Editing Batchtown, Illinois (section)

==History==
[[File:Batchtown Il 2008.jpg|thumb|left|Main Street looking east 2008]]

The village and the area surrounding it was called Richwoods during the 1850s. Then people started referring to the area as Sam White's, after a leading merchant in Calhoun County. It was later called Batchelder Ville, after William Batchelder, who lived in the village during the 1860s. A post office opened up in the community in 1879 and Batchtown became the official name of the village.

By the time the village was incorporated, there were several stores and shops. The [[Grand Army of the Republic]] set up a post in the village and the first Batchtown Methodist Church was set up.

William Batchelder was a leading citizen in the community. He owned and operated a corn mill in Batchtown. He later changed the corn mill into a flour mill. William Batchelder was also a justice of the peace and merchant.

Samuel White was also a leading citizen in Batchtown. He owned a store in the village that sold stock groceries, dry goods, shoes, and hardware. He also sold farm machinery.