An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, page 372
	
	G.W. BABCOCK. -- Among those residents of the little city of Walla Walla who
may justly lay claim to being one of the pioneers of the coast is G.W. Babcock,
who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, November 22, 1832, son of Elisha and
Hannah (Vanonstrance) Babcock, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont. When our
subject was but six years of age his parents removed to New York, where he
received a good common-school education. The grandfather of our subject was a
native of the north of Ireland and came to America in an early day and served as
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, dying at the advanced age of 112 years. His
son, the father of our subject, early in life was a steamboat builder, but later
engaged in farming, continuing that occupation for the rest of his days. He died
in New York in 1886, aged ninety-six, while his wife, who was of Holland
descent, survived him about six months, dying at the age of ninety-four. They
had thirteen children, of whom our subject is the oldest. All of the family are
living except one who was captured during the war, confined in Libby Prison and
Andersonville and starved to death. His father obtained his release, but help
came too late, as the unfortunate man died a few hours after being restored to
liberty.
	When our subject attained the age of fourteen, he went to Illinois, which
was then the frontier, to work in the lead mines at Galena, remaining two years,
after which he engaged in selling clocks and lightning rods through the South,
West and North. After following that calling for two years he learned the
carpenter and joiner's trade, which he followed as long as he remained in
Illinois. In 1850, like many others of that day, he went to California in search
of gold, crossing the plains with an ox team. After a trip of six months and
nine days he arrived in California and proceeded to the mines, where he remained
ten years, during which time he was very successful. At the end of that time he
removed to San Francisco and worked at his trade as a builder and architect,
furnishing the plans for some of the leading buildings in San Francisco and
Oakland. In 1884 he came to Washington, settling at Walla Wa1la, where he was
extensively engaged in architectural work, being concerned in the erection of
some of the largest public buildings States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and
Montana, furnishing the plans for the courthouses at Pendleton, Colfax,
McMenden, Oregon, Lewiston, Idaho and the State University at Moscow, besides
many other important buildings.
	The marriage of our subject occurred in 1856, when he was united to Miss
Shirley of Mud Springs, California, but a native of Illinois. Her parents
crossed the plains in 1854. Two daughters were born of this union, Camilla, wife
of F.G. Lunt, of Boston, where he is engaged in business, and Evaline, wife of
W.J. McGaw, of Walla Walla. The residence of our subject is in Walla Walla, in
which city he is universally esteemed. Socially, he is connected with the
Masonic order, being Standard Bearer of the Knights Templar. Politically, he
affiliates with the Republican party, although of late years close attention to
his business has prevented him from taking an active part in politics. While a
resident of Oakland he was a member of the City Council. All of his life Mr.
Babcock has been strictly a man of business, only permitting himself to enjoy
two trips to his old home, the last one being in the centennial year, when he
visited the great exposition at Philadelphia. A good workman, attending strictly
to business, Mr. Babcock has won for himself many friends and enjoys the esteem
of all with whom he has business relations.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.