Dr. Isaiah J. Babcock Dead

Close of a Long and Useful Life this Morning.

Dr. I. J. Babcock died this morning at his residence. No. 616 Locust street. The deceased has been ill at times the past season and had been confined to his house since the Methodist conference in September. He died at 8 o'clock aged 68 years. The complaint under which he has suffered was an affection of the liver. The deceased came to Kalamazoo from New York state in 1843. For a time he was employed as clerk by Mr. T. P. Sheldon, who, after closing his connection with the land office in 1841-2 had a large amount of correspondence. Mr. Babcock remained with him for some time and afterwards was otherwise employed here. In 1845-6 he removed to Galesburg and for many years carried on the business of physician and druggist. He married a Miss West of Charleston, soon after establishing in Galesburg. While at Galesburg he was active in advancing the interests of the Episcopal church of which he had been ordained a deacon, and an effort was made to build up a church there but it ultimately failed. He was a citizen highly respected and esteemed, a man of excellent abilities and culture, and devoted to the best interests of the community in which he lived. He came to Kalamazoo in 1868 and engaged in the drug business, which he has continued to the present time. He had a large number of friends throughout this county and western Michigan. Mr. Babcock, a few years ago, withdrew from the Episcopal church, and though an acting Christian in theory and practice, did not closely identify himself with any church here, though he has been a constant attendant and pew-holder in the Methodist church. He leaves a wife and four adult children, Mrs. E. J. McEwan, Hobart, Heber and Genevieve Babcock and Mrs. W. E. Upjohn. All his children were home at the time of his death. The funeral will be held at the house on Friday afternoon at one o'clock. Kalamazoo Daily Telegraph December 1 1886 page 7