Cause of death: Fall from barn roof

He and Herman Ayers fell from a scaffolding while shingling a new barn roof.

"The Journal-Telephone", Milton Junction, Wisconsin, Thursday, Jan. 8, 1920, p 1.
John Raper Babcock, second victim of the tragedy which occurred on New Year's eve at the Harry Paul farm, died in Mercy Hospital in Janesville Sabbath morning, January 3, 1920. [He and Herman Ayers fell from a scaffolding while shingling a new barn roof.]
The deceased was born in Jackson Center, Ohio, February 13, 1869. He was the second child of a family of five children who were born to Samuel Davis and Mary Babcock. Of his immediate family there are living, his father in the Soldier's home at Dayton, Ohio; his mother who is at the Sanitarium in Madison, Wis.; and a brother, Ezra of Boulder, Colorado.
Besides his residence at Jackson Center, Mr. Babcock had lived at Welton, Iowa where he had worked for the Loofboro Bros.; at Albion, and Milton. He was an industrious man, faithful and capable. Although he was a diffident man yet he made and maintained many close friends. The general sorrow that was shared by the community on learning of his death was a real tribute to the worth of the man.
Mr. Babcock had worked with Herman Ayers for eight years and there was a real intimacy that sprang up between them. When John, more than a year ago, suffered long with a broken limb Mr. and Mrs. Ayers took him into their home and tenderly cared for him while he was regaining the use of his limb. On the day of the tragedy, although he was suffering intensely yet he was constantly thinking of his friend who had passed beyond help.
When he was a young man he became a christian believer and entered into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Baptist church at Jackson Center, Ohio. He was an undemonstrative man who tried to live his christianity in his every day life. He was especially fond of singing and was a faithful attendant upon the prayer meeting and the Sabbath services. He was his mother's main dependence and solicitously looked after her needs.
Memorial services were held at the Seventh-day Baptist church, Monday, January 6, conducted by Rev. Henry N. Jordan. Leslie Bennett sang two solos which gave great comfort to the bereaved ones. Interment was in the Forest Hill cemetery at Madison, Wis.