned a surgeon in the Confederate states army with the rank of major, and served till the close of the war. In June, 1869, he performed successfully the operation of perineal cystotomy for chronic cystitis, suggested by Dr. Willard Parker of New York. On Aug. 17, 1872, he originated and successfully performed at Rome, Ga., a new operation in surgery, since known as Battey's operation for the removal of the ovaries, afterwards recognized and performed all over the civilized world. In 1872 he discovered that water introduced by the rectum may (the subject being etherized) be readily passed into the living body, throughout the colon, the small intestines and stomach, coming out at the mouth; the entire practicability of which was afterwards demonstrated, first on the cadaver at the Atlanta medical college in December, 1873, and later in actual practice by the profession. In 1882 he established at Rome, Ga., one of the largest private infirmaries in the United States. He was president of the American gynecological society, of the medical association of Georgia, and of the tri-state medical association; and a member of the American medical association, and of the British gynecological society. He was also honorary fellow of the obstetrical society of Edinburgh, Scotland, the American gynecological society, the Philadelphia college of pharmacy, and the medical society of Virginia. He contributed papers to medical societies and journals in Europe and America. In 1859 the Jefferson medical college conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. He died Nov. 8, 1895.