Thomas E. Babcock 1817-1879  
Categories: 1850's Settlers, Albion, Wisconsin, Minister / Pastor, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 35, No 11, p 3, Mar. 13, 1879.
  ELD. THOMAS E. BABCOCK
  Eld. Babcock was born at Brookfield, N. Y., June 16th, 1817.   He was the second son of Dea. James Babcock.   Dea. Babcock was a brother of Eld. Daniel Babcock, known for a half century as a pioneer minister of the Seventh-day Baptist denomination.
  Eld. T. E. Babcock began his public ministry at twenty-two years of age, taking the pastorate of two churches, at a salary of $100 per annum.   His first pastorate was in Cattaraugus county, N. Y.   He subsequently was pastor of the churches at Richburg and Independence, N. Y.
  In 1855 he came to Albion, Wis., and, in answer to a call from the church, became pastor of the Albion church, which place he held for a period of eight years, when he accepted a call from the Missionary Board to labor in Kansas and Nebraska.   He remained on this mission about one year and a half, when he was compelled to lay down his work, his constitution being completely broken by chill fever, from the effects of which he never recovered.   He returned to Albion, where he spent the remainder of his broken life.   He was twenty-two years in the public ministry, on a salary averaging less than $300 per annum.
  He held the longest pastorate of any pastor with the Albion church, and, under his labors, the church passed through a formative state, and became strong.   Her beautiful cemetery, and her house of worship, are the result of his planning.   He was a steadfast, hopeful, and firm friend of the cause of education.   His mind was fruitful and comprehensive, an encyclopedia of national history; a history once read was not forgotten.
  He was the second of seven brothers, all of whom were men of large physical powers, and wonderfully gifted with the power of song.   Had they given their attention to music, there is little question that they would have formed a musical company surpassing any this country has ever produced.
  Eld. Babcock was a very able preacher; it took important occasions to call out his strength.   He was scrupulously honest and exact.   His word was like Roman law.   In politics, Sumner was his model statesman, and Greeley his ideal of one who labored for his fellow men.   He lacked what Emerson would call one of the rare gifts, viz., being born with a bias.   His mind was capacious in whatever channel turned; but no one field received all, or even his chief strength.   He ranked by nature with such men as Gerrit Smith, Giddings, and Garrison.   He hated slavery, and Lincoln's "forever free" was, in his mind, only second to that, earlier proclamation - peace on earth, and good will to men.
  Born to the lot of the poor, he did not complain, but cheerfully toiled, caring for his widowed mother and younger brothers with uncommon care and devotion.   His last years were spent amidst toil and suffering.   Confined to his home for fourteen months, a great sufferer, his mind lost nothing of its clear strength.   The good things said by him during his sickness, would make a valuable book:   "Death is king, and is unscrupulous; how long the road, and over what heights he carries us!"   "The consoling ideal of life to me is Calvary, the cross, and the sacrifice."   His last sentence was, "God is good, he gives me the victory."
  Since the death of his mother, his household has been a wife and one son.   He was cared for during his sickness with a devotion rarely equaled.
  He was the first of the seven brothers to break ranks and go West, and was soon followed by all save one.   Again he has broken the ranks and gone towards the setting sun, wither they all will follow.     A. R. C.

Thomas Babcock was a Seventh-day Baptist minister. He received his education at De Ruyter Institute, New York, commencing public ministry for the State of Kansas at the age of twenty-two. He was at one time Missionary for the State of Kansas and Pastor at Persia, Richburg, and Independence, N. Y.; also Albion, Wis., where he spent the most of his married life.

"First Alfred Seventh Day Baptist Church Membership Records, Alfred, New York", by Ilou M. Sanford; Heritage Books, Inc.; 1995, p 70.

