Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 659-660; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William H. Babcock, a resident of Banner Township, is one
of the large landowners and progressive farmers to whom it owes its
rank among the divisions of the county. He owns four hundred acres of
fine land that has been so managed as to keep up its natural fertility,
and even increase its productiveness by wise rotation of the mixed
crops raised by the owner. Mr. Babcock was reared amid the surroundings
of rural life and at an early period of his history became acquainted
with methods of agriculture. He, therefore, understands his vocation
and is enabled to pursue it successfully.
The Empire State claims our subject as one of her sons, his
birth having taken place in Yates County, January 18, 1835. His parents
removed to Ohio when he was quite small, and he grew to maturity there,
enjoying only the educational privileges of the district school. In
1858, having heard much of the fertility of the Prairie State, he came
hither, finding work on a farm during the summer. He felt the need of a
better preparation for business dealings and went to New York in order
to attend the commercial college in Buffalo. There he met Miss Lucy I.
Swarts, who won his best affections by her pleasing manners, her useful
ways and her worth of character.
After a successful wooing Mr. Babcock led Miss Swarts to the
hymeneal altar March 16, 1859, and returning to the West with his
bride, began farming in McDonough County. In 1861 he returned to Ohio,
continuing his occupation there for two years, at the expiration of
which time he could no longer resist the cries of his country, and
entered the army. His name was enrolled in Company H, Sixtieth Ohio
Infantry, his commanding officers being Capt. Henry R. Stevens and Col.
Avery. The regiment was attached to the Second Brigade, Third Division
and Ninth Army Corps, the division commander being Gen. Wilcox and the
corps led by Gen. Burnside. They were assigned to duty as a part of the
Army of the Potomac, and bore a hand in some of the most terrible
contests of the war.
The first heavy engagement in which Mr. Babcock participated was
the Battle of the Wilderness, the regiment having crossed the Rapidan
on pontoon bridges and gone into the fight near the old tavern, in
support of the Fourteenth Regulars. After the battle they marched to
Spottsylvania Court-house, where they were the first to enter the fight
and took four hundred Confederate prisoners. The next contest was at
Cold Harbor, then South Anne River, following which they were under
fire daily until they reached the James River, June 17, 1864. From that
time until October our subject took part in all the battles of the Army
of the Potomac, but was then taken seriously ill and sent to the
hospital at City Point. Thence he was transferred to McDougal Hospital,
at Ft. Schuyler, New York Harbor, remaining there until November, when
he received a sick furlough and visited his family in the Buckeye State.
At the expiration of his furlough Mr. Babcock was transferred to
Tripler Hospital, at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until
March,1865, when he rejoined his regiment at South Side Railroad, in
Virginia. The command staid there until the surrender of Gen. Lee, then
took part in the Grand Review in Washington, when Company H was put on
detached service and guarded the Old Capital Prison in that city. Mr.
Babcock was on duty the day of the execution of the Lincoln
conspirators. The regiment was mustered out of the service at
Cleveland, Ohio, in August,1865, and our subject remained in that city
until the next year, when he removed to Henry County, Mo. For about
eight years the family made their home there, then in 1874 came to this
county and located upon the fine farm that is now their place of abode.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock has been blessed by the birth
of six children, of whom the following may be noted: Ella V., born
September 29, 1861, is the wife of Charles E. Martin, living in Peoria
County; Emma J., born April 12, 1863, is a typewriter and now in
Tacoma, Wash.; William A., born July 7, 1867, married Elizabeth Benson
and lives in Banner Township; Lucy A., born August 2, 1871, is still
with her parents; so also are Charles A., born February 24, 1879, and
Bertha A., April 6, 1881. The household of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock
likewise includes the mother of the former and the father of the
latter. Mrs. Jane Babcock was born in Utica, N. Y., May 2, 1815, and
has therefore long since passed the allotted age of mankind. Abraham
Swarts was born November 11, 1804, and is an old Royal Arch Mason,
having taken the degrees in 1848.
In commemoration of the weary months spent in his country's
service, whose trials and successes he lives over with his comrades,
Mr. Babcock is a member of Joe Hooker Post. No.69, G. A. R., at Canton.
He is identified with Banner Grange, P. of H. His political adherence
is given to the principles of Republicanism. He is now serving
acceptably as Justice of the peace and has been School Director.
Reliable in citizenship, kindly and considerate in neighborly
associations, and honorable in his dealings, Mr. Babcock is held in
respect by his fellow-men, while as an agriculturist he stands above
par.
