- GEORGE C. BABCOCK, Sheriff of Rock County, Wis., was born
in Chenango County, N.Y.,
- in the town of South Otselic, Aug. 26, 1834, and is a son
of Harvey and Minerva (TIFF) BABCOCK. The parents of Mr. BABCOCK
were born in Connecticut, and were descended from old New England
families of Scotch ancestry.
- Our subject spent his early life in the East, and in the
spring of 1853 came to Janesville, but
- located at Clinton, Rock County, where he learned the blacksmith's
trade, beginning when fifteen years of age. For three years he
worked with his employer, E. P. WILLIAMS, on railroad work, on
the lines entering Clinton, and in the spring of 1856 went to
Iowa, where he took up a quarter-section of land in Mitchell
County. In the fall of 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss
Eveline HASTINGS, who died in the spring of 1862. On the 22d
day of August, following the death of his wife, Mr. BABCOCK enlisted
for the late war as a private of Company K, 27th Regiment Iowa
Infantry, serving until the close of hostilities. He was commissioned
First Lieutenant, May 4, 1865. His discharge papers, which show
that he was mustered out of the service on the 8th day of August,
1865, give the following list of battles in which he participated:
Fort Deressy, La., March 14, 1864; Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864;
Old Oaks, Ga., May 18, 1864; Dutch Bayou, Ark., June 6, 1864;
Tupelo, Miss., July 14, 1864; Old Town Creek, Miss., July 15,
1864; Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15, and 16, 1864; siege of Blakely,
Ala., from April 4, 1865 to final surrender and capture, April
9. His company was commanded by Capt. Charles T. Granger, now
Judge of the Supreme Court of Iowa. Mr. BABCOCK was neither wounded
nor taken prisoner, although he was with his company and regiment
in some of the hardest fighting of that great struggle. At the
battle of Pleasant Hill alone, the company lost one-third of
their number in killed and wounded.
- After the close of hostilities, Mr. BABCOCK returned to Clinton,
Wis., and opened a blacksmith
- shop at that place, also engaging in ironing express trucks
as a special business, which he carried on for sixteen years
in addition to his regular trade of general blacksmithing. In
the fall of 1888 he was elected Sheriff of Rock County, and entered
upon the duties of the office Jan. 1, 1889, at the same time
removing with his family to Janesville. He leased his business
at Clinton with a view to returning to that place on the termination
of his term of office.
- In the autumn of 1867 Mr. BABCOCK was again married to Mrs.
Susan E. BRAND, daughter
- of Thomas HARNITY. The lady was born in Rome, N.Y., and is
a member of the Congregational Church. Two children were born
of her first marriage - Emma, who is now the wife of Seth JOHNSON
of Clinton, and Eveline, wife of R. A. WHEELER also of that town.
Of the last marriage there was but one child, a daughter Mamie.
Mr. BABCOCK is a member of Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 135, A.
F. & A. M., and of Royal Arch Chapter, No. 9, of Beloit.
He also belongs to Alexis Tallman Post, No. 70, G. A. R., at
Clinton. He was a brave and patriotic soldier and officer, is
an industrious and energetic mechanic and business man, and has
lived a useful and active life. He is but just beginning his
official career, but bids fair to administer the sheriff's office
with efficiency and fidelity. In politics Mr. BABCOCK is a Republican,
and has always been a warm supporter of that party.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 592-593.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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