The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-17
CAPTAIN BABCOCK DEAD.
BELOVED or MN, II SOLDIER HON.
ORED. MASON WITHOUT GUILE
BeeIpuipr ~ a Poor Boy. His weiI-Hounded
Life Has Ended In an Act OF Gener-
osity 10 tho Children Of Poverty

Of 90, o'cIock. at his country-seat, Se
dar Lawn" tn Henrico county Oh ~"
Mine. Mile road two and half miles IRON
the city. Councilman A. ID. Lahoei"i'
and MIR. Robert 4. Mcleod, Two warn
personaI friends. and members OF Dove
Lodge 81. A. f. and a. M, were at his
| bedside at the time. Captain Baococh
had been in feeble health for a number
NJ wears. and. while he complained some
| during the past week. he was not con
sidered TO be dangerously sick. He leaves
one brother. Mr.. William Babcock. who
! has been notified. After his arrival here
| the arrangements for the funeral VIII be
made. Captain Babcock also leaves two
| sisters. Probably Dove Lodge will take
charge OF the funeral ceremonies.
In February last Mr.. Ben i. August
another warm personal friend OF captain
Babcock, published in the Rough Ashlar
an interesting sketch Of the HE OF me
departed benefGctor. from which the FOL
lowing facts are taken:
"Captain Babcock was the son or Robert
ID. and Mary Babcock. and was born ON
April TX, 1885, near Princeton, n. j. HIS
early education was obtained In the pubic
schools In the home Of his youth. ana at
the age of thirteen he was apprenticed 10
a bank note printer In New York. lie De-
came an expert workman, and continued
at his trade until the commencement OF
the war: but, being a sympathizer with
the South, he left New York and came TO
Richmond He was Immediately employed
by the Confederate Government, and was
assigned to duty in the printing depart
ment OF the treasury and post-oiiice
branches. where he rendered most efficient
service.
s~rvin~ Hia conn ry.t
While serving the government in this
capacity he became a member Of the
mira irg1nia battalion a. i0-ai-,ereace
troops and was made captain OF one Of
the companies. He made an excellent
soldier and brave commander, and saw
much service in the fields around Rich
mond.
After serving for some time i'm this capa-
city, he was transferred from the Third
to the Forty-third Virginia battalion,
commanded by Colonel John $. Mosby,
and was assigned to duty with the COM
pany of artillery attached to the COM
mand While with the Forty-third he
was taken a prisoner by the Federal
troops in January, 1865. at Cobler noun
tain, Fauquier county. He was taken
by them 10 Alexandria, and confined in
what was then known as the Slave Pen
prison.
From Alexandria he was sent TO the
Old Capitol prison in Washington ana
from there TO Fort Warren. near Boston.
He was taken from Washington TO Bos-
ton handcuffed and ironed. But little DIFF
ference did the chains make to Captain
Babcock for he was wearing them for
cause that he loved, and for which he
was willing to suffer.
While at Fort Warren, the flag Of the
South was fured at Appomattox and the
lest drum-beat OF her gallant army was
virtually sounded. on June 18th Captain
Babcock returned to his adopted home.
determined TO do his part to bring her out
of her ashes and ruin.
Among the beautiful monuments In
sacred Hollywood is one erected by Cap
tain Babccck to mark the last resting
place of one of his brave comrades in
arms. who came from the North and fell
while fighting beneath the Stars and Bars,
and he has contributed beautiful cot
tage to the Soldiers Home. which stands
as monument Of his love for the lost
cause and kindly interest In her manned
and disabled veterans.
Hi Business Life.
In 1866 he engaged i'm the ice business
and with a record as a true Confederate,
and being personally very popular. by
strict attention TO business he found little
trouble in making his enterprise eminent
ly successful. yet he managed to devote
a good deal of his time TO outdoor sports,
TO which he had always been much at
tached. and helped to organize the Pas
time Baseball Club. of which he was
an active member for a number of years.
Among his associates i'm this well-known
amateur organization were Charles II.
Read the architect: James u. Tyler. the
jeweler; 5. Sprgg Campbell, the banker,
and many other prominent citizens or
Richmond.
For several years Captain Babcock
represented Jefferson ward in the Com
mon Council. and the interests of that
ward were never committed TO more
faithful hands In 1880 ne retired from
active business pursuits,s having sold
out to the Richmond Ice Company, now
In charge of Mr.. A. j. Landerkin. Since
his retirement Captain BabcOck had
lived on his farm. where he devoted his
time 10 farming and stock raising, in
both of which he took great pleasure
and pride. and was quite successful"
Up 10 his death he was interested in
many business enterprises He was a
director and large stakeholder in the
State Bank of Virginia. and a director in
the National Building and Loan Associa-
l4DHs ne NdS one OF {Nc pffGiNdf0fS or
the Richmond and Seven Pines Railway
Company, and for number Of years its
president.
His Life ms Mason.
He was made a Mason in Hokenlinder
Lodge, 90, State Of New York, lust as
he arrived at the age Of twenty-one. lie
became Il member Of Dove Lodge No
81. of this city, in 1864 of which he has
been most devoted member. He was
also "A charter member of the Lodge of |
the Strict Observance, and an honorary |
member of Richmond Randolph Lodge,
No. 40 He was a member of Lafayette
Royal Arch Chapter, No. ~. and of ST. |
Andrew Commandery. No. 49,
For many years Capt Babcock has
taken the deepest interest in the question |
of Masonic home for the orphans OF |
the State of Virginia, and TO him the
Masons OF Richmond and OF the State at
large are indebted for the establishment |
of that grand Masonic charity. the Ma
sonic Home of Virginia, in close prox-
unity to Capt. Babcocks home
For the founding NJ his noble insti- |
tuition Capt. Babcock gave the sum Of |
5000 in cash and the y 'ich has !