Biographical Sketch of

Charles W. Babcock

Transcribed by Joan Benner for the Marquette Co WI Pages



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 533 and 534

Charles W. Babcock, who resides in Section 19, in the town of Packwaukee,
Marquette County, traces his ancestry back to three brothers of English
birth, who left their home across the waters and came to America during 
the early days of its history. One of that number settled in Canada, and 
the other two in Connecticut, and it is from one of the latter that our 
subject is descended. Elisha Babcock the paternal grandfather of Charles 
W., was a native of Connecticut and removed from that State to the town 
of Exeter, Otsego Co., New York, where he made his home upon a small 
farm until his death. He was the father of five sons and five daughters, 
four of whom, one son and three daughters are yet living.

One member of the above mentioned family, Amasa Babcock, is the father 
of him whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Connecticut on the 
4th of May, 1803, and was a mere child at the time of the removal of his 
parents to Otsego County, New York. In his youth he learned the trade 
of machinist and millwright and was also an expert carpenter. On the 
14th of May, 1823, he married Miss Betsy Angel,, a native of the Empire 
State, and about eight years later removed to Yates County, New York, 
and afterward to Steuben County, where the fmaily lived until their 
emigration to Wisconsin, in 1857, when they settled on section 14, in 
the town of Packwaukee, Marquette County. In the fall of 1863, Mr. 
Babcock sold his farm and removed to the village of Packwaukee, where 
he engaged in wagon-making for some years. His death occurred Aug. 23, 
1881, and his wife died Jan. 15, 1882, at the home of her daughter in 
Kansas. They had three children, but one son is now deceased.

Charles W. Babcock, whose name heads this notice, was born in Otsego 
County, New York, July 14, 1832, and when nearing man's estate began 
the study of dentistry in Markesan, Green Lake County, the family having 
previously emigrated to the West. When he considered that he had 
sufficiently mastered the profession, he entered upon its practice, 
which he continued until the spring of 1861. He had been watching the 
progress of events in the South with interest and had determined if 
necessary to strike a blow in defense of his country's cause, so when 
Ft. Sumter was fired upon and the thunder of its guns called all loyal 
men to arms, he laid aside the peaceful pursuits of life and on the 22nd 
of May, 1861, enlisted in Company E, 7th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry. 
The company was known as the Marquette Sharp Shooters. About two weeks 
after his enlistment he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Goodwell, 
who accompanied him to the field. She was imbued with a spirit of 
patriotism and resolved to go with her husband to the front to do what 
she could to minister to the comfort of those who were fighting for 
preservation of their country, but she soon fell a sacrifice to her 
loyalty, dying of typhoid pneumonia at Arlington Heights, New Year's 
Day of 1862. The service to which Mr. Babcock was assigned was that of 
Hospital Steward, but the rigor and hardships of war undermined his 
constitution and in Philadelphia, on the 14th of October, 1862, he was 
discharged on account of physical disability.


Immediately afterward, Mr. Babcock returned to his home in Packwaukee, 
and on the 5th of July, 1863, was united in marriage with Miss Catherine 
Green. His health gradually improved and as he became physically stronger 
the desire to again enter the service returned. The war was then raging 
in all its terror and the Nation had need of all its patriotic sons if 
it would crush out the hydra-headed monster, rebellion, which threatened 
its life, so Mr. Babcock again offered his services and Nov. 24, 1864, 
joined his old companions and entered into active service with his 
regiment, taking part in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, 
North Ann, South Ann, Cold Harbor and Weldon Railroad. At the close of 
the war he was again on detached service. His final discharge took place 
on July 3, 1865 in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and he now willingly returned 
home, conscious of having done his duty and aiding in the grand results 
brought about by that struggle. 


When Mr. Babcock again resumed business he engaged in wagon-making with 
his father, with whom he continued operations for five years, when he 
engaged in carpentering and masonry until 1881. He was an expert workman 
and earnestly desiring to please his customers won a liberal patronage. 
At length he resumed his old occupation of farming, purchasing his present
farm in the town of Packwaukee, in 1883. The well-tilled fields, many 
improvements, good barns and outbuildings and tasty residence conveniently
situated near the village of Packwaukee, all indicate the owner to be a 
man of enterprise and ability who will suffer no needed improvement to 
go undone while he has the power and means to bring it about.


Mr. Babcock was again called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who 
died on the 10th of August, 1879, leaving two children--Grant, who was 
born May 14, 1864; and Ruth, Sept. 17, 1866.  Ruth became the wife of 
Augustus Johnkie, March 22, 1887, and is living in Westfield, Wis.  On 
the 30th of March, 1880, our subject wedded Miss Carrie Green, a sister 
of his second wife, who was born in Wood County, Ohio, July 17, 1836, 
and came to Wisconsin with her father when fourteen years of age. Both 
her parents are now deceased.


Mr. Babcock was an honored member and the present Commander of J. C. 
Miller Post, G. A. R. of Oxford, and in politics, is a stalwart 
Republican. He is a representative farmer and a worthy and respected 
citizen and has a record as a soldier, of which he may well be proud. 
He takes an active interest in whatever tends to promote the welfare of 
the community in which he lives, and is a warm friend of the cause of 
temperance and of other enterprises calculated to advance the moral and 
intellectual growth of the public.






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