West Babcock Biography


	This biography appears on pages 743-744 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WEST BABCOCK. 

	West Babcock, agent for the state of South Dakota for the Mutual 
Benefit Life Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, was born in 
Chickasaw county, Iowa, May 9, 1858, and is a son of Lemuel R. and 
Martha (Hodson) Babcock, the former a native of New York. The family is 
of English origin and was founded in America by the great-great-
grandfather of our subject, who came from England to New York, where 
his son and grandson were born. 

	West Babcock acquired a limited education in the public schools 
of Dundas, Minnesota, whither his parents had moved in 1868. After 
laying aside his books he learned the cooper's trade and followed that 
occupation in connection with farming until 1886. In that year he 
removed to Northfield, Minnesota, and turned his attention to the 
livery business, conducting an enterprise of this character for four 
years. In 1890 he became connected with the Mutual Benefit Life 
Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, for which he acted as agent in 
Northfield until 1903. He was then made state agent with headquarters 
in Sioux Falls and has since held this responsible and important 
position. He does a large business and has accomplished a great deal in 
the interests of his company, being regarded as one of its most trusted 
and valued representatives. 

	On the 10th of January, 1882, at Northfield, Minnesota, Mr. 
Babcock was united in marriage to Miss Carrie F. Hibbard, a daughter of 
Culver Hibbard, who served in a Minnesota regiment during the Civil 
war. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have become the parents of four children: 
Fannie L., the wife of A. V. Kelley, of Sioux Falls; Martha Maude, who 
married Arthur T. Fosdick; Earl H., who died at the age of six years; 
and Beatrice M., who died at eighteen months. 

	Mr. Babcock gives his political allegiance to the republican 
party. He holds membership in the Elks, the Country and the Dacotah 
Clubs and is a thirty-second degree Mason. In 1914 he was eminent 
commander of Cyrene Commandery, No. 2, and was grand scribe of the 
Grand Chapter of South Dakota in 1914-15. He is well known in Sioux 
Falls and his many friends esteem him highly for his business ability 
and his genuine personal worth.