Gilbert, Frank T. "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon." Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a6. CHESTER N. BABCOCK was born in Oneida Co., New York, August 2, 1836. His parents lived on a farm and his father, whose name was Richard Babcock, moved from New York to Rock Co., Wisconsin, in 1843. At twenty-one years of age, the subject of this sketch, entered, as Station Agent, the employ of the Hannibal & Saint Joseph R. R., in Missouri where he remained for two years. In 1859, he left Missouri intending to try his fortune in the Pike's peak country, searching for gold, but meeting numerous miners with discouraging reports, on their way back to the States, he turned from his original destination, and crossed the mountains to Walla Walla. Arriving without means, work was his only resource for success, and his first money was made in burning coal for the government. That winter gold was discovered in the Clearwater country, and the next spring saw Mr. Babcock on his way to the Oro Fino mines. Two years later, he returned to the valley and settled on the farm of 160 acres where he now lives, that has since been increased to 360, all of which is inclosed and under cultivation. It is a fine ranch, as will be seen by referring to view accompanying this work. It lies two and a half miles by road south-east of Walla Walla, and Russell creek runs through it. For ten years, after abandoning the uncertain life of a miner, he lived on his farm as a bachelor, until the 29th of December, 1872, when, finding that it was not good for man to be alone, he espoused the widow of John W. C. Caldwell, of Walla Walla. Mrs. Ruth A. Caldwell was, at the time of marriage to Mr. Babcock, the mother of four children, all of whom now live with them, and their names are Frank A., Charles D., Alfred and Albert O. Caldwell. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Babcock were born and named as follows: Chester, September 29, 1877, and Ora, February 22, 1879. Mrs. Babcock is one of those whose experience in crossing the plains is such, as but few women in the world have witnessed, and less have signalized themselves in. The train that her family was with left the main emigrant road for Oregon, at the Malheur river, and were attacked by Indians. For three days and through the nights, the entire party was kept upon the defensive, beating off the foe. The women were put in wagons, protected with bedding from the enemies' bullets, and many of the men could with difficulty be kept from seeking a similar protection. When this woman came out from her retreat, refused to go back, and coolly took her place among the defenders of the besieged party; run bullets, while those from the Indians were whistling around her, it shamed the most cowardly into an appearance of courage. The train was saved, fell back to Snake river, where it was reinforced by another party of emigrants, among whom was her present husband. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock are among the number who are now enjoying, in this valley, the fruits of their life industry, having surrounded themselves with the accumulation and rewards of their years of toil, the respect and esteem of those who know them. * * * * Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. 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.