USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume I > Part 10
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(III) Captain Jolin Babcock, second son of John and Mary, was born about 1668, in Westerly, was admitted a freeman February 13, 1689, and died there March 28, 1746. He lived about two miles east of Pawcatuck bridge, in a house afterward used as a hotel by Sylvester Gavitt. His wife Mary was his cousin, daughter of William and Mary (Babcock) Champlin (or Champlain). He served the town in many responsible capacities-assessor, clerk, fence viewer, surveyor, probate clerk, councilman and rate-maker; was town clerk from 1706 to 1732, when he was succeeded by his son, William; was deputy to the general assembly in 1695, 1702, 1713, '15, '17, '18, '20, '23-4-5-6; was justice of the peace from 1730 to 1737; and captain of militia in 1709, 'II, '15, '18-19-20-21 and '23. On May 19, 1710, with eleven others, he united in the purchase of 2,684 acres of land from the colony, known as the "Maxson purchase." His children were all boin in Westerly, as follows: John, May 4, 1701; Ichabod, November 21, 1703; Stephen, May 2, 1706; William, April 15, 1708; Amy, February 8, 1712-3; Mary, July 23, 1716; Ann, September 14, 1821.
(IV) Willianı, youngest son of John (2) and Mary (Champlin) Babcock. was born April 15, 1708, in Westerly, and died there January 15, 1750-I. He was married at Seabrook, Connecticut (now Saybrook), August 1I, 1730, to Sarah Denison, of Mayflower descent, born Jan- uary 6, 1710, in Stonington, Connecticut (see Denison). After his death she married Stephen Chaucer. of Seabrook, being his fourth wife. William Babcock continued to serve as town clerk from the time he suc- ceeded his father in 1732 until his death. He was a farmer, justice of the peace, and represented the town in 1744. His children, born in Westerly, were: William, May 14, 1731 ; Joshua, December 2, 1732; Christopher, September 12, 1734: Sarah, October 17, 1736; Elijah, July 19, 1738; Elias, July 28, 1740; Phineas, September 14, 1747.
I. John Howland, born 1592, came to Plymouth on the "May- flower" in 1620. His wife, Elizabeth Tilly, born 1607, came in the same vessel with her parents, John Tilly and wife. 2. Desire, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth Howland, married Captain John Gorham in 1643. The last-named was a son of Ralph Gorham, was born in Eng- land, and baptized at Benefield, Northamptonshire, January 28, 1621-2. He came to Massachusetts before 1743, and was captain of an expedi- tion against the Mount Hope Indians in 1675, dying the following year. 3. Mercy, daugliter of Captain John and Desire Gorham, born January 20, 1659, married George Denison, junior, and died September 24, 1725.
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
The last-named was the fourth child of George and Ann ( Borodell) Denison, born in New London, 1653, and reared in Stonington (see Denison). He died December 27, 1711. His fourth child, Samuel, born 1685. in Stonington, married Mary (Lay), widow of Christopher Miner, who bore him ten children. 5. The eldest of these, Sarah, be- came the wife of William Babcock, as above related.
(V) Christopher, third son and child of William and Sarah Bab- cock, was born September 12, 1734, in Westerly, and died March 15, 1815, in Smyrna, New York. In 1754 he married his step-sister. Me- hitable Chalker (sometimes written Chaucer or Chalkens), who was born September 9. 1733, in Saybrook, daughter of Stephen and Mehit- able ( Chapman) Chalker, the former a descendant ir: the fourth gener- ation of General Alexander Chalker, one of the original proprietors of the town of Saybrook, who was killed in the Narragansett war. Chris- topher Babcock owned and occupied a farm near the seashore in Wes- terly, and was admitted a freeman by the general assembly in May, 1758. He was justice of the peace in 1769, '79 and '83. In 1767 he was a lieutenant in Captain Champlain's train band of Westerly militia. His wife died in 1810, and three years later, he accompanied his youngest son to Smyrna, New York, where he was buried. His children were : William. Amy, Joshua, Christopher. Sarah, Eunice, Jeremiah, Asa, Wealthy, Stephen, Elias. Phineas and Asa (2).
