Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 958 - 959

WILLIAM H. BABB. Among the old settlers of Salem Township there is none who stands higher in the estimation of his fellow-citizens than W. H. Babb, who is residing on section 32, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa, and was born Feb. 23, 1844. His parents, James and Rosanna (Douglas) Babb, were natives respectively of Frederick County, Va., and Preble County, Ohio.

            The ancestors of the subject of this personal memoir were English on the father's side, and German on that of his mother. His maternal grandfather, John Douglas, was a soldier in the armies of the United States during the war with Great Britain in 1812-15. James Babb died in 1849; he was the father of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only survivor. Those deceased were as follows: John A., who laid down his life a sacrifice on the altar of his country at the siege of Atlanta during the late Rebellion; Mary S., Charles R. and Darwin. The mother of Mr. Babb of whom we write is now the wife of Robert Breckenridge, and is a resident of Salem Township.

            On losing his father at the age of five years, the subject of this sketch was taken by his grandfather, John Douglas, with whom he remained until he was about twelve years old. About that time his mother was again married, and was then residing in Clinton County, Ind., and he again made his home with her, and was reared to manhood in that locality. He received his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, and was early initiated into the duties of a farmer's life. Shortly before attaining his majority he enlisted, on the 16th of February, 1865, in Company I, 150th Indiana Infantry, which was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. The brigade in which it was placed was under the command of Col. Riddle, and was a portion of the corps of Gen. Brooks. Having enlisted toward the close of the war, Mr. Babb was not called upon to participate in any of the battles of that cruel and unnatural contest. He was on his way with the regiment to Richmond when Gen. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. After having been mustered out he received his discharge, Aug. 4, 1865, and returned to his home in Indiana, where he made his residence until the fall of 1871, when he removed to Warren County, Iowa, but a year later came to Sedgwick County. On his arrival here he preempted the northeast quarter of section 32, in what is now Salem Township. His land was in its raw, primitive condition when he located upon it, but by incessant labor, perseverance and good management, he has succeeded in bringing it all to a state of cultivation.

            The marriage ceremony which united the destinies of William H. Babb and Miss Ella James took place Jan. 29, 1879. The bride was a native of Brown County, Ill., born June 26, 1858, and is a daughter of John W. and Martha (Garrett) James, who were among the earliest settlers of Salem Township. Her father was born in Scott County, Ind., Oct. 1, 1819, and is a son of Thomas and Priscilla James, both of whom are supposed to have been natives of "the dark and bloody ground," Kentucky. When Mr. James was about twelve years old he removed with his parents to Schuyler County, Ill., where he was married, Dec 19, 1843, to Martha Garrett, a native of Virginia. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Mary E., the wife of Dr. S. Mann, living in Wellington, Kan.; Carrie, Mrs. E. R. Ross, of Wichita; Henry J., a resident of Pratt County, this State; Calvin G., of Sumner County, this State; Ella, the wife of the subject of this sketch; and Hurlbert, who was killed in the retreat after the battle of Franklin, Tenn. Mr. James came to Sedgwick County in the fall of 1870, and pre-empted 160 acres of land on sections 28 and 29, where he lived for some years, but a short time ago sold out to George Price. In politics he is a Republican, and an enterprising, public-spirited man. The mother of Mrs. Babb died in this county, May 3, 1873.

            There have come to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Babb two children: James C., whose birth occurred Oct. 14, 1879, and Daisy, who was born Oct. 16, 1882. Mr. Babb is a Democrat in polities, and has had several township offices bestowed upon him by that party. He was the first Clerk of School District No. 93, and for four years served as School Director. He is the present Treasurer of the school district, and is honored with the fullest confidence of the community in which he lives. He is classed among the successful and prosperous farmers of the township, and is greatly esteemed for his uprightness, benevolent disposition and genial hospitality.

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