Webster L. Babbitt
April 15,1862-December 12, 1926
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 13, 1926, page 1, col. 8, continued page 4 col. 4,microfilm Niles District Library
WEBSTER L. BABBITT PASSES AWAY AT CHICAGO HOSPITAL
Death Ends Long Career For Widely Known Lumber Pioneer
IN NILES 23 YEARS
Funeral Wednesday at 2:30 to Be Conducted by Niles Masonic Lodges
Webster L. Babbitt, prominent Niles business man died on Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Mercy hospital in Chicago, where he had been for two weeks. The body was brought to Niles this morning.
Mr. Babbitt's death followed 10 weeks of illness, and although his condition was considered alarming from the time he was first stricken with what proved to be an incurable malady, yet his death comes as a shock to his family and the community.
Mr. Babbitt was born in Clinton, Iowa, on April 15, 1862; a son of Darius S. and Harriet Bell Davis Babbitt. He was married in 1890 at Carroll, Iowa. Four children were born to them, three of whom survive with the widow. They are Webster L., of Huston, Texas; Dr. H. Merlin, of Dowagiac, and John, of Niles. One son, George Francis, died in infancy. The widow and surviving sons were at his bedside when he died.
Mr. Babbitt was one of the most widely known individuals of the lumber industry of the middlewest. Starting out as a young man at 30 years of age he entered the business in the virgin pine forests of the upper peninsula of Michigan.
After several years he finally rose to the important position of superintendent for one of the largest saw-mill interests of the north. At the age of 30 he was made a partner in the firm of Gardner, Bachelor and Wells, of Clinton, Iowa, where he served for several years as sales manager. Upon dissolution of the firm he became identified with Eastman Gardner & Co., big wholesalers of Laurel, Miss., traveling all of the middlewest. He remained with this firm for 16 years, during which he formed many warm friends.
In 1903 he helped to organize the firm of C.D. Benedict & co., of Chicago and Peoria, Ill., and became a partner, acting as vice-president and general manager.
At this time he moved to Niles from Louisville, Ky., for the reason that in his travels he formed a fondness for Niles and decided to make it his future home. For the next four years the partnership because one of the best known throughout the retail trade in the middlewest. Mr. Babbitt made his headquarters at Jackson, Miss., and later at Hattiesburg, Miss.
October 24, 1914, he purchased from Will Phillips the former Ben Earl Lumber yard on North Front street, and gradually built up the business to one of Niles leading industries.
Upon moved to Niles Mr. Babbitt transferred his Masonic membership to the local lodges. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M., St Joseph Valley Chapter, No. 2., R.A.M., Niles Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar, Grand Rapids Consistory, Scottish Rites Masons, Saladin Temple, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Mystic Shrine. He was also a member of the Red cross of Constantine, of this district, of which only two members resided in Niles, Mr. Babbitt and Dr. F.N. Bonine.
Mr. Babbitt did much in an unostentatious way in charitable work. His distributions in this work were for the most part known only to the recipients. There are many in Niles who will mourn Mr. Babbitt because of his sterling qualities as a friend and citizen.
He as a lifelong member of the Episcopal church. It was a familiar sight to see Mr. Babbitt going to services on Sunday mornings with prayer book and hymnal under his arm. He was never known to be late to services. He had taken a leading part in the work of Trinity church and at one time served on the vestry.
In politics he was a democrat. While he never sought office or accepted a nomination at the hands of his party, he had been nominated for the office of mayor of the city and had been sought other offices. He had served as chairman of the Niles democratic city committee.
The deceased took a keen interest in the affairs of Niles and his opinions in matters of civic affairs carried weight. Possessed to an unusual degree with a kingly and sympathetic nature, Mr. Babbitt had made many friends in Niles who mourn his death.
The funeral will be held wed afternoon at 2:30 and will be conducted by St. Joseph Valley Lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M. Members of the Niles Commandery will attend will attend as a guard of honor. The Red Cross of Constantine will also be represented at the funeral.