Hannah Melissa (Wells) Babcock 1821-1861  
Categories: 1850's Settlers, Albion, Wisconsin, Rev. Varnum Hull Officiating, The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 17, No 49, p 195, July 4, 1861.
  Mrs. Eld. Thomas E. Babcock.
  It is difficult to truly and accurately estimate human character.   In few things are men more liable to err.   The historian or biographer has his hero, and follows some bias which takes its rise in his own views.   Cromwell said:
  "Paint me just as I am;
  All else my soul abhors."
  There is often a greater self-denial and heroism in the discharge of the duties of the hearth stone than is known to the hero of the battle field.   Yet history tells us of the one, and forgetfulness holds the other.   Warren said, as he fell, "I is sweet to die for one's country."   He gained immortal honors.   Yet many patriotic hearts, in dying for their country, have felt its sweetness and remained forever unknown.   But this fact is no discouragement to gallant spirits.   To do good unseen, nor ask nor wish for praise, is a virtue too rare in human character.
  A noble example is given in the quietude and devotion to home duties in the life of whose name heads this article.   She was born in the town of Truxton, Cortland Co., N. Y., Jan. 22d, 1821,   At an early age she made a profession of religion, and united with the church at Lincklaen, Chenango Co., where her parents then resided; Feb. 19, 1842, she was married to T. E. Babcock; and in 1843, he having accepted a call to the pastorate of the church at Persia, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., they removed their home to that place.   They were subsequently settled with the churches at Richburg and Independence, N. Y.   In 1855, he having been called by the church at Albion, Wis., she united with that church where she remained till her death, May 15th, 1861.   Her funeral was largely attended; nearly all the ministering brethren of the surrounding churches were present, among whom were Elders R. G. Burdick, Z. Campbell, O. P. Hull, and V. Hull.   A discourse was preached by the latter, from Eccl. 12: 5.
  In all the churches where they had dwelt, she had warm and earnest friends.   A letter from a member of one of these churches, since her death says: "She was a good woman.   Her death will be lamented here.   We had learned to appreciate her worth."   She has left no bad examples; was known as one following the things which made for peace.   What can be said of too few professed disciples of Christ, was conspicuous in her character, viz., she made no trouble from an unguarded tongue; society received no jargon from her superfluous or careless words; she possessed the power Dr. Adam Clark, so praised in his wife, viz., she could keep a secret.   Her estimate of character was careful, and rarely differed from facts.   Retiring in nature, she seemed sometimes distant to those seeking her acquaintance.   Yet it was rather that the friendship which would approach her might shoe itself, and that she might not err in the friend she received.   Whoever came within the circle of her confidants, were retained there, and were warmer in friendship.   But she rests from her labors, and her works will follow her.
  Eld. Babcock had just been called to the pastorship of the Albion Church for the seventh year, when he was asked by the Missionary Board to take the charge of a mission in Kansas, and in view of the importance of an early occupation of that field, he consented to go in case the conditions could be satisfactorily arranged.   At this stage of the negotiation, she expected to leave a home and social circle to which years had contributed their attractions and endearments, for a frontier point among strangers.   The struggle it cost her to be reconciled to such a change of situation, was severe and earnest; but it was successful.   She had laid the sacrifice upon the altar, and awaited with cheerfulness the downward stroke of the gleaming knife.   But when, by the turn of circumstances over which she had no control, the offering was handed back to her, her joy was like that which Abraham felt when he laid down the knife which he held over his son, to clasp him again to his bosom.   But from privileges so lately resigned and restored, she has been called to those which infinitely surpass them.
  During the years of his ministry, Eld. Babcock has been settled with three churches previous to coming to Albion.   A heavy hand has been laid upon him, and his house left desolate.   Surely, because man goeth to his long home, the mourners go about the streets.   May the sad bereavement bring him nearer home to the house not made with hands.   May his life long be spared to be the spiritual guide and light of the people of his charge.     A. R. C.

