Edward Coddington Babcock
History of Montana, Sanders, 1913

Edward Coddington Babcock, founder of the well-known firm of E.C. Babcock and Company, which for many years occupied a high place in commercial circles of this section of the state, was recognized as one of the leading merchants of Helena.  Of rugged New England ancestry, he came of a family of merchants.  He was the son of Draper Babcock and his wife, Mary Eliott, the latter being a descendant of the noted Eliott (or Eliot) of Massachusetts, and was one of the four children of these parents named as follows:  Edward C; Howard E., who was associated for a time with his brother Edward in Montana but died in Monmouth; Jennie, widow of Allen B. Seaman, who was a well-known attorney of Denver, Colorado; Lucious A., a resident of Monmouth Illinois and the father of two sons-Draper and Eliott Coddington Babcock.

Draper Babcock was the son of Elisha Coddington Babcock, a pioneer merchant of Momouth Illinois where he for years conducted the leading and largest mercantile business in the place in which he was succeeded by his son, Draper, who continued in the business for many years, retiring a few years prior to his death.  One of the maternal ancestors of Mr. Babcock was Gov. William Coddington, of Rhode Island and one of the original proprietors of Providence plantations. The original American progenitor of the house of Babcock was James, who came from England and settled at Portsmouth Rhode Island prior to 1665, and later moved to Westerly Rhode Island. From him descended the greater portion of those bearing the name of Babcock in America today.  

Edward Caddington Babcock was born at Monmouth Illinois on March 27, 1854 and received his early education in the schools of that city and in Monmouth College of which his father was one of the founders.   He later attended Cornell University.  Following the completion of his educational training he entered his father's store where for two years he received excellent mercantile training under the direction of his father.  It was the wish of the elder Babcock that his son continue with him in the old established business which ad came down to him from his father, but Edward was anxious to have an independent career.  He came to the west, locating in Leadville Colorado, which was at that time experiencing a boom and there he established a clothing and men's furnishing store which he conducted for two years.  He then sold out and in 1885 came to Montana locating first at Butte where he established a similar store on North Main Street.  He was joined by his brother Howard E. a year later and Edward C. Babcock left him in charge at Butte and established a store in Helena on Main Street opposite Broadway.  Later, the keen foresight of Mr. Babcock was evidenced when he moved the business to Main Street near Sixth Avenue, the heart of the business section, and her he continued until the time of his death.

For about three years Mr. Babcock was in indifferent health and he made frequent trips to other climates in the hope of receiving benefit.  He was at all times, however, the head the heart of his business.  On the occasion of his leaving the city and upon his return from trips of this nature, the Helena press almost invariably made reference with regret to the necessity which compelled his absence and pleasure on his return.  While in Los Angeles, in search of health, his death came quite suddenly on January 1, 1910 and he was laid to rest in the family lot beside his parents, at Monmouth Illinois, his native place and boyhood home.

Mr. Babcock was a very successful merchant-perhaps none in the section of the state gained a greater success in that business than did he.  He was a Republican in his political faith and while he displayed an interest in the election of good men to the public offices, he took no active part in political affairs beyond the casting of his vote.  He was a member of no secret societies but was especially fond of his home and home life.  He was fond of travel and with Mrs. Babcock had visited practically every section of interest in this country and in 1900 and gain in 1907 they made European tours.

On March 27, 1910, following his death and on the fifty-sixth anniversary of his birth, Mrs. Babcock in his memory established the Edward C. Babcock room in St. Peter's Hospital at Helena.

October 13, 1881 at Monmouth Illinois Mr. Babcock was married to Miss Minnie R. Swain, a native of that place and the daughter of Alexander Hamilton and Mary Louis (Brewer) Swain, the parents being of English and Swiss extraction.  Alexander H. Swain, father of Mrs. Babcock established and for thirty years owned the Monmouth Review, a leading Democratic paper of that section of the state.  Mrs. Babcock continues her residence at Helena, on Harrison Avenue, her home being one of the handsome residences of the city.

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