****************************************************************************
File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
Copyright 2008, all rights reserved.

These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net.

****************************************************************************

Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

****************************************************************************


The Biography of James I. BABBITT 

Transcribed exactly according to the original complete text by Anne Marie Willis. 

[Surnames: BABBITT, DAVIS, HARROD] 

[starting on page 772] 

    
BABBITT, James I., whose residence in Union Township, Fulton County, Ill., covers a period of more than three-score and ten years, and who is the sole surviving native citizen among those [page 773] who lived in the township at the time of his birth, was born there May 20, 1836. Stephen Babbitt, his father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County, that State, February 16, 1806, and his mother, Malinda (Harrod) Babbitt, was born April 29, 1811, in Bourbon County, Ky. Stephen Babbitt followed farming during his whole life. He was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Fulton County, where he located in 1830, and purchased the land on which his son, James I., still makes his home. He died November 5, 1864, his wife dying August 13, 1889. They were the parents of the following named children: Elizabeth, Job, Nancy, William, James I., Israel, Sarah, Malinda, Isaac H., Hugh and Stephen (twins), Jeptha and Hulda (twins), and Sanford M. 
    
James I. Babbitt received a common school education such as farmers' sons usually obtained in the primitive subscription schools of that period, meanwhile helping his father on the farm until he reached the stage of manhood. Since then he has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits. During the War for the Union he rendered creditable service in Company G, Fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry (the "Blind Half Regiment"), in which he enlisted September 24, 1861, and served until February 16, 1863, when he was mustered out. His marriage took place at Monmouth, Warren County, Ill., October 27, 1859, with Harriet Adeline Davis, a daughter of Noah and Nancy Davis, natives of Virginia and Kentucky. Mrs. Babbitt was born in Union Township, Fulton County, on January 3, 1839. Six children were the offspring of this union, viz: G. Marion, J. Grant, William Sherman, Guy H., Morton J. and Nannie Myrtle. A sketch of the life of William Sherman Babbitt may be found elsewhere in these pages. The five boys, who were the oldest members of this family, were all born on Sunday. 
    
In politics the Republican party has always received the steadfast support of Mr. Babbitt, and he has been active and influential in the local councils of that organization. He served as Road Commissioner of the township twelve years, and for fourteen years acted in the capacity of School Director. His religious connection is with the Christian Church. Fraternally he is prominently identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. His life is coincident with the growth of Fulton County almost from its beginning, and his recollection includes a thousand details in the wonderful transformation attending this progress from crude conditions to the prosperity and refinement of the present day. He is conscious of having done his full share in promoting the welfare of his township and county, and the many who know him freely attest his upright character, diligence and well doing and serviceable public spirit.