CHARLES FRANCIS BATEY, of the firm of Reed & Batey, druggists, and one of the well-known and enterprising merchants doing business at Sullivan, is a native of Kansas, born September 24, 1874, in Marshall county of that state. He is the son of William Henry and Alice (Francis) Batey. The senior Batey was a native of Ohio, born February, 1850, and died in 1900, in Sullivan county, Indiana. The mother of Charles F. was born in Kansas, and died in 1876, after which sad event the father married Mary E. Stuckey, a native of Illinois, and who now resides at Terre Haute. One child was born to each union-Charles F., by the first, and Thomas Lloyd, by the second. Thomas Lloyd was born in 1888, in Crawford county, Illinois, and now resides with his mother at Terre Haute.
Charles Francis Batey was reared by his father and continued to remain at home until he was eighteen years of age, after which time he was variously engaged in the western part of Sullivan county for about two years. When about twenty years old, he went to Sullivan. This was in 1894 and then he commenced clerking for Joseph S. Reed in the drug business. He remained with him until 1898, then went to Terre Haute with the Burton Drug Company, for whom he traveled about one year in southern Indiana. But not thinking the position on the road to his liking, he opened a drug store for Mr. Coffman, in Sullivan, but after a short time left that enterprise and went back with J. S. Reed and remained with him until September, 1902, when he bought a half interest of the Reed stock, since which time the firm has been known as Reed & Batey. They handle large quantities of drugs, wall paper, paints, all kinds of musical instruments, sewing machines and general supplies.
Mr. Batey is a half owner of the Globe Theatre at Sullivan, which he opened himself in May, 1907, but in the following August took Francis H. Abell in as his partner, the latter being the manager of it. In his political choice, Mr. Batey is a Republican. Fraternally, he is associated with the Odd Fellows, Elks and Modern Woodmen of America orders, having reached the Encampment degree of the first named lodge, while he is a trustee of the last two.
In the month of August, 1898, he was married to Louise Burton, daughter of Thomas and Emily (Brewer) Burton. Mrs. Batey's mother is still living, and both were natives of Sullivan county, Indiana. Mrs. Batey was born April, 1874, and graduated from the high school of Sullivan. To Mr. and Mrs. Batey one daughter has been born: Emily Pauline, born in May, 1899. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church.