Oscar True Babcock was born Feb. 2, 1895, in North Loup, NE, the sonof Edwin Jeffrey Babcock and Jessie Fremont True. He attended NorthLoup schools and the University of Nebraska where he received acertificate to practice law. He practiced law in his father's lawoffice in North Loup from 1921 to 1923. In that year he enteredMilton College, Milton, WI, and graduated from that institution in1925. He was made Registrar of Milton College right after hisgraduation and remained in that position until his death in 1952. Healso taught courses in Political Science and Business Law for a numberof years. O.T., as he was known to everyone but his mother (he wasalways "Oscar" to her) married Beulah Vernette Vincent on Sept. 5,1927. Beulah was the daughter of Floyd Christopher Vincent and MignonWhitford. O.T. and Beulah had one son, Bryce Vincent Babcock, bornApril 6, 1930 at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, WI. O.T. served fora number of years as Clerk of the Milton Union High School board, andlater served on the Milton Village Board. He was a member of thatboard at the time of his death. He also served several terms asJustice of the Peace for the village of Milton. O.T. sufferedseverly for many years from asthma and, later, emphysema. In thewinter of 1951-52 his health worsened and he was advised to try adryer climate to see if that would help. He was driven to Tucson, AZby his son, Bryce, right after Christmas and remained there until May,1952. Bryce stayed with him for several weeks and then returned toMilton in order to complete his senior year at Milton College andgraduate with his class. O.T.'s health improved a bit, but he wasvery homesick, and his wife Beulah went to Tucson in May to bring himhome. En route, they stopped in Lincoln, NE and had an informalfamily reunion with O.T.'s mother, sister Katharine and brothers Edwinand Arthur. Beulah and O.T. left Lincoln on May 12 and while Beulahwas driving through Omaha, NE, O.T. was stricken with a cerebralhemorrhage. He was rushed to the hospital in Omaha where he died thenext day, May 13, 1952. An autopsy showed an aneurysm deep inside thebrain. O.T. was buried in the Milton, WI, cemetary on May 17, 1952.John N. Daland, Dean of Milton College, a longtime colleague, friendand neighbor, wrote the following "In Memoriam" tribute for "Fides"the Milton College Yearbook: "Oscar T. Babcock was a friend toeverybody, and was universally and affectionately known as 'O.T.'His legal training and close association with his father, a thinkerand broad-minded lawyer, brought out his natural talent for logic.O.T. was preeminently a clear thinker and correct reasoner. Eachman has his own attitude towards life, and O.T. inclined in politicsand religion to the liberal point of view. He was one of the mostfair and open-minded men I ever knew, always reading and consideringboth sides of every public question. I never discussed these matterswith him without benefit to my own thinking. O.T.'s interest innational and local affairs is well known. In his own community hewas an ideal citizen, serving faithfully and intelligently in schooland local offices. He met the ultimate test of good citizenship: hebelieved in paying taxes and never complained of the taxes he wascalled upon to pay. 'Homo Sum' In his educational andadministrative work at the college for the last twenty-seven yearsO.T. displayed not only intellectual attainments, but qualities of afine human texture. As registrar he came in contact with morestudents than any other teacher, and he was courteous and agreeableto every one. He understood the student point of view and listenedwith patience to all complaints. Yet he was firm in giving goodcounsel and in explaining the necessity for upholding the rules ofthe curriculum. All that he accomplished, and it was aconsiderable contribution, was done against the background of illhealth and inadequate physical strength. Herein lies one of hisgreat qualities. It took courage to come back after each attack andplunge again into his work with never a complaint. Strict himselfin the path of rectitude and honor, he was tolerant of the weaknessof human nature, and was constantly seeking excuses for hisfellowmen. In his frail body dwelt a high and noble spirit:intelligent, independent, liberal. He exemplified in his life thecelebrated words of Terence: 'I am a man, and whatever concernsmy fellow man