**************************************************************************** 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: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890 **************************************************************************** The Biography of William H. BABCOCK Pages 659-660, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins [Surnames: BABCOCK, AVERY, BURNSIDE, SWARTS, STEVENS, WILCOX, BENSON, MARTIN] 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.