( VI) Jeremiah, son of Christopher and Mehitable Babcock, was born November 23, 1766, in Westerly, and died April 9, 1847, in Cham- pion, New York, in his eighty-first year. He was married January 5. 1792, to Amy, daughter of William Angell. She was born April 4, 1766, in Exeter, New York, and died February 17, 1835. in Champion. For many years he lived in the southeastern part of Madison county, this state, evidently in different towns, at different times, as his children ap- pear to have been born in three towns. He was an early resident of Champion, and had a farm not far from the center of that town. His children were ten in number, Christopher, born October 13, 1792, mar- ried Susan Crandall, and (2) Janette McNeil, and lived on a farm near his father in Champion, where he died June 28, 1869. Elias, August 20, 1704. married Sarah Angell, was a farmer in Champion, where he died March 11. 1859. Joshua is the subject of a following paragraph. Drusilla, September 2. 1797, married James R. Perigo, and moved to Illinois, where she died. James, February 5, 1799, died young. Am- brose Spencer, December 2, 1800, died December 28, 1891, in Champion,
N. N. Babcock
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where he settled about 1824. James, February 24, 1803, died young. Jeremiah, November 9, 1804, married Julia Francis, was a blacksmith at Felt's Mills and Carthage, dying at the latter place April 9, 1847. Amy A., November 23, 1806, married Benejah Lewis and lived in Den- mark, New York, and died March 24, 1894, in Champion. William P. is the subject of a succeeding paragraph.
(VII) Joshua Angell Babcock, third son and child of Jeremiah and Amy, was born February 10, 1796, in Hamilton, New York, and died March 23, 1843, at Felt's Mills, this county. He was married at Hamilton, July 24, 1820, to Laura, daughter of Chandler Holmes, born September 2, 1793, in Hartland, Vermont. She passed away December 29, 1845, at Felt's Mills. About 1822 Joshua A. Babcock moved from Madison county, this state, to Felt's Mills, where he engaged in mercan- tile business and there ended his days. He inherited the sturdy traits for which his ancestors were noted, and was a successful business man. He received a fair education and engaged in teaching for some years in early life. For some time before his death his eldest son was a partner with him in mercantile business and lumbering, and much of the care of his affairs was surrendered to the latter owing to failing health of the senior. Joshua A. Babcock was a prominent member of the Methodist church at Felt's Mills, and also served as justice of the peace. His chil- dren were: Henry H., mentioned farther in following paragraphs; Amy, died in infancy ; Perley J., born August 31, 1836, died August 24, 1863; Martha L., died at one year old; George D., born October 6, 1834, resides in Mexico, New York.
(VIII) Henry Holmes Babcock, eldest child of Joshua A. and Laura (Holmes) Babcock, was born March 28, 1821, in Hamilton, New York, and died November 30, 1903, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anson R. Flower, in New York. He had few early advantages and re- ceived his education in the common schools at Felt's Mills. On attain- ing man's estate, he engaged in the mercantile and lumber business with his father at Felt's Mills. where he operated a saw mill, marketing his product in Albany. In 1842 he moved to Watertown, where he pur- chased a parcel of land upon which he built houses for sale. This en- terprise was of service in building up the city and yielded satisfactory returns, and in 1845 he invested some of his capital in the manufac- ture of wooden pumps. These found a ready market in this section and the business grew to large dimensions. In 1878 he turned his attention to the manufacture of wagons and buggies, and the energy and execu-
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tive ability which had built up his previous undertakings soon began to tell in the new field. As fast as his sons arrived at the proper age, after being carefully educated and trained in business methods, they were made partners in the business and were of material aid in extending it. Four years after the establishment of this undertaking, during which it had been conducted under the style of H. H. Babcock & Sons, it had taken a prominent place among the industries of Watertown and attracted the attention of capitalists. In 1882 a corporation was formed under the name of H. H. Babcock Company, with a capital of one hundred thou- sand dollars, the incorporators being Mr. Babcock and his three sons- Herbert P., George H. and Fred W. Babcock-and Roswell P. and An- son R. Flower. A large factory building was erected at this time, and constant additions have been found necessary, as the trade increased, until the plant now comprises five large shops and seven storage build- ings. Honest workmanship upon honest material have given confidence in the product of this establishment to the trade, and the growth in de- mand for its product continues to extend wherever high-class carriages are in use, the market extending around the world. Henry H. Babcock was made president of the company upon its organization and so con- tinned until his death. There can be no doubt that its growth was due chiefly to his genius for developing industries. He was always a friend to his employes, with whom he held frequent converse, and he was looked to by them as a father, often aiding in settling their differences and difficulties and ever maintaining a sincere interest in their welfare. As a consequence there were no strikes in his shops, growth and devel- opment has been steady and continuous, and the output of 1904 prom- ises to reach seven thousand carriages. Three hundred and fifty men are steadily employed, and there are no dull seasons. The growth of this great concern and its character continue to be a source of local pride.
