Correspondence and files concerning George, David, and Emma Babbitt,
1849-1929.
Collection Number
179
Language
English.
Repository
Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Department
Northern Arizona University
Cline Library
P.O. Box 6022
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6022
Phone: 928 523 5551
Fax: 928 523 3770
Email: Special.Collections@nau.edu
Biographical Note
David William Babbitt, Sr., born 1795 in Lanesboro, MA, moved to Cincinnati, OH in 1849 and
worked as a stonecutter. David Babbitt, Sr. was married to Catherine Marie Spellmire in 1852, in
Cincinnati, Ohio. Upon marriage, David Babbitt, Sr. opened a mercantile business. David and
Catherine had five sons and one daughter. The five sons were David, Jr.; William; Charles; Edward;
and George; Mary Elizabeth was the name of their daughter. In 1860, David Babbitt, Sr. contracted
Malaria and moved back to Lanesboro, MA, where he died in 1870. Catherine Babbitt died in 1883.
Four of the brothers (David, George, William and Charles) eventually moved to Flagstaff, AZ to
establish a cattle ranch (CO Bar). David Babbitt, Jr. explored the west in 1884 looking for suitable
ranchland, including the now states of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. At the
conclusion of his trip in August 1884, David reluctantly decided to venture into Arizona against the
pleading of his brother George. He originally went to Tombstone, but was displeased with the weather
and dry conditions. He was advised that cattle lands improved with elevation, so he hired a guide
and headed north through Prescott and into Flagstaff. He decided on a parcel of land north of
Flagstaff, beating out Trinidad, CO as his choice of ranchland. David Babbitt briefly returned to
Cincinnati to marry Emma Verkamp in 1886. Edward, the brother that stayed in Cincinnati, became a
lawyer.
After establishing the cattle ranch, David opened a mercantile business in town with his brother
George, leaving the ranch in the hands of his brothers, William and Charles. Throughout the years,
David Babbitt had many encounters with Flagstaff’s other prominent families, including the Riordans,
P.J. Brannen and others. For a time during the mid-1890’s, David Babbitt was mayor of Flagstaff.
In 1899 his wife of 13 years, died of illness while recuperating at a hospital in California,
leaving behind David Babbitt; two sons, David and Joseph; and two daughters, Gertrude and Clare.
David Babbitt died on Friday, November 08, 1929, in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Scope and Content Note
The Gertrude Babbitt Collection contains the early family records of David Babbitt, Elizabeth
Babbitt, and their son David Babbitt, Jr. To a lesser extent it includes records of the junior David
Babbitt’s brothers, George, Charles, William, Edward, and extended family, the Spellmires and the
Metz’s. Items of interest include correspondence documenting David Babbitt’s exploration of the west
in search of suitable ranchland, a court summons of Joseph Spellmire to be a witness in Cincinnati
court under the presiding judge, future President, William H. Taft, correspondence documenting the
deaths of David Babbitt (Sr.), Catherine Babbitt, Emma Verkamp Babbitt, Elisabeth Babbitt, and
Gerhard Verkamp, and love letters between David Babbitt and Emma Verkamp. The collection is rich in
correspondence, business records, legal documents, genealogical records, and newspaper clippings.
The collection occupies 2 linear feet, with inclusive dates of 1849-1910, with bulk dates 1880-1900.
It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the
copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs,
legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of
Regents for Northern Arizona University, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.
Chemical and medical preparations; Letters to Dave and George Babbitt, Undated.
Box
1.8
Business letters ; Letters to Dave Babbitt, Undated.
Box
1.9
Warranty Deed, 1849-1851.
Box
1.10
Legal documents, 1855-1860.
Box
1.11
Last Will and Testament of David Babbitt; Mortgage agreement; Miscellaneous letters;
Checks written by David Babbitt, 1862-
1870.
Box
1.12
Female Assistant's Certificate; list of cast for the play "Robert Emmet"; Miscellaneous
letters, 1874.
Box
1.13
Promissory notes, Letters to Lizzie Babbitt, 1876.
Box
1.14
Poems, Letters from George H. Lundy; Letter to Lizzie Babbitt; Letter from The Battle
Creek Machinery Co., 1879.
Box
1.15
Letters to David Babbitt; Lease to David Babbitt; Miscellaneous letters, 1880-1881.
Box
1.16
Letter to Lizzie Babbitt; Lease and Mortgage of David Babbitt, 1882.
Box
1.17
Letters to David Babbitt; General Vehicle License to Babbitt Brothers; Annual License
Fees; Miscellaneous letters; Letters to Lizzie Babbitt, 1883.
Box
1.18
Letters to David Babbitt; Letters to Babbitt Brothers, 1884.
