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| Photo taken in 1922 (according to Bishop Post minutes) |
DR. DWIGHT SNELLEN BABBITT
Dr. Dwight Babbitt was born in Adams Township, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Erasmus C. Babbitt and Rhoda Mason. His grandfather was Snellen Babbitt, called "Snell," and hence the name was carried on by Dwight.
In 1860, the census found him living with his parents in the town of Metomen, Wisconsin where they had settled in his youth. Dwight was 18 and had two brothers at home, E. D., 27, and George Dallas, 16.
Dwight Babbit enlisted on November 19 1863, joining the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry, Company D. He served until his discharge on July 19, 1865 and reported no disability on the 1890 Veterans Census.
According to the Directory of Deceased American Physicians, 1804 - 1929, Dwight attended the Eclectic Medical College and the Eclectic Medical Institute, graduating in 1869. The 1870 census had him located in Repon, Wisconsin: Babbitt, D.S., 28, Physician, and his wife, A.M., keeping house and born in Prussia, and their children I. D. (Ira), 3 and E.F. (Freddie), 6/12.
Sometime between 1870 and 1880, the family moved to Hicksville. Either they were not getting along or he stayed at his office because they were enumerated at two different locations in Hicksville. He was staying at the Swilley Hotel on High Street. He does say that he is a physician and married. A.M. Babbitt, 40, was living at 424 Main Street with sons, Fredie E., 10; Ira D., 13; and Dwight S., 8. She was in the hair business...or horse business? (Difficult to read on the census)
On August 31, 1882, the Hicksville News reported this about Dr. Babbitt's son, Dwight Jr.:
"On Saturday last during the thunderstorm, Dwight Babbitt, aged about 10 years, stepped into the hotel and leaned against the wall directly under the telephone. While standing there, a vivid flash of lightning occurred, the electricity passing down the telephone wire and being conveyed to the boy, fell him to the floor as if dead. His left foot was paralyzed and remained so about 48 hours. He is all right now however."
In 1885, Dr. Babbitt again made the Hicksville News on November 19. He and his G.A.R. brother, A. B. Woodruff, had to take things into their own hands as a scuffle ensued on the train to Defiance:
"Wednesday afternoon of last week, on the passenger train going east, there was quite a lively time between Chas. Lalone, who runs a saloon and boarding house at Mark Center, and Allan Linton and Michael Harter, who are timbermen, and had been boarding for some time with Lalone, but went away without settling their bill. Lalone met them on the train and asked them for the money. They offered an overcoat as payment, but Lalone said the coat had been stolen from Defiance and he would not be a party to the theft.
They commenced to jangle back and forth, threatening to shoot, and calling each other obscene names. At last, A. B. Woodruff, the produce man, who is a policeman of Defiance, placed them under arrest and asked Dr. Babbitt, who was on the train, to assist him. At Defiance, the three men were arraigned before Mayor Deatrick and fined $7 apiece. They were all drunk. The next morning, Harter was arrested for stealing the overcoat.
In 1890, Dr. Babbitt, the a widow, married Sarah Henderson on February 2. He was 48 and she was 41. According to the certificate, he "has no wife living."
In 1900, he married again in Pickaway County, Ohio on October 7. He was 59, and his new bride, Nell K. Sawyer, daughter of James C. Walters and Sarah Love, was 48 and a widow. He claimed his residence as Defiance on the certificate. He noted that he had been married twice and she had been married once.
"He doesn't look so old, indeed he acts considerably younger, and we think he will live many years more and not look much older, but it is a fact that Dr. D. S. Babbitt is today celebrating his sixty-third birthday anniversary. He says the days go by much swifter than they used to do, but at that he is enjoying life. And despite the fact that Dwight S. Babbitt is a doctor of medicine, he is 'a jolly good fellow well met' and here is congratulations."
On the 1910 census, we learn that Nellie had five children of her own, all living. At their residence in Defiance were Ethelyn Sawyer, 27; Sara M., 22; and J. Walter, 23.
Dr. Babbitt died on August 13, 1916 and his third wife, Nell applied for his pension on September 21st. The pension payment card below shows her payments go at first to 107 Wayne Avenue, and later on to 214 1/2 Clinton Street.
His obituary..
"PHYSICIAN DIES AT AGE OF 75
Dr. Dwight Snellen Babbit Answers Final Summons Sunday
Dr. Dwight Snellen Babbit died Sunday, August 13, at his home on Wayne Avenue.
He was born October 6th, 1841, at Adams, Mass. When eleven years of age, he removed with his father and family to Markesan, Wis. At the age of twenty-two, he entered Brackway College at Ripon, Wis. On November 17, 1863, he joined Company D, Wisconsin Cavalry, Ripon, and was in active service from then on until the end of the war.
Resumed Medical Practice.
In June, 1867, he resumed his medical practice, entering the Electric (Eclectic) Medical Institute at Cincinnati, graduating February 9, 1869. He took up his practice at Ripon, Wis., but on February 26, 1873, he entered upon a partnership with Dr. E. B. Bracy, at Hicksville.
In December, 1885, he moved to Defiance, where he has been in active practice from that time until about two years ago,when his health began to fail and he was compelled to limit himself to office practicing only. He has been confined to his home since June 30, being under the care of Dr. Powell from that time until his death.
He is survived by his widow, and three sons by a former marriage, Ira Dallas, Erasmus Frederick, and Dwight S., Jr.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge, member of Brandon Lodge No. 144 F. and A. M., Brandon, Wis., of which Lodge he has been a member since 1869.
Dr. Babbitt was always faithful to his patrons and responded to all willingly, whether rich or poor, all were treated alike. He will be missed by a great many. The family has the sincere sympathy of all the community.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence at 117 Wayne Ave., Rev. Crist and Rev. Musgrove will officiate. It was the wish of the deceased that flowers be omitted."
" FUNERALS ARE HELD FOR THREE
"In the presence of a large assemblage of sorrowing relatives and friends, funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock over the remains of Dr. Dwight Snellen Babbitt, who died Sunday, August 13.
The last rites were conducted at the late home of the deceased on Wayne avenue with Rev. Mr. Musgrove and Rev. Dr. Crist officiating.
The remains were carried to the last resting place by Adam Hall, George Dicus, M. A. Bell, Jessie Benner, John Myers and George Solly, who acted as pall-bearers. Members of the Bishop Post G.A.R. had charge of the services."
Defiance Democrat - August 17, 1916
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