Mr. Babcock was one of nature's noblemen, kind-hearted, genial and frank, and was respected and loved in every relation of life. He served as supervisor several terms and as mayor of the city. He was one of the most earnest and valued communicants of Trinity ( Protestant Episcopal ) church, and was one of its wardens for thirty years. A Dem- ocrat in politics, he did not carry his partisanship to unreasonable ex- tremes, and made no enemies among those who opposed him politically.
Mr. Babcock was married, November 25, 1841, to Eliza Wheeler, daughter of Joel B. Wnecler, of Felt's Mills. Mrs. Babcock died in Tune, 1900. Of her eight children, six are now living: Marion R. is
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the wife of L. O. Woodruff, of Cape Vincent, New York ( see L. O. Woodruff) ; George H. is the subject of a following paragraph. Ida married Anson K. Flower, and resides much of the time in New York city. Adella B. is the wife of Richard S. Hungerford, residing in Wa- tertown. Fred W. is mentioned at length hiereinafter. Frank Ernest is assistant secretary of the H. H. Babcock Company, and resides in Watertown, a bachelor.
(IX) Herbert Perley Babcock, eldest son of Henry H. and Eliza Babcock, lived to take an active part in the organization of the H. H. Babcock Company, but his promising young life was soon thereafter ended. He was born November 24, 1845, in Watertown, and finished his education at Geneva, New York. As soon as he left school he be- came associated with his father in business, and so continued until his death, in his thirty-ninth year. Upon the formation of the H. H. Bab- cock Company in 1884 lie was elected secretary, but failing health com- pelled him to resign the duties of that position to his assistant almost immediately. During the last three years of his life he traveled much in hope of recuperating liis health, but the end came April 24, 1884, at Riverside, California. He was among the faithful communicants of Trinity church, and was widely admired and respected for his kind and amiable disposition. A perfect gentleman in every relation of life, he enjoyed the regard of all classes of people, and his early demise was a cause of grief to many and a cruel blow to his family. Of studious and industrious habits, he was much devoted to his family, and gave close attention to the business affairs with which he was identified, and was but fairly launched upon a most successful business career when fail- ing healthlı compelled him to abandon all activities.
Mr. Babcock was married, October 14, 1875, to Rose Monroe, of Sangerfield, New York, a daughter of John and Marietta (Priest ) Monroe. A son was born to this union April 21, 1879, and christened Henry Herbert. He graduated at Yale College in 1901, entered the law school of Columbia University the following year, and graduated in the class of 1904. He was admitted to the bar in 1903. Mrs. Babcock because the wife of Joseph Mullin, whom she survives (see Mullin).
(IX) George Henry, second son of H. H. Babcock, was born Octo- her 25, 1852, in Watertown. Ile was educated in the public schools of the city, and in 1870 became a clerk in the private bank of Wooster Sherman, in which position he continued nearly two years. About the close of 1871 he was taken into his father's business, and has been treas-
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
urer and manager of the H. H. Babcock Company since its organiza- tion. Ile is connected with other financial enterprises of the city, and has always been prominent in its social life. When a young man he was foreman of Company No. 3 of the local fire department, a service of which he may justly be proud. He was one of the organizers of the Watertown Savings Bank, and has been a trustee of that institution since its beginning. He was one of the organizers and first trustees of the Watertown Building AAssociation, and is a trustee of the Flower Me- morial Library. Long time a member of the Trinity church, he was one of the founders and first president of the New City Hospital, and was for a time president of the Union club.
His wife, who was Alice L. Webster, daughter of Levi Webster, of St. Albans, Vermont, is a representative of old New England fami- lies. Her mother, Ellen L. Meech, belonged to one of the first and most distinguished families of Chittenden county, Vermont.
(IX) Frederick William Babcock, third son of H. H. Babcock, is a native of Watertown, born April 26, 1858, and a true exponent of the character for which this family is noted, being well known for even temper, keen perception, business probity, energetic application and genial nature. His primary education was supplied by the public schools of his native city, and was supplemented by a course at Hamilton Pre- paratory School and at St. John's Military School at Manlius, New York, from which latter institution he was graduated in 1876. For a year or more following he was a clerk in the hardware store of Belknap and Phelps, of Watertown, and was then admitted to partnership with his father, whose able assistant he continued thereafter. Upon the incor- poration of the H. H. Babcock Company he was elected assistant secre- tary, his eidest brother, Herbert P. Babcock, being secretary. The last; named was obliged to go away in search of health almost immediately. and the duties of secretary have been performed by the subject of this paragraph ever since. He has borne weil his part in building up the great business of the concern, which is still growing, as a result of the close application and business ability of its managers. Since the death of the elder brother, Frederick W. Babcock. he has been secretary.
