James W. Babcock (1836 - abt. 1924)

Born 14 Aug 1836 in Concord, Erie, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Martha B. (Hunt) Babcock — married 13 Apr 1879 in Bear Creek, Sauk, Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died about 10 Dec 1924 at about age 88 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rachel Lemke [send private message]

Biography

James was born in 1836.

In 1850 James resided with his parents, Hosea and Nancy (Thurber) Babcock and many siblings at Waukesha, Wisconsin. Based on the birth locations of the youngest children in the family, they seem to have migrated from New York to Wisconsin about 1848. ^[1] It appears that later brothers Hosea and James both served in the Wisconsin 13 Regiment, Company I. Infantry during the Civil War. ^{[2] [3]}

James married Martha Hunt on April 13 in 1879 at Sauk, Wisconsin. His parents are listed as Hosea and Nancy Babcock on the marriage record. He was considerably older than Martha. ^[4]

They had a son named Lewis Henry born May 10 in 1879. ^[5]

In 1880 James and Martha can be seen at Bear Creek in Sauk County with their young son named Clarence, possible the same person as Lewis Henry given his age. (Possibly a twin, though you never see them both in the same time frame) The family lives near Joseph Hunt, who is likely Martha's father. ^[6]. They had other children including Nellie (Nettie) who died as an infant in 1883. It is from her death record that we see James' middle initial was "W.". ^[7][8]

In 1887 Martha died, leaving James a widower. At least one of their children, David, appears to have been raised by Martha's father Joseph Buer Hunt.

James' Later life in Iowa

Around 1895 a James Babcock shows up in Pottawatomie County, Iowa living in a rooming house. ^[9]and noting himself as widowed. Based n the civil war record of this person and the record of Hosea and James Babcock serving Wisconsin's 13th Regiment, Company I, this is very likely the same James.

In 1900 he is in Underwood, Iowa as a boarder. ^[10]

In the 1905 Iowa Census this James resides at Underwood, claims to be single and having been in Iowa 13 years, and also lists civil war service with Wisconsin Regiment 13, Company I. ^[11] The same soldier seems to have been admitted twice to a Veteran's facility in Milwaukee as his health was failing. He is noted as a widower with no family to speak of. ^[12] His brother Hosea died at the same facility. ^[13]

He died December 10 1924 of pneumonia with senility as a contributing factor. ^[14] and was buried on the 22nd. His grave is marked with a military gravestone. ^[15]

^[16]

Note: On family search a misleading middle name of Preston is given. This looks like a mix up of son David's father-in-law who was named James Preston Heinlen.

Sources

1. ↑ 1850 US Census
2. ↑ 1895 Wisconsin Veterans list
3. ↑ NPS Soldier Roster
4. ↑ Indexed marriage record
5. ↑ Wisconsin Birth Record
6. ↑ 1880 US Census
7. ↑ Wisconsin Death Record of "Nettie" Babcock
8. ↑ Person Profile at Family Search
9. ↑ 18995 Iowa Census
10. ↑ 1900 US Census
11. ↑ 1905 Iowa Census
12. ↑ Milwaukee Veterans Facility Records
13. ↑ Milwaukee Veteran's Facility Brother Hosea's Record
14. ↑ Iowa Death Certificate
15. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79247654/james-babcock
16. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Rachel (Gazinski) Lemke.