Frederick H. Babbitt

Frederick H. Babbitt (November 23, 1859 – July 29, 1931) was a Vermont businessman and politician who served as President of the Vermont State Senate.

Biography

Frederick Herbert Babbitt was born in Keene, New Hampshire on November 23, 1859.^[1] He graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1876^[2] and started a career in business as a messenger with the American Express Company in Boston, Massachusetts. Babbitt became an agent for the company, and later an auditor, traveling between American Express locations from Boston to Burlington, Vermont.^[3]

After 16 years with American Express Babbitt resigned to enter the plumbing and heating business, operating stores in Bellows Falls, Vermont (Bellows Falls Plumbing & Heating) and Walpole, New Hampshire (Allbee & Babbitt). Babbitt also became President of Boston's Eastern Mineral Color Company, and Treasurer of the Ideal Wrapper Manufacturing Company in Bellows Falls. In addition, he operated the train station restaurants in Bellows Falls, White River Junction and St. Albans.^[4]

In the mid-1890s Babbitt and his brothers George H. and John E. Babbitt purchased the Robertson Paper Company of Bellows Falls and the Howland Pulp & Paper Company of Howland, Maine. They operated both companies for five years, after which they sold Howland Pulp & Paper. In addition, Frederick and John bought out George at Robertson Paper, of which Frederick became President and John Treasurer. Under their leadership Robertson Paper became the largest producer of waxed paper in the United States.^[5] Frederick Babbitt later left Robertson Paper to start another paper company, Babbitt & Kelley. (Herbert T. Kelley was the husband of Babbitt's daughter Madeline and served as the company's Secretary.)^[6][7]

A Republican, Babbitt served on numerous civic committees, and held several local government offices, including Village Trustee and Town Meeting Moderator. From 1910 to 1912 he served in the Vermont House of Representatives.^[8][9]

Babbitt served in the Vermont State Senate from 1912 to 1913 and was the Senate's President pro tem.^[10][11]

In 1920 Babbitt was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, losing the Republican nomination to James Hartness.^[12][13]

Babbitt was a prominent Mason, attaining the thirty-third degree of Scottish Rite Masonry and holding several leadership positions at the state and national levels.^[14]

Frederick H. Babbitt died in Boston on July 29, 1931.^[15] He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Bellows Falls.^[16]

References

1. Paper magazine, Obituary of Frederick H. Babbitt, Volume 93, 1931, page 24
2. Lyman Simpson Hayes, History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont, 1907, page 243
3. Hamilton Child, Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windham County, Vt., 1724-1884, 1884, page 309
4. William Richard Cutter, New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 3, 1914, pages 1371 to 1372
5. Paper magazine, F. H. Babbitt Named for Governor of Vt., March 3, 1920, page 30
6. History page, Readmore Bed & Breakfast, accessed June 2, 2012
7. Paper magazine, Obituary, John E. Babbitt, Volume 102, Part 2, 1936, page 20
8. Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Legislative Directory, 1910, page 540
9. Albert Nelson Marquis, Who's Who in New England, 1915, page 55
10. Vermont General Assembly, Journal of the Senate of the State of Vermont, 1912, page 14
11. Vermont Archives and Records Administration, Presidents Pro Tempore of the Vermont Senate since 1870, 2011, page 3
12. Boston Globe, Hartness and Dale are Easy Winners, September 16, 1920
13. Vermont Archives and Records Administration, Election Results, 1920 Republican Primaries, 2006, page 1
14. The Charlotte (Michigan) Republican, Proceedings of the Grand Council, 1914, page 72
15. Boston Globe, Frederick Babbitt, Bellows Falls, Dead, July 30, 1931
16. Gravestone photographs, Find A Grave, accessed June 2, 2012