is my concern.' " Dean John N. Daland O.T wasposthumously honored in June, 1952, with the "Pillar of Milton" awardby the Alumni Association of the college he served so long, honorablyand faithfully. The award reads as follows: "The AlumniAssociation of Milton College wishes to honor posthumously with thiscitation, Oscar True Babcock, on this the 27th anniversary of hisgraduation and a month after his untimely death, as one who made anoutstanding contribution to his Alma Mater; whose untiring effortstranslated Milton's slogan "large enough to serve you, small enoughto know you" into reality for thousands of Milton students who havebeen guided by his wise counsel; whose fairness, patience andkindliness were unmatched on the Milton campus; whose industry anddevotion to Milton demanded most of his vacation period these lateryears; whose interest in alumni affairs is evidenced by his manyyears as editor of the Alumni Bulletin and as secretary of the MiltonCollege Glee Club and Quartet Association; whose passing is mournedby the entire Milton College family. In token of our regard, wehearby declare Oscar True Babcock to be A PILLAR OF MILTON." TheAlumni Bulletin carried this statement: IN MEMORIAM: O.T. Babcock '25"The college family was shocked to learn of the death of 'O.T.'enroute home with his wife Beulah, from Tucson, Ariz. where he hadgone in January because of ill health. 'O.T.' became suddenly ill asthey entered the city of Omaha, Nebraska. Since his departure forArizona, we in the College offices have learned how important hisactivity was to the function of the whole of Milton College. Thelast of April, Beulah left for Tucson to bring him back to Wisconsinwhere the high humidity of the winter seemed to be coming to an end.While both the Babcocks were away the faculty took turns answeringthe phone and attempting to take care of the many details which cometo the office of the Registrar. 'O.T.' was fifty-seven years oldand had been registrar at Milton College since his graduation in1925. Mr. Babcock was prominent in civic activities in Milton. Heserved as Justice of the Peace and as Clerk of the Milton Union HighSchool board. He was a member of the village board at the time ofhis death. In 1948 he was elected president of the WisconsinCollegiate Registrar's Association. He was a charter member of theassociation. Mr. Babcock was a past president of the Civic Clubhere, and on the campus he was an advisor to the Chi Delta Rhofraternity. He was born February 7, 1895, in North Loup, Neb. Heattended the University of Nebraska and, after being admitted to thebar, practiced law in Nebraska from 1921-1923. 'O.T.' came to Miltonas a student in 1923 and following his graduation in 1925 he taughtpolitical science and business law in addition to his work asregistrar. Survivors include his wife, the former Beulah Vincent'41 of Milton Junction; a son, Bryce, member of the class of 1952 ofMilton College; his mother, Mrs. Jessie True Babcock; two brothers,Edward (sic -- should be Edwin) of Lincoln, Neb., and Arthur, inNebraska, and a sister, Kathryn (sic -- Katharine), also of Nebraska.The funeral was held Friday, May 16, 1952, at the Seventh DayBaptist church in Milton, of which he was a member. The ReverendElmo F. Randolph, pastor of the church, conducted the memorialservice; the Milton College Choir, directed by Prof. Bernhardt H.Westlund '41, sang two choral compositions; and Miss ElizabethDaland '41, church organist, played the processional and recessional.Burial was in the Milton cemetary. 'O.T.', as we all knew him,was a vital force on the faculty of Milton College and in thecommunity as well. We mourn his passing." SOURCES: Obituary,published in the Milton and Milton Junction Courier, Vol. 73, No. 37,May 15, 1952; Fides, 1953 [ the Milton College yearbook]; the MiltonCollege Alumni Bulletin; and from personal memory. -- Bryce Babcock
