****************************************************************************
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 William Sherman BABBITT 

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

[Surnames: BABBITT, COX, DAVIS] 

[Page 774] 

    
BABBITT, William Sherman, a well-known and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Union Township, Fulton County, Ill., was born in that township, August 28, 1864, a son of James I. and Harriet Adeline (Davis) Babbitt, both natives of Union Township, where the father was born May 20, 1836, and the mother January 3, 1839. A sketch of the life of the former appears on another page of this work. He is still living on the homestead purchased by his father, Stephen Babbitt, in 1830, and is the oldest citizen, still surviving, who was born in that township. Six children resulted from the union of James I. and Harriet A. (Davis) Babbitt, to-wit: G. Marion, J. Grant, William Sherman, Guy H., Morton J. and Nannie Myrtle. 
    
William Sherman Babbitt received a good common school education in the district schools of Union Township, and spent his youthful years at home with his parents. On reaching maturity he engaged in farming and stock-raising on Sections 6 and 7, Union Township, where he has since continued with successful results. His farm consists of 110 acres, and, in addition to general farming operations, he feeds and ships a considerable amount of stock. He is an intelligent, systematic and progressive farmer, and has made an excellent record as a worthy representative of the best agricultural element of Fulton County. 
    
On September 16, 1891, at Galesburg, Knox County, Ill., Mr. Babbitt was united in marriage with Lavina Belle Babbitt. Mrs. Babbitt was born in Knox County May 27, 1865, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Cox) Babbitt, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Illinois. 
    
In politics Mr. Babbitt is an unswerving supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Religiously he is a member of the Christian Church and takes a good citizen's interest in public affairs, and creditably fulfills his obligations as a member of the community.