Box
1.19
Letters to Mr. Babbitt; Bank Statements; Probate Court document; Letters to Dave Babbitt;
Checks; Business letter; Survey of Public Lands; Legal documents, 1885.
Box
1.20
Miscellaneous letters; Tax receipt; Letters to Dave Babbitt; Letter to George Babbitt,
1886.
Box
1.21
Checks, 1886.
Box
1.22
Bills and Receipts, 1886.
Box
1.23
Bills and Receipts, 1887.
Box
1.24
Checks, 1887.
Box
1.25
Letters to Dave Babbitt; Certificates of sale; Monthly statement; Sales receipts,
1887.
Box
1.26
Receipts, 1888.
Box
1.27
Letter to Dave Babbitt; Receipts, 1888.
Box
1.28
Legal Documents, 1890.
Box
1.29
Legal Documents, 1891.
Box
1.30
Legal notice; Receipts, 1894-1896.
Box
1.31
Letters to Dave Babbitt; Legal agreements, 1897-1899.
Box
1.32
Letters to Dave Babbitt, 1900.
Box
1.33
Miscellaneous letters; Letters to Dave Babbitt; Wedding announcement, 1901-1903.
Box
1.34
Business letters, 1904.
Box
1.35
Short Route to the Sea; General report of Raymond Babbitt from St. Mary's College;
Wedding announcements, 1905.
Box
1.36
Letters from Gertrude Babbitt; Letters to Dave; General report of Raymond Babbitt,
1907.
Box
1.37
Articles; Letters to Dave; Wedding announcement; Grade reports of Gertrude Babbitt;
Commencement invitation, 1908.
Box
1.38
Bi-monthly report of David Babbitt; Letters to Dave; Wedding announcement; Letters to
Gertrude, 1909-1910.
Box
1.39
Christmas greetings; Wedding announcement; Letters to Dave; Letters to Gertrude,
1911.
Box
1.40
''Fabrique de Bonneterie''; Miscellaneous receipts and other items from London. Letters
to Dave; Letters to Gertrude; Telegrams; Message of Geo. W.P. Hunt, 1912.
Box
1.41
Letters to Gertrude; St. Mary's College report of David Babbitt; Common Pleas, 1915.
Box
1.42
Letters to Gertrude; Letters to Dave, 1914.
Box
1.43
Letters to David; Letters to Gertrude; Commencement announcement, 1915.
Box
1.44
Christmas poem; Telegrams; Letters to Gertrude; Letters to Dave, 1916.
Box
1.45
Letters to Dave; Letters to Gertrude; Letters to Ted from Joe; Telegrams; Poem;Letter to
Mike Riordian, 1917.
Box
1.46
Letters to Gertrude; Letters to Joe Babbitt; Letters to Dave;Letters to Ed Babbitt;
Letters to David; Letter to Aunt and Uncle from Dave; Poem; Letters to Ted; Photographs; Christmas
greeting, 1918.
Box
1.47
Letters to Dave; Letter to Ed Babbitt; Letter to C.J. Babbitt; Letter to Ray Babbitt;
Business Letters; Telegrams; Letters to Gertrude, 1819.
Box
1.48
Letters - Miscellaneous; In Memoriam; Statement of all accounts; Receipts, 1920.
Box
1.49
Wedding announcement; Letters to David, 1921.
Box
1.50
Letter to Dave; Letters to Elaine Babbitt; Letters to Gertrude; Postcard to Dave,
1922.
Box
1.51
Business letter to Babbitt Brothers; Letters to David; Letters to Gertrude; Map of Ro.
San Antonio, 1923.
Box
1.52
Letter to Gertrude;'Thank you"to Babbitt Brothers; Business letter, 1924.
Box
1.53
Letters to Gertrude; Letters to Dave; Wedding announcement; Medical receipt; Letter to
Elaine; Letter to David; Donation receipt, 1925.
Box
1.54
Receipts; Letter to Joe Verkamp; Telegrams; Letters to David; White Star Line; United
States Lines; Postcards; Letters to Gertrude, 1926.
Box
1.55
Los Angeles - Hawaii; Old English Panellings and Furniture; Business letter; Letters to
David; Telegram; Ship guide, 1927.
Box
1.56
Letters to Gertrude; Letter to Babbitt Brothers, 1928.
Box
1.57
Miscellaneous letters; Letter to David; Letters from Joe Babbitt; News articles;
Miscellaneous religious papers; Letter to C.J. Babbitt; Telegram; Letter to Gertrude; Postcards;
Receipts, 1929.
Box
1.58
Inventory of Edward J. Babbitt and Charles J. Babbitt; List of names, Undated.