Anson A. Babcock retired, residence, Green street; is a native of Cortland Co., N. Y., and was born June 1, 1813; he grew up and attended scbool there; after reaching manhood, in February, 1837, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Price, a native of Cortland Co., N. Y.; on the 12th of February, 1839, they started West with horse and sleigh; at the end of the first day, they reached Auburn, N. Y.; while coming through Michigan they met a number of persons who did not like the “West,” and were returning to their old homes East, which was not very encouraging to the young emigrants; they were four weeks on the road; they visited a brother of Mr. Babcock, living a few miles west of Chicago, then came to Stephenson Co., and arrived here in March of the same year and settled in Ridott Township, and began making a farm; after living there three years, moved in Florence Township; he bought a claim and entered it from the Government when the land came into market; be carted three hundred bushels of wheat one winter to Chicago, by team; Mr. Babcock was one of the pioneer settlers in this county, and has always been one of its progressive representative men; he has held the offices of Collector and Assessor, and has been several times elected a member of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have four children — James (living here), Sarah (now Mrs. J. Thrice, living in this county), Mariette (now Mrs. Aspinwall, living in Grand Rapids, Mich.), Helen A. now Mrs. Hart, living in Benton Co., Iowa; they lost one son (Burton) in infancy.

Contributed by Christine Walters
History of Stephenson County 1880 Western Historical Society