CAPTAIN FRELON JESSE BABCOCK
Was born in Burke, Caledonia county, Vermont, June 14, 1843, where he spent bis youth and young raanhood until Jtay, 1861, when the tocsin of war sounded, and although scarce eighteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in the Third Vermont and went to the wars. Mr. Babcock's record as a soldier of the Union is way above the average, and one that he can be justly proud of. He was wounded three times during his service, once at Antietam and twice at the battle of the Wilderness. He rose from the ranks to First Lieutenant and was for some time Adjutant of his regiment. For meritorious services while A. A. G. on General L. F. Haskell's staff, he was promoted to the full rank of Captain. Captain Babcock participated in nearly all of the great battles fought by the Army of the Potomac from Yorktown to the surrender at Appomatox Court House of the Army of Virginia. After Lee's surrender he was sent with Sheridan's command to Texas, where he remained until he was mustered out in October, 1865. In 1868 Mr. Babcock came to Salem, Oregon, where he has since resided. In 1871 he was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Pratt, a most estimable ladv, daughter of Capt. L. E. Pratt. Capt. Babcock was one of the charter members of Pacific Lodge, No. 40, of A. F. and A. M. of Salem; is also a bright Chapter Mason, a Commandery Mason, and is at present Grand Sec- retary of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. His occupation is that of fine cabi- net-making, and his artistic work may be found in the Senate Chamber, Supreme Court rooms and department olfices at the capitol. Although in person he is small, he possesses a wonderful amount of vitality and is " sure fire" for anv task he undertakes.
HON. J. W. WHALLEY.
The gentleman whose name is the title of this biographical sketch was born at Granville, near AuDapolis, Nova Scotia, April 28, 1833. His father was rector of the parish, and both of his parents were well educated people of ancient and respectable families, his father being English and his mother Welsh. The family left Nova Scotia and went to England in 1835, and resided for a time at Garstang, in Lancashire, then removed to New Hutton, in Westmore- land, and thence Old Hutton, of which his father was afterwards perpetual incumbent. Here, amid the wild and grand scenery and beautiful lakes of the north he lived until thirteen years of age, pursuing his studies with his father. At the early age of nine years he was reading Cresar, and 0\dd at ten. Unable to educate all of bis children in the learned professions, J. W. Whalley was apprenticed by his father to Captain Grundell, master of the good ship Speed in March, 1846, and sailed from Liverpool for New York the same month. Arriving in that city, where he had respectable and wealthy relations, he ran away and went to New Brunswick, New Jersey. Here he remained, at the home of Mr. Adrain, afterwards U. S. Senator from that State and a stepson of bis grandmother, until the ship sailed, when he returned to New York and entered the office of his uncle, Mr. Thomas Jones, the author of an excellent treatise on bookkeeping, a teacher of that science, and often employed in settling matter of complicated accounts.