1850 Census: Hartsville, Steuben Co., New York; age 25
1880 Census: Albion, Dane Co., Wisconsin; age 55, widow, b NY

1880 United States Census
Marital Birth B-place
Name Rel Status Sex Race Age place Occup Fa Mo
Eliza P. BABCOCK Self W F W 55 NY Keeping House RI CT
Pearl BABCOCK Son S M W 16 KS Farmer NY NY
Mary ALLEN Niece S F W 10 NY At Home NY PA

Source Information:
Census Place Albion, Dane, Wisconsin
Family History Library Film 1255421
NA Film Number T9-1421
Page Number 183A

Res. 1902 Albion, Wis.

Mrs. CRANDALL was graduated from the Alfred Academy, in the class of 1852, and four years later came West, and taught in the Albion Academy until 1861, when she became the wife of the Rev.Thomas E. BABCOCK, who was for eight years pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Albion.

Eliza (Potter) (Babcock) Crandall 1824-1917
The Sabbath Recorder Obituary
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 82, No 8, p 255, Feb. 19, 1917.
Eliza Potter was born on November 6, 1824, at Hartsville, N. Y., and passed away, February 2, 1917, in the ninety-third year of her age.
She was the fourth child of a family of four sons and six daughters born to Perry and Sarah (Palmiter) Potter. She was educated in the common schools and at Alfred Academy, from which she was graduated in 1852. She was a teacher in country schools and in the Academy at Friendship, N. Y., from the age of seventeen on, except when she was herself a student at Alfred, until 1854, when she came west with Rev. Thomas R. Williams to take the position of preceptress and teacher in Albion Academy. She held this position until her marriage, in the summer of 1861, to Rev. Thomas Babcock, pastor of the Albion Seventh Day Baptist Church.
Two children were born to this union: the first, a daughter, Delle, dying at birth; and the second, a son, Pearl, born in 1863, who grew to manhood and married Louise Wescott, of Albion, in 1886. In 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Babcock received into their home, as a beloved daughter, Mary Allen, the little granddaughter of Mrs. Babcock's sister, Welonia. In 1878, Mr. Babcock died and Mrs. Babcock remained a widow until March, 1889, when she was married to Ezra Crandall, of Milton.
After Mr. Crandall's death, in 1897, she returned to her old home in Albion where she kept house by herself until about two years ago when she was received into the home of her daughter, Mary, and tenderly cared for until her death. She retained her mental and physical powers to a remarkable degree until within a few days of her death.
She was baptized at the age of seventeen into the membership of the Hartsville Seventh Day Baptist Church and was a faithful member in the various churches where she made her home at different times. She served for several years as secretary of the Woman's Board for the Northwestern Association and was the first president of the Albion W. C. T. U. She is survived by two sisters, - Mrs. Sophronia Woodard, of Moores, N. Y., and Mrs. Myra Collins, of Albion. Her son Pearl preceded her in death, in 1910, leaving a widow, Mrs. Louise Babcock, of Oshkosh, and three children, - Ione, Harriet, and Thomas Le Claire, the last named now in the service of is country on the Mexican border. Her adopted daughter, Mary and her husband J. J. Noble, their three sons, Lester Earle, Hugh and Jamie, and her step children, Mrs. H. Vine Clarke and C. T. Crandall, of Milton, also remain to mourn the loss of a loved mother and grandmother.
Sister Crandall was a most loving and lovable character, always so cheerful and kind, always so patient and forbearing, always so pious and saintly. She was simply beautiful in her old age on account of her holy life and loft ideals; but never out of reach of the veriest sinner. She was among us, and of us, but always leading us up and away and out of and from ourselves into the clearer, purer atmosphere of holier lives. Long after her step had become feeble, her sight dim, and her hearing dull, she found her way to the house of God, cheerfully, patiently suffering the pain and fatigue that she might be in the sanctuary, and sit with the brothers and sisters to honor and worship her blessed Lord.
The text for the funeral sermon was appropriately taken from the words of Jesus to John in Revelation 3: 4: "They shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy."
The funeral was conducted by her pastor, Rev. Charles S. Sayre, at Albion, February 5, 1917. The burial took place in the Evergreen Cemetery. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." C. S. S.