BIOGRAPHY: Iram W. Babcock; Haverstraw, Rockland co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

IRAM W. BABCOCK since 1870 has made his home in a comfortable residence on
the corner of Broad and Wayne Streets, Haverstraw. He was born in this village
May 6, 1842, being a son of Job and Esther (Wood) Babcock. His maternal
grandfather, Joseph Wood, was a Revolutionary soldier; his paternal
great-grandfather, Job Babcock, also took part in that memorable struggle,
while Grandfather John Babcock served in the War of 1812. The second-named
lived one-quarter of a mile from Stony Point at the time of the battle there,
and he participated in the conflict.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Haverstraw,
and in boyhood was a laborer in the brickyards, but later learned the
carpenter's trade in Jersey City, under the late Samuel Congrove. In 1863,
when General Lee invaded Pennsylvania, he enlisted in the Seventeenth National
Guard and rendered service, mainly guard duty, ill Virginia and Maryland. On
his return to New York he began as a carpenter and contractor in partnership
with his brother John at Haverstraw, their connection continuing until 1876,
during which time they erected many of the principal buildings of the place.

In politics Mr. Babcock has always adhered to Republican principles. In 1876
he was elected Village Trustee, a fact which attests his popularity, for the
village is strongly Democratic. In that capacity he served for two years.
Elected a member of the School Board, he filled that position for six years,
and took a leading part in consolidating the schools and placing them in their
present excellent condition. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the
time the present school building was erected. Notwithstanding the fact that
his town is strongly Democratic, he was elected Overseer of the Poor,
receiving a large majority. After having served for two years, he refused
further re-election. He was then elected County Superintendent of the Poor,
with a majority of four hundred and fifty, though usually the county has a
Democratic majority of twelve hundred. At the expiration of his term of three
years, he was re-elected by a majority of thirteen hundred and eight, being
the only Re-publican elected at either of these elections. Though he never
lived on the county farm in the town of Ramapo, he had full charge of it, and
was noted for his wise and economical management of affairs. For years he has
served on the County Committee, and he frequently attends the conventions of
his party.

In 1877 Mr. Babcock entered the employ of the North River Steamboat Company as
agent for their business at Haverstraw, and this position he has since filled
acceptably. May 25, 1865, he married Christina Griffith, the ceremony being
performed by Rev. Mr. Gay in the Episcopal Church at Garnerville. Mrs. Babcock
was born in Paris, Canada, and in infancy was brought to Rockland County,
where her father, John Griffith, became proprietor of a paper-mill in
Haverstraw. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock, Hiram Edward, was educated
in the high school and Packard's Business College in New York City, and is now
a clerk in the Fifth Avenue Bank, New York. Mr. Babcock and his family
belongto the Central Presbyterian Church, and Edward, who is a fine musician,
was for some years organist in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially our
subject is a member of Stony Point Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., in which he is
Senior War-den. He is also Senior Vice-Commander of Ed-ward Pye Post, G. A. R.
He carries two certificates as a member of the fire department, with which he
is still connected as an honorary member. In all enterprises for the
upbuilding of Haver-straw he has taken an active interest, and is justly
numbered among the progressive men of the place.