Maltbie Davenport Babcock (1858 - 1901)

Born 3 Aug 1858 in Syracuse, Onondaga, New York, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Katherine Eliot (Tallman) Babcock — married 4 Oct 1882 in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States

Died 18 May 1901 at age 42 in Naples, Campania, Italy

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ted Babcock [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Babcock Name Study.

Maltbie Babcock is Notable.

He was a man of remarkable ability, and had great popularity as a pulpit orator both in Baltimore and New York.

-Stephen Babcock

Maltbie Davenport Babcock was born in 1858 Syracuse, New York. He is the son of Henry Babcock and Emily Maltbie. A noted American clergyman and writer, he authored the familiar hymn, This is My Father's World.^{[1] [2]}

Maltbie was educated in the public schools of Syracuse and graduated in 1879 from Syracuse University with highest honors. He played baseball on the University's team and was a member of the Psi Upslion Fraternity. He was selected to give the Alumni Address in 1895. He studied theology at the Auburn Theological Seminary, receiving his degree in 1882.^[1]

Syracuse University; Auburn Seminary; high honors^[3]

Babcock attended Syracuse University and Auburn Theological Seminary. He ranked high as a student and participated in both athletic and musical activities. Tall, broad shouldered, and muscular, he was president of the baseball team, an expert pitcher, and a good swimmer. He played several musical instruments, directed the school orchestra, and played the organ and composed for it. He was a singer and leader of the glee club. He could do impersonations, was clever at drawing, and had a knack with tools. He was also an avid fisherman. He might have become a professional musician had he not chosen the ministry.

His first pastorate was at the First Presbyterian Church, Lockport, New York. In 1886, he was called to Brown Memorial Church, Baltimore, Maryland, where he often counseled students at Johns Hopkins University. As his fame spread, he was asked to preach at colleges all over America. Babcock was not a great theologian or deep thinker, but had a talent for presenting spiritual and ethical truths with freshness and effect. In doing this, he was aided by his agile mind, wide range of knowledge, dramatic ability, speech fluency, and magnetic personality.

After almost 14 years in Baltimore, Babcock was called to the prestigious pastorate of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Henry Van Dyke. Babcock had been there only 18 months when he made a trip to the Holy Land. While overseas, he died of brucellosis.

Though Babcock published nothing during his life, his wife Katherine collected and published many of his writings after his untimely death. A volume of his poems contained This Is My Father’s World. Babcock, of course, never heard his famous hymn sung.

Maltbie Babcock married on 4 Oct 1882 at Poughkeepsie, New York, Katherine Eliot Tallman, youngest daughter of John Peck Higgins Tallman, a prominent lawyer of Poughkeepsie, New York. They had two children, both of whom died in infancy.^[1]

Children of Maltbie Babcock and Katherine Tallman

1. Edward Anderson Babcock, d. 21 Aug 1883
2. John Tallman Babcock, d. 11 Feb 1890

Siblings of Maltbie Babcock

Howard Noyes Babcock

William Babcock

Clara Emily Babcock

Henry Townsend Babcock

Mary Elizabeth Babcock

Annie Treadwell Babcock

"Babcock died at age 42 in Naples, Italy, 18 May 1901, returning from a trip to the Holy Land. According to a New York Times report of 20 May 1901, and widely carried by newspapers coast-to-coast, he committed suicide by slitting his wrist and ingesting "corrosive sublimate" or mercuric chloride. He was being treated in the International Hospital in Naples for what was called "Mediterranean fever," an archaic term for brucellosis. Several of his travel companions suffered from this bacterial infection which causes fever, pain and depression. Babcock had been hospitalized for "nervous prostration" (depression) in Danville, New York, ten years before his death."^[1]

Funeral of Rev. Dr. Babcock

Maltbie Babcock was buried at Oakwood Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.

Maltie was born in 1858. He passed away in 1901.

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCQB-GCH : 12 December 2017), Maltbie Babcock in entry for Henry Babcock, 1860.
• "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT8Y-8MY : 30 June 2016), Maltbie D Babcock in household of Henry Babcock, Syracuse, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing p. 8, line 38, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZX2-N4R : 8 September 2017), Maltbie D Babcock in household of Henry Babcock, Syracuse, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 211, sheet 238C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0907; FHL microfilm 1,254,907.
• Babcock, Stephen. "The Babcock Genealogy" page 443
• Congregational Online Library has various documents relating to Maltbie Babcock

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Wikipedia Maltbie Davenport Babcock
2. ↑ This Is My Father's World
3. ↑ To Rick Tallman, e-mail, 28 June 2011, "Re: My Family"; privately held by Tallman [(E-ADDRESS), & STREET ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Saugerties, New York, .Saugerties, New York. Author: Jon Tallman, [(E-ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE),] Note: Information on John P. H. Tallman [451291] and his descendants, and his connection to Darius and Rebecca (Southworth) Tallman [64582 & 126911]. (see John PH Tallman Lineage.doc) Paranthetical: Y

Acknowledgements

• Sara V Mosher
• Babcock-1899 was created by Tom Greene through the import of wikiedwardbabcock1.ged on May 17, 2015.
• WikiTree profile Babcock-474 created through the import of Maltby master 08282011.GED on Aug 30, 2011 by Harry Maltby. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Harry and others.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #35975914