Census: 1880 North Loup, Valley Co., Nebraska: age 20, teaching school

Edwin Jeffrey Babcock 1860-1925
Categories: Dakota, Wisconsin, North Loup, Nebraska, North Loup, Nebraska Obituary
"The North Loup Loyalist", North Loup, Nebraska, Friday, Jan. 1, 1926, p 1.
Edwin Jeffrey Babcock was born May 14, 1860 at Dakota, Wisconsin the son of Elder Oscar Babcock and Metta Bristol Babcock. He moved with his father's family to what is now North Loup in November, 1872 and has resided ever since on some [text missing]
and for years was on some committee; he began and carried through three legislative sessions a fight which changed the method of teaching in the State School for the Deaf from the manual to the Oral method although his own two deaf children were too old to profit by the change; he was one of the leaders in the Good Roads Movement and if he had a hobby it was the love and care of trees which has changed the bare valley to a veritable garden; in 1918 he gave almost his entire time from early summer till the Armistice as Food Administrator for Valley county. Like his friend Mr. Rood he seldom aspired to or held public office. He preferred to be one of the rank and file, yet few men had a greater influence for good. More people came to him for advice, sympathy and help than to almost any one man. While his business as a lawyer was supposed to be a fight, yet he never took a case into court without trying to settle it amicably especially if it was a domestic difficulty. He lost many a case because he insisted on this delay and he never took a case that did not seem to have an element of truth in it that was worth fighting for. He would give up to a majority and work with it heartedly, but for what he felt was right no man would fight harder.
He was intently loyal to family, to friends, to his church and the Republican party, yet he saw good in all men, in every other church and party. He was deeply religious, but showed it not so much by lip-service as by actual service. He lived his religion and it included optimism, good-nature and cheerfulness.
While he may have been considered somewhat unorthodox in his beliefs, no one ever gave more unwavering support to his church or had a higher appreciation for the relationships and sacrifices incident to a small denomination. His tender nature was shown by his great love for children, his fondness for dogs and the fact that he never held a grudge against anyone.
His home life was ideal, and he was never heard to speak a cross word in his home. He was married June 1, 1889 to Miss Jessie True, daughter of M. B. C. True, the first principal of the high school in North Loup. To them were born five children, Katherine M. of this place, Oscar T. of Milton, Wisconsin, Edwin J. Jr. of Lincoln, Archie B. and Arthur S. both of this place all of whom survive him. He leave besides, two brothers, Arthur H. of North Loup and George I. of Montclair, N. J. and one sister, Mrs. Myra Gowen of Lincoln and other relatives almost as close. J. T. B.

Census: 1880 Crete, Saline Co., Nebraska: age 14