BABCOCK, C. E. 1829-1903

BABCOCK, EMERSON, MCFARLAND, EVANS, HURD

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 6/13/2014 at 16:20:13

[New Hampton Gazette, Thursday, November 5, 1903]

Death of Mr. C. E. BABCOCK.

Aged and Respected Resident of New Hampton Passes Away After a Lingering Illness.

On Tuesday afternoon at his home in this city, occurred the death of Mr. C. E. Babcock, of dropsy. He had been ill for several months and his children from various points have made frequent trips from their homes to this city, expecting that each visit with him would be the last.

Deceased was born in Steuben county, New York, July 10, 1829. His childhood and youth were spent in the state of his birth and in Ohio. Removing from Ohio to Wisconsin in 1852, he was united in marriage to Kate A. Emerson at Janesville, Wis., Feb. 28, 1853, who, after journeying by his side for more than fifty years, still survives him. Eight sons and four daughters were born to them, all of whom are living except one son and one daughter. The surviving children are C. A. Babcock, Sanborn, Ia., F. J., Harry and Claude Babcock and Mrs. O. A. McFarland of Chickasaw Babcock Zounty, Ia., William and Herbert Babcock and Mrs. E. E. Evans of Howard county, Ia., R. E. Babcock of Denver, Ia., and Mrs. N. A. Hurd of Waucoma, Iowa.

How swift has been the passing of the years, since in the pride and strength of their youth, they began the journey of life together! Young manhood and womanhood with its joys, its hopes, its green fields and sunny landscapes - middle age, where the path grows steeper, but the skies are still bright and the song of the birds is as pleasant as of yore. There is happiness in the home for there are no vacant seats, save one, and that is in the long ago. Old age, and the descent towards the western horizon is a little rougher, the breath comes quicker and the heads are silvered now, yet still hope beckons them onward as hand in hand, and lovers still through all the changing years, they journey toward the setting sun.

His last illness dates from about the middle of September, when dropsy set in. The disease rapidly sapped his strength and it soon became apparent that the end was near. He realized that the slender cord, which moors us to time, had been slackened, and that he was drifting away to that still, strange land. Patiently he awaited the change. All during the day of Nov. 3rd, the unseen messenger had waited around the bedside, until the hour when the disturbed chemistries of failing life could no longer resist, and then bore him away. During his sickness he frequently spoke of his approaching death, and always with resignation. This great mysterious change he did not dread or fear. Peacefully he sank to rest.

It may be truthfully said of C. E. Babcock that he possessed in an unusual degree the great virtue of charity. He was ever ready to help, as best he could, those in need of help. He was by nature kind and sympathetic. There was no element of cruelty in his nature. He had the happy faculty of making friends and he believed in the advise of Polonias to Laertes:

"The friends thou hast and their affection tried,
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel."

His ambition for his children was not so much that they should acquire wealth, as that they should have and practice virtue.

If it be true that:

"To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die."

Then does he yet live.

"Men die but sorrow never dies,
The crowding years divide in vain;
And the wide world if full of ties,
Of common brotherhood in pain."

The funeral services were held at the M. E. church in this city at 2:00 p. m. today, Rev. D. M. Parker, the pastor, preaching the funeral sermon, after which interment was made in Graceland Cemetery. To all the relatives, who today take leave of the departed, the sympathy of this community is extended.