He was educated at Keene Academy, Keene,
N. H., and removed to Beloit, Wis., in 1853, where he remained until his death.
Mr. Babbitt's public life began when he was still young. He was hardly 25 years of age
when elected member of the first common council and from that time he maintained a lively
interest in affairs in which city, state and nation were concerned. His election to the
council just after the city was incorporated was as great a surprise to him as could be
imagined for the democrats had no idea that the ticket they had nominated could be
elected.
After this he kept up his interest in things public, although he did not seek an office at
the hands of the people until in 1880, when he ran for Congress on the Hancock ticket and
was defeated. Then in 1890 came his second attempt to represent the district in Congress.
The democrats in convention were at sea to know whom to nominate. Finally they named Mr.
Babbitt, but because the district was so overwhelmingly republican there was little hope
of winning out. Then Mr. Babbitt began his famous campaign as the "farmer's
candidate." He rode all over the district and met personally the tillers of the soil,
soliciting their votes and winning them with his hearty handshake, his friendly eye and
his kindly heart. When the returns came in he was as surprised to find himself elected as
he was when made a member of the city's first aldermanic body. It was while he was in
Congress from 1891 to 1893 that he met and became a close friend of William Jennings
Bryan. So intimate did their companionship become that Mr. Bryan came to call Mr. and Mrs.
Babbitt "father" and "mother." This friendship lasted through all the
years of Mr. Babbitt's life and whenever the "great commoner" was in the
vicinity of Beloit he called on the former if it was within the range of possibility.
These two men opened their hearts to each other in an affection that was remarkable and
touching.
Mr. Babbitt served his district and his country well. He had the satisfaction of
suggesting the compromise appropriation of $2,500,000, for the world's fair, thus bringing
about a settlement of the matter without a fight and winning the thanks of many who feared
the impending strife. He also served a term as postmaster and gave excellent satisfaction.
One of his important duties in the state was that of secretary of the state agricultural
society, a position which he held from 1880 to 1890. In this capacity he had charge of the
state fairs which then were held in various parts of the state. He had an office at
Madison where he formed many pleasant comradeships.
A short sketch does not suffice to show the amplitude of Mr. Babbitt's life. It consisted
more in what he was than what he did, more in influence than in offices, more than is
usual in "little unremembered acts of kindness and of love." During his long
life he was a careful student of public men and measures. He was a powerful influence in
his city, county and state and the trusted counsellor of political leaders. His home was
open daily to wanderers or to notables and around his board met the great democracy of
mankind. When he died, March 11, 1897, the city mourned; the city's flag went to half-
mast and the people thronged to honor his beloved memory. A leading newspaper, after
summarizmig his life, dosed with the final tribute-"To die thus is to die
great."
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