For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 717
HENRY F. BABBITT....The road to success leads through numberless difficulties, each of which must be overcome by the aspirant who finally reaches the goal. The man who falters or turns back has little possibility of becoming a leader in the strife, but he who forges bravely ahead and is willing to deny himself smaller gratifications for the sake of the final reward is almost absolutely sure of victory. Henry F. Babbitt, a prosperous farmer of Orono township, belongs to the class last named.Born in Knox county, Illinois, October 23, 1846, he is a son of David and Mary ( Dorman ) Babbitt, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They were married in Illinois and in 1868 came to Iowa, settling in Appanoose county, where the father continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1898 at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother now makes her home with her youngest daughter and is eighty-four years of age. There wre nine children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Babbitt, namely : Amanda, the widow of Sidney H. Williams, of Nebraska ; Henry F., the subject of this review ; William, Marion and John, all of whom are deceased ; Jacob, who is now living at Gainsborough, Saskatchewan, Canada ; Florence, who married Harland Marsh, of Livingston, Iowa, and is now deceased ; Arminda, who married E. O. Coleman, of Seymour, Iowa ; and Richard, deceased.
Henry F. Babbitt received his early education in the district schools and as a boy applied himself industriously to everything he undertook, thus acquiring a habit which has been of great practical benefit to him through life. He remained with his parents until twenty-three years of age and then married and began business upon his own account by buying, selling and feeding stock, in which line he continued upon an extensive scale for twenty-five years. He then accepted a position as solicitor for a commission and grain firm of Chicago and was identified with this line of business for seven years, subsequently purchasing the farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 31, Orono township, where he now lives. He is a good judge of stock and handles standard grades with results that have added materially to his financial resources.
On the 6th of July, 1870, Mr. Babbitt was united in marriage to Miss Alida Pettit, who was born in Saratoga county, New York, November 27, 1850, a daughter of Noah and Juda ( Angle ) Pettit. The parents were born in New York state and married there, coming in 1857 to Appanoose county, Iowa, where Mr. Pettit engaged in farming. He died in December, 1893, at the age of seventy-three years. Five years later on April 14, 1898, his wife was called away, being then in the seventy-sixth year of her age. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Pettit : John H., of Appanoose county ; and Alida, now Mrs. Henry F. Babbitt. Mr. and Mrs. Babbitt became the parents of nine children : Fannie, who was born April 9, 1871, and is now the wife of Edwin Stanton, of Nichols, Iowa ; Ralph E., born August 17, 1873 ; Nellie, who was born September 6, 1875, and is the wife of Joseph Guthrie, of Lone Tree, Iowa ; Madge, who was born July 21, 1881, and is the wife of C. W. Bangs, of Paullina, Iowa ; Glen R., born March 26, 1883 ; Lloyd H., born June 24, 1888 ; Lazelle C., born August 14, 1890 ; Verne Leon, born March 17, 1893 ; and Grace M., born June 21, 1897. The five children last named are all living at home.
Ralph E. Babbitt, the second child of mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Babbitt was educated in the common schools of Orono township and grew to manhood under the parental roof, continuing at home until twenty-three years of age, when he began farming upon his own account by renting land. In November, 1909 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Orono township, upon which he has made many improvements, so that it is now highly productive. On March 28, 1900, he married Miss Cora E Beatty, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa March 2, 1879, a daughter of John and Eliza ( Kirk ) Beatty, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. They were married in Muscatine county and Mr. Beatty devoted his attention successfully to farming until his death, which occurred in 1885. Mrs. Beatty continued upon the home farm until 1903, when she removed to Lone Tree, Iowa, where she is now living, having arrived at the age of sixty-six years. She is the mother of eleven children, namely : William, deceased ; Emma, the wife of Howard Betts, of Colorado ; Robert, of Lone Tree ; John, deceased ; Maggie, now Mrs. Thomas Thompson, of Platte, South Dakota ; Mattie, the wife of Carlos Briggs, of Fort Collins, Colorado ; Stuart, deceased ; Charley, of Fairport, Iowa ; Elizabeth, now the wife of John Healy, of Muscatine ; Cora E., now Mrs. Ralph E. Babbitt ; and Arthur, of Lone Tree. Two children have brightened the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Babbitt : Helen, born January 28, 1902 ; and Mildred, born July 23, 1906. Mrs. Babbitt received the advantages of a good common school education and was a successful teacher previous to her marriage. Mr. Babbitt is politically identified with the republican party and fraternally is a valued member of the camp of Modern Brotherhood of America, at Conesville. He and his family hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.
Henry F. Babbitt is a stanch believer in the Christian religion and he and his wife and children are active workers in the Methodist chhurch. As head of a large family he has set a noble example of perseverance and industry, instilling habits of prudence and economy into his children which have had a controlling influence on their lives. Today in the midst of comfort and plenty he looks back on a life well spent and can view the future with a serenity known only to those who have attempted to perform their duty.
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