He is also well known in the social life of the town, being one of the organizers of the Union Club, of which he was the second president. He is a Knight Templar Mason, affiliating with Watertown Command- ery, and is also a member of Media Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. in which he has served as chief rabban. For many years he has been
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a communicant of Trinity church and, like all of his family, gives allegiance to the Democratic party in politics. He has served many times as inspector of election, has been secretary and treasurer of the Black River Power Association since its organization (and which was incor- porated in September, 1894), and is one of the four commissioners of water power on Black river, acting under authority of the state, having been appointed by Governor Flower when the law creating this commis- sion went into effect in 1894, and successively appointed by succeeding governors. He is one of the original members of Company C, Thirty- fifth Battalion National Guard of New York, and served the required period as a commissioned officer of the same.
Mr. Babcock was married, September 27, 1881, to Miss Elizabeth Haas, who was born in New York city, January 7, 1860, daughter of Frederick Haas, of German ancestry. She died February 28, 1895, and left a son and daughter. Frederick Howard, born March 4, 1887, is now a midshipman in the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and making good progress toward promotion. Alice Eliz- abeth, August 31, 1888, is a student at the Watertown high school.
On December 2, 1897, Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Ida M. Willey, who was born June 12, 1860, in Syracuse, and is an active par- ticipant in the work of Trinity parish.
(VII) William Powers Babcock, youngest child of Jeremiah and Amy (Angell) Babcock, born September 2, 1809, in Exeter, New York, received his education in the common schools and came to Champion with his father, succeeding to the paternal farm below Champion Hud- dle, where he died. A cheese factory now marks the location of the farm. He attended the Methodist church, at first in Champion village and later on the Felt's Mills road. A Democrat in politics, he filled sev- eral of the town offices, such as highway commissioner and assessor. He was married, November 25, 1830, to Roxy Lewis, a native of Cham- pion, daughter of Esquire Eseck Lewis, a highly respected citizen, long time a magistrate of that town. The children of William P. and Roxy Babcock were: William Augustus, now a farmer between Great Bend and Champion ; Esther, who married Samuel McNeil, and subsequently Elisha Greenfield, and died in Champion; Lysander W., now a resident of West Carthage, and Elizur and Eliza. twins. The former of these is a resident of Syracuse, and the latter died at the age of twenty years.
(VIII) Lysander Whitfield Babcock was born March 17, 1836, in the town of Champion, where he grew up. Though his education was
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supplied only by the common school of the neighborhood, he is a capable business man and has been successful as a farmer. He cared for his parents in their old age, then purchased a farm, which he continued to till until 1885, when he bought a house on Bridge street, West Carthage, and moved there to reside. Since that time he has engaged in buying and shipping cattle and other stock to the city markets, with satisfactory results. With his family he attends the Congregational church, in which he has been a trustee a number of years, and is a Democrat in politics. He has served several years as a trustee of the village of West Carthage, and also as president. This fact arose not from ambition for political honors, but from a disposition to fulfill his duty as a citizen.
Mr. Babcock was married, November 10, 1857, to Miss Mary Jane Merrill, who was born January 1, 1837, in Champion, a daughter of William and Abigail (Locklin) Merrill (of whom sketch is found elsewhere in this work), both representatives of pioneer families of Champion. Of six children born of this marriage, the second, Hubert H., born December 19, 1863, died May 5. 1864. The others are: Will- iam Alfred, a farmer of Champion. father of one child, Mildred E .; Nettie, wife of William Phillips, of Battle Creek, Michigan, and they have one child, Ruth M ; Lida M. and Lizzie A. (twins), the former now the wife of Reuben Chaufty, and they have one child, Wilma A., and the latter the widow of Thomas C. Williams, all of West Carthage; and Alfreda ( Mrs. Edgar Harrington), of Carthage, who is the mother of one child, Gerald L.
(1X) William Alfred Babcock was born February 7, 1860, on his father's farin in the western part of the town of Champion. When he was eight years old his father moved to the farm which he now owns, east of Champion Huddle. He attended the district school at the Hutd- dle until he was seventeen years of age, giving his time in the summer season to such duties as fall upon the farmer's son. Agriculture has al- ways claimed his attention as a means of occupation and support, and he has achieved success through industry and intelligent application. After tilling the present farm for some years he bought one hundred and ciglity acres of it in 1895, and has rented it since 1899. A dairy embrac- ing about thirty cows is kept upon the place. He is a member of Great Bend Grange, and attends the Congregational church at West Carthage. He is a Democrat, but no politician.
