Cheboygan County MI Genealogy

H.S. Babcock, M.D.

Source: The Past and Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1903.

Among the practitioners of medicine in Danville worthy of public patronage by reason of thorough understanding of the science of medicine and devotion to the profession, is Dr. H. S. Babcock, a native of Pennsylvania, born in Warren county, August 26, 1869. His father, Joseph F. Babcock, was also born in that county and after arriving at years of maturity was married there to Jennie Gibson, likewise born in that locality. He was a farmer and lumber merchant, but for some time lived in the city of Warren and at the present time is filling the office of chief of police. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican, while socially he is connected with the Knights of the Maccabees, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Republic. He is entitled to membership in the last named organization through service in the Civil war, for in 1864 he responded to the country's call for aid and enlisted in defense of the Union. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of which his wife is also a member and they are highly esteemed people of the community in which they make their home. In their family were but two children, the Doctor's sister being Dr. Margaret Maloy, the wife of Dr. Earl Maloy, of Lincoln, Illinois. She is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, and is engaged in practice.

In the district schools of Conewanago township, Warren county, Pennsylvania, Dr. Babcock pursued his preliminary education and later studied in the grade schools and in the academy of Warren, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he matriculated in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in the medical department with the class of 1891. Since that time he has been a practitioner of Vermilion county, locating first in Higginsville. When the railroad was built through the locality, the town of Jamesburg was established and Dr. Babcock opened his office at that place, where he remained for ten and a half years. Then, seeking a wider field of labor, he came to Danville, where he has since remained, enjoying a growing practice which has demonstrated his skill in the successful handling of many important cases. On the 24th of December, 1891, in Chicago, Illinois, the Doctor was united in marriage to Mabel Buck, who was born in Cheboygan, Michigan, on Christmas day of 1873, a daughter of Moses and Borredell (Greenwood) Buck, both of whom were natives of Maine, the mother having been born in Abbott. They were married in the Pine Tree state and the father engaged in the lumber business there, subsequently removing to Michigan, where he continued in the same line of business activity. A Democrat in his politicel views, he was recognized as a prominent member of the party in his community, held a number of political offices and wrote many articles for the press setting forth his views upon political questions. He had decided opinions and a forcible way of expressing them and his influence in behalf of the Democracy was far-reaching. His death occured in Cheboygan, in February, 1898, and his widow is still living there. In their family were eight children, all of whom survive, namely: Ainsley, who when last heard from was in South Africa; Edward, who follows farming in Cheboygan, Michigan; Horace, who resides in St. Johnsville, New York; Lucy, the wife of Collins Cameron, of Lewiston, Michigan; Mabel, the wife of Dr. Babcock; Charles, who is engaged in the publishing business in Chicago; Samuel, who is connected with a newspaper agency of Chicago; and Mary, who formerly taught in the public schools at Allerton, Illinois, but is now in Cheboygan, Michigan. The home of the Doctor and his wife has been blessed with two interesting children: Jennie May, who was born December 8, 1893; and Joseph Henry, born June 10, 1896.

Dr. Babcock was made a member of the Masonic fraternity in Potomac, Illinois, about 1897, and is a valued representative of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor, the Royal Circle and the Fraternal Tribune. He has been examiner for a number of insurance companies and he has been county physician and surgeon for Blount township for nine years. He belongs to the Vermilion County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and thus he keeps in touch with the advanced thought which marks the progress, of the medical fraternity toward perfection. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and exercises the right of franchise in support of the Republican party. Having a wide acquaintance in Vermilion county the friendship of many has been freely accorded him in recognition of a genial manner and kindly disposition.

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