Rev. Herbert Eugene Babcock, eldest son of Samuel L. and Almyra Babcock, was born in Brookfield, Madison Co., New York, September 28, 1833, and died at his home in Laton, California, May 12, 1909.
He is survived by his wife, Lua E. Card Babcock, and four children: Herbert E. Babcock Jr., of Laton, L. Elvira Pickrel, of Coalinga, Edwin A. Babcock and Edna A. Davis of Fresno, Cal., also five grandchildren. One daughter, Mena Belle, preceded him in death.
Of his father's family two brothers and two sisters are living: O. W. Babcock and Angeline Babcock of Nortonville, Kansas, M. S. Babcock of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Mrs. J. G. Spicer of Plainfield, New Jersey.
When he was four years old his parents moved to Adams, Jefferson Co., N. Y., and settled near Adams Center, where he passed his boyhood. In early life he became a Christian, was baptized and joined the Seventh-day Baptist Church, wherein he found his life's work.
The winter that he was nineteen he went to De Ruyter and attended the De Ruyter Institute two and one-half years, after which he spent three years in Albion, Wisconsin, attending Albion Academy and being one of its first graduates. The last year he taught two classes in Latin with marked success.
He commenced teaching school soon after, and at various times during his life taught about thirty terms in all. This work was done in New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas.
In 1863 he was elected deacon in the Adams Seventh-day Baptist Church where he was a member. In 1865 he was given a license to preach. In 1867 he entered the Junior class of Alfred University, classical course, graduating in 1869, when he was ordained to the ministry.
He at once went as missionary pastor to the Woodville (R. I.) Church, remaining there one year. In the fall of 1870 the Missionary Board of the Western Association engaged him to work as general missionary in that association. However, arrangements were made that for the present he was to serve the Hebron (Pa.) Church, and this he did, afterward feeling that his work there was one of the most important of his life. While in Pennsylvania he had preaching stations at twelve different places and the most of travel was on foot. His health was not good much of the time and it was only through great courage and consecration to his life's work that he was able to keep on.
In September, 1872, he was married to S. Elvira Stillman, of Hebron, Pa., who died five months later.
In June, 1874, he married Lua E. Card, of Roulette, Pa., and they went to Alden, Minn., where he was engaged as pastor. He served this church about one and one-half years, when he consummated a union between the Carlston and Alden churches and resigned his pastorate in favor of Rev. J. N. Bakus, then pastor of the Carlston Church.
He then moved to Trenton, serving that church for a time, after which he moved to West Hallock, Ill., where he lived until 1878, when the Missionary Board requested him to go to the Republican Valley, Nebraska, and look after their church interests there.
While there he organized the Orleans Seventh-day Baptist Church and Rev. S. R. Wheeler and he organized the Walnut Creek Seventh-day Baptist Church. The existence of both these churches was short, owing to removals and the scattering of membership.
In 1887 he moved to Scott County, Kansas, where he organized the Friend Seventh-day Baptist Church; and in 1896 he with Rev. Madison Harry organized the Dighton Seventh-day Baptist Church. The conditions of living, owing to the aridity of the climate, tended to lack of permanency in these societies. Indeed, it was the great factor in their discontinuance.
In 1897 he with his family removed to Nortonville, Kansas, and in 1901 he with his wife came to California on a visit, making that their home until his death. He was interested in the church and its work until the last, although failing health prohibited active work.
