Biography of Johnson Babcock of Coal City, Illinois

Johnson Babcock, farmer, P. O. Coal City, was born August 12, 1800, in Rensselaer County, N. Y., is a son of Johnson and Zilpa (Green) Babcock, natives, the father of Connecticut and the mother of New York. The parents had eleven children, six of whom are living. Johnson attended school awhile during his younger days. He emigrated to Ohio in 1831, and in 1846 he removed to a farm near Aurora, Illinois, where he rented for three years. In 1848, he bought land where he now lives, and settled on the same in 1849, where he has since remained. Was married October 29, 1826, to Dorcas Messinger, who blessed him with twelve children, six of whom survive – Martin, Mary L., Eleanor, Frederick, Albert and Henry. His wife died January 20, 1872. He has served as Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Town Clerk and other smaller offices with credit to himself and his friends. He was a Democrat until Buchanan’s campaign, since when he has been a stanch Republican. His son Albert married Almira Stallman, the result being Minnie E. and Orin E. and one deceased. This son lives with his father and farms the old homestead. Another son, T. J., was born October 29, 1837, in Ohio, and was married December, 1862, to Martha E. Laymon, the result being four children, viz., William A. (deceased), Ralph S., Maranda A. and Thomas T. The son has eighty acres of good land, which he is farming.