Jessie Fremont True, was the eldest child of Melville Beveridge CoxTrue and Mary Catherine McFarland True. She was born July 17, 1865 atwhat was at that time known as Rome (now Olin), Jones Co., Iowa. Shewas married at North Loup, NE, on June 1, 1889 to Edwin JeffreyBabcock, son of Rev. Oscar and Marietta (Metta) Bristol Babcock. Fivechildren were born to this marriage: Katharine Myra (Kate), Nov. 6,1891; Oscar True (O. T.), Feb. 7, 1895; Edwin Jesse (Deke), March 4,1897; Archie Bristol, Oct. 31, 1900; and Arthur Sidney (Art or "ArtSid" to his mother), Dec. 14, 1903. Jessie died on May 30, 1966 inOmaha, NE, in her 101st. year. At the age of 9 yrs. Jessie movedwith her parents from Iowa to Crete, NE, where her father opened a lawoffice. Jessie attended Doan College in Crete, then worked in aprinting office for three years and taught school "on the West Blue"(West Fork of the Big Blue River). The family moved to North Loup inJuly, 1887, where her father organized the high school system, andthen became the first principal of the North Loup High School.Jessie taught school in North Loup for one year. She then married E.J. Babcock, June 1, 1889. He practiced law in North Loup until hisdeath in 1925. Jessie was affectionately known as "Aunt Jessie T." bynearly the entire community, to distinguish her from other JessieBabcocks in North Loup. After her marriage, she joined the North LoupSeventh Day Baptist Church (Sept. 16, 1893), where her husband was amember, and for many years taught in the Sabbath School. She helpedorganize the No Lo Club, and was a member of the local American LegionAuxilliary. Active in the organization of the Library Board, Jessieserved as Librarian, and as Children's Story Teller for many years.She worked for the Savings and Loan for about 25 years, and frequentlywrote news and human interest articles for the North Loup Loyalist andOrd Quiz newspapers. From the time of their marriage until herhusbands' death, the Babcocks lived in a large square two-story housein North Loup, built by the groom as a wedding gift for his bride.The home was "custom built" for Jessie, who stood only about 4' 11"tall, with all counters, cupboards and even the stairs built lowerthan normal so as to be more convenient for her. After E. J.'s death,Jessie lived alone on the second (upper) floor of the house, whilerenting out the downstairs as an apartment. The day before her89th birthday, in 1954, Jessie was taken ill from the excessive heatand her children persuaded her to allow them to move her to Omaha,where she made her home with her daughter, Katharine, and where shecould also be closer to her sons, Edwin of Lincoln and Arthur ofOmaha. She lived there, with Katharine, until her death on May 30,1966, at the age of 100 years and 10 months. Katharine died less than4 months after her mother. By the early 1940's, my father, O. T.Babcock, was urging his mother to provide him with information aboutherself. It was a fact, noticed in later years by many of us thatGrandmother (Jessie) would speak and write at great length about theBabcock side of the family, but would seldom talk about herself or herside of the family. I have several letters she wrote in 1940 and 1941in reply to my father's urging. Commenting that, "You seem to begoing into the geneology of the families heels over head, " she didprovide some information about the True family, while notingdifficulties since, "Grandmother True was not bitten by thegeneological bee". It was typical that, when asked specifically totalk about her own life, she responded simply: "There were threeimportant facts in my life. I became the daughter (oldest child) ofM. B. C. & Kate True, the wife of E. J. Babcock, and the mother offive fine children." Finally she did add a bit more, writing, "Ilived as a child at Anamosa and Toledo, Iowa, and Lincoln and Crete,Nebr., reaching the last place one jump ahead of the grasshoppers in1874. I helped your father (E.J.) as food administrator and hadcharge of knitting for Red Cross. Wrote two pageants for P(op) C(orn)Days, served on some committee or had charge of Woman's Exhibetsalmost every year. Taught a S(abbath) S(chool) class almostcontinuously from 1903 except about 12 years as Supt. of Graded Dept.(&) Church Clerk for 8 years. Founded Pub. Library. Wrote historicalarticles for Loyalist and Quiz. Was Sec. Treas. of Building and Loanfrom your father's death till -- I've forgotten when, six or sevenyears ago. I came to N(orth) L(oup) in 1887, married in 1889 andlived continuously in the home your father built for us. Schooling atDoan; only a little more than H(igh) S(chool)." (SOURCES:Obituary, Ord Quiz, June 9, 1966; several letters to my father, O.T.Babcock, 1940-41; personal papers and memory -- Bryce Babcock)
