WASHINGTON I. BABB 1844 - ca 1910

 

WASHINGTON I. BABB was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, October 2, 1844. His
education was begun in the public schools and continued in the Wesleyan
University at Mount Pleasant. Early in 1863 he enlisted in the Eighth Iowa
Cavalry, serving with his regiment in the Army of the Cumberland until the
close of the war. He took part in the Atlanta campaign, the battles of
Franklin and Nashville and the Wilson expedition through Alabama and Georgia.
Upon his return to Mount Pleasant, Mr. Babb reentered the University,
graduating in 1866. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and entered upon
practice in 1868. He was a member of the law firm of Woolson & Babb, which
for eighteen years was regarded as one of the ablest in that section of the
State. Although originally a Republican, Mr. Babb differed with his party on
reconstruction policy and united with the Democrats after the war. In 1883
he was elected to the House of the Twentieth General Assembly in a strong
Republican county, serving as a member of the committees on judiciary and
railroads. In 1890 he was chosen judge of the Second Judicial District,
resuming practice upon leaving the bench in 1895. When the free silver issue
became prominent Judge Babb was largely instrumental in securing the adoption
of a sound money platform at the Democratic State Convention of 1895, which
nominated him for Governor. In 1896 he received the Democratic vote in the
General Assembly for United States Senator. He adhered to the sound money
wing of the party in the campaign of 1896. Judge Babb has taken a deep
interest in education, serving for more than twenty years as a trustee of the
Iowa Wesleyan University, and several years as regent of the State
University. The former institution has conferred upon him the degree of LL.D.


Debbie Clough G-erischer  http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/