Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Babcock, Robert S. 1852 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 19, 2007, 9:03 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

ROBERT S. BABCOCK, Justice of the Peace in Imlay City, Lapeer County, was born
October 15, 1827, in Coal Spring, Mercer County, Pa., and is a son of David R.
and Eliza D. (Miner) Babcock, the father being a native of Washington County, N.
Y., and of a family descended from one of three brothers who came to America
prior to the French and Indian War. One of these brothers returned to Europe,
one remained in the United States and one went to Canada and our subject
frequently meets Canadian cousins of his name who bear the marked features of
the family in the States.

  This family has a fine record for patriotism, as the grandfather although only
a boy in Revolutionary times, was in a circle which was deeply interested in
that conflict, and he remembered seeing Washington give his farewell to the
army. His son, the father of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and
took part in many battles of that conflict, after which he drew a pension which
supplemented his support as a charcoalburner in Northern Ohio, he removed to
that State when our subject was about nine years of age and established himself
in Ashtabula County.

  At the age of eighteen Robert Babcock began his apprenticeship as a carpenter,
serving for three years. He received $25 the first year and during the second
and third year had wages of $10 and $20 a month, and during the last part of
that time acted as foreman and was so thoroughly grounded in the business that
he was able at once to undertake contracting on his own responsibility. He also
undertook the further responsibilities of married life and was united with Miss
Laura Evans, October 3, 1849.

  By this marriage there are four children. Mary E., who is now Mrs. Andrew
Yokey of Imlay City, and the mother of one child; Andrew J., who lives on a farm
in Lake County, Mich.; Henry L., who is married and the father of two children
and operates a shingle mill at Mt. Pleasant this State, and Truman G., who makes
his home upon a farm in Lake County. The mother of this family was called to her
heavenly reward November 21, 1870, while the family was residing in Mayfield.
The political preferences of both Mr. Babcock and his father were Democratic but
at the time of Pierce's campaign the father voted the Free Soil ticket, while
our subject continued with the old party until 1856 when he cast his ballot for
John C. Fremont and has voted with the Republicans ever since.

  In 1855 Mr. Babcock removed from Ashtabula County, Ohio, to Lapeer County, and
engaged in making patterns (mostly for engines), and he had a farm in Burnside
Township, on which he lived for five years. He enlisted on the 17th of December,
1863, in Company I, First Michigan Regiment of Engineers and Mechanics and was
engaged in bridge-building, ship-building and storehouse-building in connection
with the Army of the Cumberland. From working in the water (as they had to do
much of the time while under fire) he contracted a disease from which he has
never recovered and he now receives a pension of $30 a month, being seriously
indisposed and having lost also the use of his left leg.

  Being discharged June 9, 1865, this patriot returned to Lapeer and made his
home there for some ten years after which he removed to Imlay City. His second
marriage took place in 1871, and by that union there is one child—Ida B.—who
lives with her father. Her mother's maiden name was Susan Reed, and she was
called from earth March 27, 1874. The present Mrs. Babcock was by birth Selinda
Cunningham, but previous to her marriage with our subject in July, 1878, she was
the widow of Mr. George Riedy. Her home was in Attica Township, Lapeer County,
and she was born in Vermont of New England stock, her father being one of the
veterans of 1812.

  He of whom we write was a member of the Board of Trustees for two years and
has been Justice of the Peace and Notary Public since 1881, besides doing much
in the pension business. The cases brought before him in his court of justice
are sometimes appealed but never has there been one reversed, and he gives much
satisfaction in the transaction of the business which comes to him from other
townships, as well as his own. He has been a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and now belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic in which he serves
as Quartermaster and Commander.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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