Percy H. Batten

Percy Haight Batten (January 12, 1877 – April 8, 1960) was an American industrialist and founder of Twin Disc, Inc.

Early life and education Percy H. Batten was born on January 12, 1877, to John H. and Ida (nee: Haight) Batten in Naperville, Illinois. His father was a state’s attorney for Illinois and later the DuPage County judge. He began high school attending Kemper Hall, a preparatory school for boys in Davenport, Iowa, where he earned the gold medal for best general record his first year. He then transferred to the Chicago Manual Training School where he graduated. He attended college at Purdue University where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and graduated in 1898 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Career Early Career

After graduating college, Batten accepted a position with the Chicago & North Western railroad company. where he was granted a patent for power installation on self-propelled vehicles in 1905. After that, he worked at American Brake Shoe & Foundry Co. and then to Featherstone Foundry and Machine Co. as a superintendent.

In 1940, he went into a partnership with friends A.J. Horlick and H.F. Johnson to form the Batten Realty Company to finance the construction of the Horlick-Racine Airport, now named John H. Batten Airport. In 1948, Percy’s son John H. Batten II was named president and Percy was elected to chairman of the board, a position he held until his death. At the time of his death, he was also director of the American Bank & Trust Co. and on the board of directors for Modine Manufacturing.

Personal life and death On December 3, 1904, Percy married Eliza “Lisa” Yaekel Stockton (1878 – 1966) of Lafayette, Indiana, in Chicago. Together, they had 3 children: Paul S. (1909 – 1911), John H. III (1912 – 1989), and Alice (1913 – 1957).

In 1947, he received the Golden Legionaire Certificate from Phi Delta Theta and in 1949 he received an honorary doctorate degree from Purdue University.

He was a member of St. Luke's Hospital board of trustees, a founder of the Racine Community Chest, a contributor to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, past chapter president of the Izaak Walton League, past president of the Racine Manufacturers Association, a member of the Somerset Club, and a member of the Racine Country Club.

He owned a summer home on Lake Owen.

He died on April 8, 1960, and is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Racine, WI.