The epic struggle continues today as we discuss the remaining Babbs of Clay County, IL. We start with Noah and his father William Lane Babbs. Are they Green Men or White Stags? Who will prevail? This answer appears to be simple on the surface, but a dark element underlies this story that could throw the entire thing into disarray. Let’s get to it!
As we continue our canvas of the Babbs of Clay County, IL, we come next to Noah Babbs who is listed next door to his father William Lane Babbs in Bible Grove, which is located in the Northeastern corner of Clay County. While researching this line, I have found that Bible is one of the surnames of this county. So, while a place called Bible Grove may sound very religious on the surface, it could be something entirely different.
We can see from the 1860 Census record that Noah shows to have been born in Indiana in about 1827. His father is born about 1800 in Virginia (we happen to know that the precise location is part of modern-day West Virginia) and his mother Rhoda was born about 1802 in the State of Ohio.
Noah is working as a Cooper (a barrel maker) which was a well-paying honored occupation of its time. The craft was typically passed down from father to son but doesn’t appear to be the case here.
The facts and places align to what we believe we know about the Maryland Babb tree and to the parents we have associated him with.
Looking Forward
Tracing this line towards modern day we find them still recorded in Bible Grove in 1870. William died in 1876 in Effingham County but was buried in Newton, Jasper County. While this sounds like a bunch of movement, this map will put the whole thing in perspective. The entire distance is within an hour’s ride.
Courtesy of Bing Maps.
Noah’s family had already moved to Effingham County by 1870 and he resided there until his death in 1898.
The Other Households
The remaining family units in Clay County, IL appear to be descendants of William Lane Babbs. They are
William’s other children moved as follows:
James Madison Babbs: Ohio Co, IN; Effingham, IL; Jasper, IL
Alexander Babbs: Washington Co, IN; Clay Co, IL (Alexander plays heavily into the perception that the two Babb Lineages met in Clay Co, IL. There appear to be two Alexanders that are easily confused. I myself appear to have confused them in my previous research. One is a VA/NC Babb(s) and the other is a Maryland Babbs. I worry about experiencing confirmation bias. So, I’ll be covering him separately in my next post).
Dixon Babbs: Ohio Co, IN
William Melville Babbs: Ohio Co, IN; Jasper Co, IL; Montgomery Co, IL; Effingham Co, IL
Jane Babbs: Ohio Co, IN
Mary Babbs: Ohio Co, IN
Thomas James Babbs: Ohio Co, IN; Jasper Co, IL
Oliver P Babbs: Ohio Co, IN; Clay Co, IL; Hamilton Co, TN; Victoria Co, TX; Caddo Parish, LA; Jasper Co, IL
Looking backwards
Looking backwards is just as important as looking forward. As I look backward from William Lane Babbs I find gaps in the record and inconsistencies regarding him being in two places at the same time.
We need to mind the gap and address those inconsistencies in his record before moving on. Stay tuned for that once I complete my work on Alexander.
Furthermore, I see potential for a problem in the grandfather’s storyline as well. This needs intense scrutiny to set the record straight.
The Stage is Set
In my next post we being to discuss the titanic battle between the Green Men of MD and the White Stags of VA/NC. This story is encapsulated in one (or maybe two) Alexander Babbs. It’s sure to be a battle royale!