"Archie Bristol Babcock lost his hearing in infancy. (The cause isnot known to me. - B.B.) He attended the School for the Deaf inOmaha, NE, graduating in 1922. He attended Wayne State Normal for twoyears, specializing in manual training and drafting. (Severalexamples of his woodworking are still in our family, including ahat/coat rack, table lamp stand, and a turned wooden bowl or dish withfitted lid. - B.B.) Archie was very athletic and was a star footballplayer despite his handicap. He also attended the Univ. of Nebraskafor a short time. In 1926 he became a draftsman in the StateEngineer's office in Lincoln, NE, working there until his death. Hedied of meningitis at Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Sept. 19, 1928."(Information from Patricia Jane Babcock in a letter to me dated August15, 1995. -- Bryce Babcock)
Katharine Myra Babcock contracted smallpox when she was about twoyears old and lost her hearing. She was profoundly deaf but led afull and productive life. She never married and bore no children.She attended Clark School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA, travellingalone on the train from North Loup, NE to Northhampton. The ClarkSchool was apparantly somewhat unique at that time as, in addition tosign language, they taught students to lip read ("the oral method") aswell. Katharine became proficient in both methods of communication.Katharine related that her parents encouraged her to associate with"hearing people" more than with the deaf. She did this throughout herlife, though for many years she and another deaf lady shared anapartment in Omaha. If one spoke slowly and enunciated clearly,Katharine had no trouble understanding, as long as she could see theperson's lips. Since she could not hear her own speech, herpronunciation was difficult for a stranger to understand, but thosewho got to know her well learned to understand her speech with littledifficulty. Katharine lived with her brother Edwin's family inLincoln, NE for several years, working as a retoucher for aphotographic studio. She then moved to Omaha, NE, where she continuedher work as a retoucher, and also color tinted photos and portraits,in the period before the advent of color film. (Source ofinformation from my own memory and from Patricia Jane Babcock in aletter to me dated August 15, 1995. -- Bryce Babcock) Also seenotes for Edwin Jeffrey Babcock.
Arthur Sidney Babcock suffered from epilepsy throughout his adultlife. His mother thought that the epilepsy resulted from a headinjury suffered while playing football for North Loup (NE) HighSchool. He took medication, saw a doctor regularly and the epilepsywas kept pretty much under control at all times. Art was not positivethat his condition was not hereditary (though I'm aware of no otherinstances in the family), and for this reason he never married. Hethought it irresponsible to risk passing on the disease to anothergeneration. He lived with his brother Edwin's family for a time inLincoln, NE, and later kept an apartment in Omaha, NE. He worked forthe Nebraska State Highway Department for many years, and was often"on the road" on job assignments for days and weeks at a time. Inhis later years, Art suffered from advanced pulmonary emphysema. InAugust 1971 he had undergone treatment for this condition at ImmanualMedical Center in Omaha. On release, he was transferred to ColumbusManor, a nursing facility in Omaha, and lived there the final monthsof his life. The Administrator at the Manor had this to say aboutArt: "Art was doing quite well here... and was a very cooperative andlikeable person.... (he) was not really incapacitated.... but wasrestricted to minimum activities.... (We) had many conversationstogether, as he enjoyed visiting and I enjoyed visiting with him."On Jan. 11, 1972 he suffered a severe attack of emphysema and was sentto the hospital where heexpired the next day. He had celebrated his68th birthday a month earlier. The doctors reported the death asbeing due to "advanced pulmonary emphysema in conjunction withpneumonia." Art had arranged for his body to be donated to theCreighton University Medical School, an act which the Administratortermed "quite noble", adding, "I, too, admire him for it." SOURCE:Information from my own memory and from Patricia Jane Babcock, in aletter to me dated August 15, 1995; letter from Dale A. Moore,Administrator, Columbus Manor, to my mother Beulah Babcock Kaase,Jan. 28, 1972. -- Bryce Babcock
SOURCE: Gazeteer Wayne County 1867-1868 (LDS 808,350) p. 203BIOG: Lyman Seely: Farmer age: 71