Babcock, William H.

MARTIN, KNOTT, DOVE

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/1/2010 at 13:16:28

William H. Babcock, an enterprising and representative citizen of Bremer county, has for the past nine years been identified with financial interests as cashier of the Waverly Savings Bank. His birth occurred in Lysander township, Onondaga county, New York, on the 6th of June, 1865, his parents being William H. and Catherine E. (Martin) Babcock, likewise natives of the Empire state. The father, an agriculturist by occupation, passed away before the birth of our subject, dying from the effects of a wound received in the battle of Groveton, Virginia, while fighting with the Union army. The mother survives and makes her home in New York.

William H. Babcock, the only child of his parents, obtained his early education in the district school of his home vicinity and subsequently continued his studies in an academy at Baldwinsville, New York. In October, 1887, when a young man of twenty-two years, he came to Waverly, Iowa, and on the 3d of January of the following year secured emplolyment as a bookkeeper with Edward Knott, in whose service he remained until the fall of 1895. In the fall of 1896, he was elected county recorder and ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in that connection until January 1, 1901. At the end of his term of office he went to Welsh, Louisiana, and there became identified with financial interests as cashier for Calkins, Spalding & Company, private bankers, with whom he continued for one year. He then returned to Waverly and on the 1st of February, 1904, entered the Waverly Savings Bank as cashier, in which capacity he has remained continuously since, enjoying an enviable and merited reputation as an able, courteous and obliging official of the institution.

On the 5th of November, 1890, Mr. Babcock was united in marriage to Miss Edith P. Dove, who was born near Waverly, Bremer county, her parents being William C. and Lydia M. (Brown) Dove. The father, a native of England, emigrated to the United states with his parents when quite young and in the year 1861 came to Bremer county, Iowa, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits until 1897. During the past sixteen years he has lived retired at Waverly. Mr. and Mrs. Babcok have two children. Iva C., who was born on the 31st of October, 1892, and is a graduate of the Waverly high school and also a graduate of the musical department of the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, completing the course with the class of 1913 and is now teaching special music in the public schools of Humboldt, Iowa. William D., whose natal day was March 13, 1904, is attending school.

Mr. Babcock gives his political allegiance to the republican party and, as stated above, served as recorder of Bremer county for four years. He likewise acted as a member of the city council for five years and has also done able service on the school board, making a creditable record as a public official of ability and worth. A public-spirited and loyal citizen, his cooperation has been sought and given in the promotion of measures instituted for the development and growth of the county along material lines. He is a member of the board of directors and one of the organizers of the Bremer County Fair and has served on the board of the Waverly industrial Association since its inception. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias. He is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him and enjoys the friendship of many who honor him for the high qualities of his mind and character and his public-spirited, truly American citizenship.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914