Mr. Babcock was married, October 1, 1884, to Miss Theresa Wag- ner. who was born in New York City, a daughter of Henry and Eliza-
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beth Wagner, who came from Germany and now reside with a son at Canastota, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have a daughter, Mil- dred Elizabeth, now fourteen years old.
(VIII) William Augustus Babcock, son of William P. Babcock, was born July 2, 1832, on his father's farm below Champion Huddle, where he grew to manhood, and continued at home until he was twenty- five years old. In boyhood he attended the district school, and subse- quently was a student in a select school taught by John Winslow at Watertown. Being industrious and economical he was enabled at the age of twenty-five years to engage in business on his own account. Go- ing to Carthage he purchased the clothing business of H. D. Brown, which he conducted five years in partnership with Sylvester Fritz, un- der the title of Babcock and Fritz. At the end of that period Jolin W. Clark purchased the interest of Mr. Fritz, and for eight and one-half years the business was conducted under the style of Babcock & Clark. Selling his interest to Mr. Clark, who still continues the business, Mr. Babcock retired from mercantile affairs. In 1875 he bought seventy- four acres of land where he now lives, between Champion village and the Huddle, and has since made his home there. Until recently he gave his attention to its cultivation, and it is now managed by his son. A dairy of fifteen cows is maintained, including fine Ayrshire and Durham grades. During his residence in Carthage, Mr. Babcock was a vestry- man of Grace Episcopal church, and has served in the same capacity in St. John's church of Champion, with which he holds membership. He is a member of Great Bend Grange, and has always been a Democrat, but has steadfastly refused to be a candidate for town offices.
He was married, March, 1857, to Emneline O. Mott, who died March 8, 1858. On the 23d of January, 1862, Mr. Babcock was 'mar- ried to Adelia W. Wright, who was born November 16, 1831, in Dur- ham, Greene county, New York, a daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda (Dann) Wright. Her mother died when she was eight years old, and she was reared by an elder sister, wife of George S. Whitney, in Chant- pion. A daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Babcock and named Eva E., died when eleven years old. Their son (IX) Frederick A., resides with his parents. He was born April 30, 1865, and married Caroline W. Knowles, of Champion. They have no children.
FREDERICK JESSE BABCOCK, superintendent of the Dexter Sulphite Mill, is a native of the town of Brownville, born at Dexter, June 13, 1871. His ancestors were among the founders of the colony
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of Rhode Island, and their history is exhaustively treated in this work. Under the head of Babcock will be found an account of the first two generations, and this article will proceed from the third.
(III) George, sixth child and fourth son of John and Mary ( Law- ton) Babcock, was born 1673, in Westerly, Rhode Island, and died May I, 1756, at South Kingston, same colony, in his eighty-third year. He was married. November 28. 1094, to Elizabeth, daughter of Henry and Content Hall, of that town, where she died May 8, 1762, in her ninety- first year. Tradition says that soon after his marriage he sought to give his wite a practical illustration of the happy results attained when husband and wife pull together. Throwing a long rope over his house he remained at one end and sent his wife to pull the rope over from the other end. This she essayed in vain to do several times. He then called her to his side, and asked her to help him pull it over-a very easy task under the circumstances. A year and one-half after his mar- riage his mother gave him a tract of land in Westerly, which he sold to his brother ten years later. June 28, 1709, he was one of twenty-seven who purchased a large tract from the colony of Rhode Island, in King- ston and Westerly, known as the "Shannock purchase." His portion was laid out in Westerly, in what was afterward Hopkinton and Rich- mond. He was deputy to the general court in 1716 and 1721, and served many years as justice of the peace, being frequently called upon to per- form the marriage ceremony. In June, 1707, he was baptized and joined the Seventh Day Baptist church of Newport and Westerly, and his wife joined the same church July 20 following. All his life he was a pron- inent member of that society, and left it a legacy of three hundred pounds on his death. His will disposed of several farms and a large amount of personal property, including thousands of pounds in money. His wife received his "negro gall, Peg," and his son David, beside the homestead farm, a "negro man, Bristo, and woman, Geney." Upon her death his widow left eight children, sixty-one grandchildren, and in all 140 descendants, all of whom lived in the colony, except one grand- daughter and her children.
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