| − | A Minden native, Batton was the son of James Bryant Batton (1880-1939) and Nolie K. Batton (1881-1971). The senior Batton, formerly of Dubberly in south Webster Parish, was a former Webster Parish chief deputy sheriff, a two-term Minden police chief,<ref name="Minden Herald 1947, p. 1">''Minden Herald'', October 24, 1947, p. 1.</ref> and an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in a special election held in 1933 after a devastating [[tornado]] struck the city. | + | A Minden native, Batton was the son of James Bryant Batton (1880-1939) and Nolie K. Batton (1881-1971). The senior Batton, formerly of Dubberly in south Webster Parish, was a former Webster Parish chief deputy sheriff, a two-term Minden police chief,<ref name="Minden Herald 1947, p. 1">''Minden Herald'', October 24, 1947, p. 1.</ref> and an unsuccessful candidate for sheriff in a special election held in 1933 after a devastating [[tornado]] struck the city. Batton's brother, [[J. D. Batton]], was the Webster Parish sheriff from 1952 to 1964. |
| | Batton graduated in 1932 from Minden High School, at which in the fall of 1931 he played [[football]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', August 29, 1986, p. 24.</ref> His first wife, the former Dorothy Alice Shurtleff (December 18, 1914 – May 14, 1973), was a daughter of A. C. Shurtleff (January 15, 1882 – September 16, 1928) and Cora Belle Shurtleff (February 1, 1888 – December 16, 1960). | | Batton graduated in 1932 from Minden High School, at which in the fall of 1931 he played [[football]].<ref>''Minden Press-Herald'', August 29, 1986, p. 24.</ref> His first wife, the former Dorothy Alice Shurtleff (December 18, 1914 – May 14, 1973), was a daughter of A. C. Shurtleff (January 15, 1882 – September 16, 1928) and Cora Belle Shurtleff (February 1, 1888 – December 16, 1960). |