BABBITT-L Archives

From: "Ronald Babbitt" <>
Subject: Fw: Otis H. Babbitt
Date: Mon, 21 Jun 1999 19:31:45 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: Ronald Denes <>
To: Ron Babbitt <>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 1999 3:42 PM
Subject: Otis H. Babbitt

> Here is a biographical sketch of Otis H. Babbitt:
> "Biographical Review" page 47-48 found in Cooperstown, NY at the New York
> State Historical Association:
> "Otis H. Babbitt, M.D., one of the most prominent representatives of the
> homeopathic school of medicine in Otsego County, and one of the leading
> citizens and civic officials of Cooperstown, was born in the town of
Otsego,
> March 19, 1854, springing from one of the oldest families of that place.
> His father, Rosewell Babbitt, was also born in that locality. The great
> grandfather and grandfather were natives of New England. The latter came
> here in the early days of the settlement of the county, and securing a
large
> tract of land in what is now the town of Otsego, was one of the first to
> make a home there, in which he passed his remaining years. The
grandfather
> was early initiated in all the pioneer labors that went to making up a
farm
> in a new country, as well as in the ordinary farm work, and always engaged
> in agriculture. In those days, there were no railways and consequently no
> convenient markets. Distilleries wre common throughout the country, and
the
> grandfather of subject had one on his farm, which he operated in addition
to
> farming. He remained a resident of Otsego until his death. The maiden
name
> of his wife, who was from Jefferson County, but died in the town of
Otsego,
> was Sally Delano.
> Rosewell Babbitt was trained to the life of a farmer, and adopted that
> vocation when he entered upon an independent careet. He purchased a tract
> of land near the old home, devoted his energies to its cultivation and
> improvement, and resided on it until 1872, with the exception of one year
in
> Illion and four in Baldwinsville, Onondaga County. In that year he sold
> that place, and removing to Laurens, purchased a farm, and serenely and
> pleasantly spent the remaining days of an honorable life, that was closed
by
> death at the age of seventy-six years in May 1889. His wife survives him,
> and makes her home in Oneonta. She was formerly Elizabeth Brown, and was
> born in the same town as her husband. Her father was Clark Brown, a
native
> of North Scituate, RI and a son of Dr. Stephen Brown, a physician of local
> repute who spent his entire life in Rhode Island. The grandfather of
> subject went to Fairfield, Herkimer County, when but a boy to attend the
> academy at that place. In that vicinity he met and married Elizabeth
> Davidson, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of Richard Davidson one
of
> the pioneers of Otsego County. After marriage Mr. Brown engaged in the
> mercantile business at Fly Creek for a short time. He was a natural
> mechanic, besides being well educated, and he drew the plans and built the
> first power loom in the county of Otsego. He died at his home in Fly
Creek,
> July 19, 1878 having attained the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine
years.
> His wife had passed away in 1866, aged seventy-five years. The parents of
> subject reared six children--Franklin H., Lucian E., Ellen L., Emma C.,
Otis
> H. and Grace M.
> Dr. Otis Babbitt was liberally educated in his youth, early displaying
> scholarly tastes, and always ranking high in his class. He attended
> Baldwinsville Academy, Onondaga County, and when only sixteen years old
> began to teach to obtain money to enable him to pursue his studies. He
> afterward advanced his education by a two years course at the Oswego
Normal
> School, and was then examined for a State certificate, and was one of the
> first to receive one upon examination. He taught the two succeeding
years,
> and at the expiration of that time turned his attention to the study of
> medicine with Dr. George Harter, of Hartwick, the teacher's profession
> having been but a stepping-stone to that of medicine. He was well
grounded
> in medical knowledge under the intelligent instructions of his preceptor,
> when he entered the New York Homeopathic Medical College in New York City,
> from which he was graduated with honor in the class of 1882. He wisely
> decided upon Cooperstown as an excellent field for the exercise of his
> profession, and has since been in active practice here. In the decade
that
> has elapsed since he took up his residence in this village, he has made
his
> mark as a bright and intelligent exponent of the principiles of
homeopathy,
> who is clever in employing modern methods of treatment, and is looked up
to
> as a sensible, practical, wide-awake physician, who is in touch with the
> times. Besides his professional duties the Doctor is active in public
> affairs as a member of the Village Board of Trustees, of which he is
> President, and in public spirit and an earnest desire to forward the
> material welfare and the highest interests of Cooperstown, is second to
none
> of his fellow-citizens. In politics he is a decided Republican.
> The marriage of Dr. Babbitt with Mrs. Emma (Wentworth) Luce was
> solemnized in 1878. Mrs. Babbitt is a native of Otsego County, and was
the
> widow of Adolphus Luce when she was married to our subject. She is a
> daughter of Elisha and Lucy (Brockway) Wentworth. A history of the
> Wentworth family has been published by Hon. John Wentworth. The Doctor
and
> his wife have a charming home, the center of a pleasing social and
domestic
> life, and their one child, E. Blanche completes the household. They are
> members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and do good service whenever
> called upon to aid any worthy cause for the benefit of church or
community."
>

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