Warren Babcock
Encyclopedia
Warren Babcock, Jr. was a Michigan
politician and educator.
He was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan
, son of Warren Babcock, a farmer
and Western saloon keeper who also served as postmaster
of Milan, Michigan
. He married Gertrude Hanson on November 16, 1892, and they had a daughter, also named Gertrude.
He was a professor of mathematics at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), and lived in the small community then forming around it. In 1907, that community was incorporated as the city of East Lansing, Michigan
. In 1908, he became the new city's second mayor
, and served a one-year term.
As one of the few Democrats
in the then-overwhelmingly Republican
community, he was appointed East Lansing postmaster
at the beginning of Woodrow Wilson
's presidential administration in 1913. Similarly, his father had been appointed postmaster in Milan by the previous Democratic president, Grover Cleveland
.
Hoewever, Warren, Jr., served only briefly, until his death in June, 1913. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery
in nearby Lansing
.
His home, at 437 Abbot Road, East Lansing, Michigan
, is now part of East Lansing's Oakwood Historic District.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
politician and educator.
He was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
, son of Warren Babcock, a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
and Western saloon keeper who also served as postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Milan, Michigan
Milan, Michigan
Milan is a city in Monroe and Washtenaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,775 at the 2000 census. About 60% of the city's area and 75% of its residents are located on the Washtenaw County side adjacent to York Township in Washtenaw County; while 40% percent of the...
. He married Gertrude Hanson on November 16, 1892, and they had a daughter, also named Gertrude.
He was a professor of mathematics at Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University), and lived in the small community then forming around it. In 1907, that community was incorporated as the city of East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. In 1908, he became the new city's second mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, and served a one-year term.
As one of the few Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the then-overwhelmingly Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
community, he was appointed East Lansing postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
at the beginning of Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
's presidential administration in 1913. Similarly, his father had been appointed postmaster in Milan by the previous Democratic president, Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
.
Hoewever, Warren, Jr., served only briefly, until his death in June, 1913. He is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery may refer to:in Canada* Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery, Toronto, Ontarioin the United States* Mount Hope Cemetery, San Diego California* Mount Hope Cemetery, Worth Township, near Chicago, Illinois...
in nearby Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
.
His home, at 437 Abbot Road, East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, is now part of East Lansing's Oakwood Historic District.
External links
- Warren Babcck memorial on Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
. - Warren Babcock entry on The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
. - Warren Babcock House at A Brief History of East Lansing, Michigan