IAGenWeb - Marion County |
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Lysander W Babbitt
As the career of Mr. Babbitt, connected with the early history of Marion county, may appear somewhat conspicuous, and as his name may not be mentioned in any future part of this work, we here take occasion to give what little we know relative to his history.*
He was born in the State of New York about 1810, came to Iowa at an early day, and was a citizen of Burlington in 1840, where he worked at the business of gunsmith, and also held some office. In 1842, he, with two others, went to the head waters of the Des Moines river on a trapping expedition, where they remained during the winter. On their return in the spring, as they were descending the river in a canoe, they were robbed of most of their furs by the Indians. On the first of May, 1843, they landed at what is now Coalport, where Babbitt remained long enough to take a claim, embracing the present site of the village and bluffs below it, containing inexhaustible beds of coal.
Having secured his claim, Mr. B. repaired to Burlington for his wife, and was surprised to find her in mourning for him, and preparing to sell his property, with the view of returning to her former home. The report had reached her some time previously that he had been murdered by the Indians, and his failing to return within a reasonable time seemed to confirm this report beyond a doubt. He concluded, however, not to stop the sale of the property, but took the matter into his own hands, and soon after moved to his claim. Here he fitted up a temporary shop, where he employed himself in repairing guns, sharpening plow-shears, and doing other jobs in the smith trade, till he was called to the clerkships already mentioned.
He is described as a person of small stature, active movements, prepossessing manners, quick apprehension, and retentive memory. He was, evidently, ambitious of political promotion, for which his energy and talents fitted him, and carried him, to some extent. During his official term at Knoxville he began the study of law, and so far mastered the rudiments of that profession, that he was admitted to the bar in 1847. During his residence here he twice represented Marion, and several other counties, in the State legislature. In 1846 he was appointed the first postmaster at Knoxville, and his commission authorized him to give out a contract for carrying the mail to Oskaloosa and back one a week, but it was not till some time in June of that year that the first mail arrived, and the office was opened at Babbitt's house. He held the office till 1849, when he was succeeded by James M. Walters. In 1853, he left the county having received the appointment of register of land office at Council Bluffs, under President Pierce, and is at present editor of the Council Bluffs Bugle. Since his residence there he has several times represented Pottawattamie county in the state legislature.
*We wrote to Mr. B. for information on this point, but failing to obtain an answer, we are dependent on other sources for these meagre and perhaps inaccurate accounts.