The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-08-16
EIGH1Y-oNE YEARS YOUNG

ElGHTY-0NE YEARS YOUNG
Rev. Mr.. Babcock, Formerly of Mitch
ell, is Past the Allotted Period
of Man.
Rev. John H. Babcack, of Sioux
Falls, celebrated his eighty-first
birthday Sunday, and a very enter
tanning article appeared in the Sioux
Falls Argus-Leader Tuesday with
reference to the life and career of
this splendid old gentleman ana
which the Republican produces be-
low. For a good many years Mr..
Babcock was the rector of St. Mary's
church in Mitchell and in that time
he endeared himself to not only his
Pensioners but to the citizens in
general, by whom he is respected to
the highest degree. The Republican
hopes that the good man may be
spared many years in the cause of
religion which he has so capably
represented and that his life may
end, when it does come, in a halo
Of glory. The following is the arti-
Gle:
White haired and venerable, ripe
in years but young in heart, Rev.
John H. Babcock, prelate, student,
pioneer, honorary life member and
chaplain of the local Elks' lodge;
chaplain of the grand chapter. Royal
Arch Masons, and prelate of the
grand commandery knights Templar,
Sunday celebrated his e%ighty-frst an
niversary of his birth. 81 am not
eighty-one years DID," said Dean
Babcock to the reporter when he
called, "but like Mark Twain l am
eighty-one years young" And he
looked as though he felt it, with his
eyes still full of life and vigor, and
his brain still clear for the con-
sideration of the problems of life.
Dean Babcock has heard Daniel
Webster and Henry Clay en- the
stump and his memory runs back to
the days when the republic was
young.
John H. Babcock was born in the
village of Ballston Spa, Saratoga
county, N. Y, Aug. II, 1926. His
ancestors on his fathers side came
from Wales several years before the
coming of the Mayfower and settled
in Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Those on his mothers side came
from Holland and settled in New
York-a judicious blending of the
Yankee and Dutch stocks.
Rev. Mr.. Babcock has had an
%eyentful career. His birthplace was
his home until 1857. In 1853 he
married Margaret A. P. Christie,
daughter Of Judge Archibald Bull, of
Troy, N. Y. He was ordained a dea-
con of the Episcopal church in 1853,
and priest in 1856.
/. During the thirty years from 1857
to 1887 he wandered from east to
west-Irom the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc-and back again, fulfilling his
duties as clergyman and teacher in
New York, Connecticut, Pennsyivan-
ia, Michigan. Illinois, Wisconsin,
Iowa, Nebraska, Oregon, California
and South Dakota. He came to
Mitchell, in this state, in May, 1887,
and to Sioux Falls in November,
1900.
He has been honored with appoint
ments to various positions and Offices
in church and state. He was head
master of the Ballston Spa institute
under his father, Deodatus Babcock,
D.. D., principal of Glen Falls acade-
by. N. Y; Episcopal academy Of Con-
necticut, at Cheshire; Yeates insti-
tute, Lancaster. Pa; Oregon school
for the blind at Salem, and St. Ma
rvs school, Benicia, Cal. What he
at that time considered the highest
office in the gift of the state was that
of trustee of the school district in
his native place.
He was pastor of st. Mary's church
at Mitchell for a period of eleven
years; is Il of the staff of clergy OF
Calvary cathedral in Sioux Falls
and president of the council of advice
in the missionary district of South
Dakota.
He belongs to several fraternal so.
%cieties. In Masonry, he n year was
chaplain of three grand bodies Of the
state, lodge, chapter and command
cry, ana lOi ulleeu consecutive years
has been chaplain of the grand chap
ter of the Royal Arch Masons ane
prelate of the grand commandery
knights Templar. He "a high prizes
Of his chapter at Mitchell. He is T;
member of the Masonic Veteran as
: ISOLATION, and has received the thir
ty-second degree in Scottish Rite Ma
sorry.
He is also chaplain and an honor
airy life member of the lodge o felix
in Sioux Falls and a member of h
. knights of Pythias.
> He has witnessed the wonderful
progress made i'm science and tn
arts during the fourscore years of hi
peaceful life. In 1886 he rode on on
of the first passenger trains in tn
: country, from Ballston Spa to Utica
: N. Y. The track was fiat iron raj
5 spiked on wooden sleepers, whic
: rested on ties. The locomotive
d named John Bull, was built in Eng
land.