The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 366 CHARLES P. BABCOCK. Charles P. Babcock, an orchardist and machinist of Grandview, showing equal ability along both lines of business, was born near LaSalle, Illinois, on the 3d of August, 1862, a son of John W. and Abbie L. (Bagg) Babcock. The father was born in Oneida county, New York, while the mother's birth occurred in Illinois. She was reared, however, in Massachusetts and came of old Puritan stock. Both the Bagg and Babcock families were represented in the Revolutionary war. After living for some time in Illinois, John W. Babcock removed with his family to Goodhue county, Minnesota, casting his lot with the pioneer settlers of that section in 1864. He took up land which was entirely wild and undeveloped and with characteristic energy he began transforming the tract into cultivable fields. He afterward removed to Minneapolis, where he lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, as he had been long and successfully connected with agricultural interests. His remaining days were spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest in Minneapolis, where he passed away July 4, 1915. His widow still survives and yet makes her home in that city. Charles P. Babcock was but two years of age when the family removed to Minnesota. He acquired his education in public schools of that state and was afterward employed by the American Type Foundry Company for twenty years, acting as foreman for fifteen years. He is a machinist by trade and possesses marked ability along that line. In 1908 he removed to the northwest and for two years was a resident of Yakima. In 1909 he purchased six acres of land near Grandview and took up his abode thereon the following year. He secured a few tools to do work for himself along mechanical lines and found that there was a big demand for service of that character. He therefore established a machine shop and now has a large plant of that kind, splendidly equipped. His business in that connection has constantly increased and has reached very profitable proportions. At the same time he is giving a part of his attention to the development and care of his orchard and he has a fine home near Grandview. On the 2d of April, 1891, Mr. Babcock was united in marriage to Leoline Booth, who was born in Buffalo, New York, January 12, 1870, a daughter of Ansel Lee and Katherine (Clark) Booth. The father was born in England, while the mother was a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and a daughter of Thomas Clark, a Hudson Bay trader, who became one of the early pioneers in the region of the Great Lakes. Eventually he settled in Buffalo, New York, where he passed away. The father of Mrs. Babcock was a civil engineer in the east and also a printer. He passed away in Buffalo, New York, after which his widow again married, becoming the wife of H. A. Irish, who settled in Minnesota as one of its pioneer residents and afterward removed to Yakima county, Washington, in 1905, taking up his abode near the city of Yakima. He has passed away but Mrs. Irish survives and is living in Yakima at the present time. To Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have been born three children: Charles Lee, who is now in the naval aviation service, on duty in France and Italy; Edward Booth, who is in the motor mechanics department of the Signal Corps of the United States army in France; and Margery at home. Mr. Babcock and his family attend the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a democrat, but Mrs. Babcock exercises her right of franchise independent of party ties. She is a member of the Sagebrush Sisters, an organization formed of the wives of the early settlers. She also belongs to the Neighborhood Club and is very active and prominent in the social life and affairs of the community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Babcock are held in high esteem and their worth is attested by all who know them. They give active aid and cooperation to all plans and projects for the public good, assisting greatly in promoting those interests which are of material, intellectual, social and moral benefit to the community. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.