(George-Charles-Ziba-Ebenezer-Jacob-Elkanah-Elkanah-Edward)
Francis Sanford Babbitt, son of George H. and Seraphine S. Babbitt. Born in Taunton,
December 22, 1843. Educated in the schools of Taunton and at Comer's Commercial College in
Boston. Enlisted in the 39th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Aug. 25, 1862, was
transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps in 1863, and served in the War of the Rebellion
until June, 1865, and was then honorably discharged by reason of the close of the war. In
September, 1865, he engaged in the business of manufacturing and repairing machinery with
two partners, under the firm name of Ellis, Babbitt & Co., and after three years
bought out his partners and continued the business himself until 1889, when he sold out
and retired from the machinery business and gave his entire time to public service. While
in the machinery business he developed some inventive talent and produced a number of
articles which found a ready market, the most notable of which were Babbitt's Patent Hose
Pipe, and Babbitt's Combination Lathe, which is still being made by his successors and
sold not only in this country but in Europe, Asia and South America. In 1882 and again in
1883 he represented his district in the Massachusetts Legislature, serving on Committee on
Street Railways both terms. In 1887 he was a member of the Board of Aldermen of Taunton.
In 1888 he was elected Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners for the County of
Bristol, and, as such, 'supervised the building of a number of public buildings, notably
the County Court House at Fall River, the Coggeshall Street Bridge between New Bedford and
Fairhaven, and the County Court House at Taunton, holding the office for two terms (six
years).
In 1891, 1892 and 1893, he was Mayor of Taunton, holding this office at the same time that
he was County Commissioner. This proved to be more than the public would stand for, and in
January, 1894, he was retired from both offices. The following three years he devoted to
the management and settling of various estates, and he is still engaged in this line of
work to some extent. In 1897 he was appointed Chief of Police of Taunton and reappointed
in 1898, 1899 and 1900, retiring January 6, 1901. February 4, 1901, he was appointed by
the Justices of the Superior Court, Probation Officer for the said court in the Southern
District of Massachusetts, comprising the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and
Nantucket. His duties were to test the question of greater leniency in dealing with
criminal cases of minor importance, and results were so good that the Probation system has
become a fixed adjunct to
the courts of the Commonwealth, and Mr. Babbitt still holds the office in this district.
In 1911 Mr. Babbitt accepted the management of the publishing of this book and under his
careful guidance it was successfully accomplished.
June 9, 1870, Mr. Babbitt was married to Abbie Louisa Hitch, daughter of Charles Hitch, a
prominent sail maker and ship owner of New Bedford. Mrs. Babbit , after many years of
ill-health, died December 7, 1892, leaving one child, Abbie Louise, born June 30, 1876,
and married June 9, 1905, to William Martin Lawrence of Providence. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence
now live in Taunton and make a home for Mr. Babbitt. Mrs. Lawrence is a member of St.
Thomas Episcopal Church and gives much of her time to church and charity work, being
especially interested in entertaining the young people, not only of her own parish, but of
the non-sectarian boys club of this city.
Click here for Genealogical data.