As an undergraduate at Miami University, he joined a local organization which later became the national fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau.
He is considered the author of the fraternity's Ritual and wrote the lyrics to its first song, with Joseph W. Clokey writing the music.
Upon his death, he bequeathed over 400 acres (1.6 km2) of woodland and streams, including Harker's Run, to Miami University.
He was buried in the Bachelor family plot at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.
An academic building on the Miami University campus was named Bachelor Hall in 1979 as a memorial.