John George Babbitt

Biographical Information

John George Babbitt was born May 19, 1908 in Flagstaff, Coconino Co., Arizona Territory, the son of Charles James and Mary B. (Verkamp) Babbitt.  His father, Charles, was one of the partners in “Babbitt Brothers Trading Company” established in 1889 (Northern Arizona University, Cline Library Digital Archives).  He was the brother of James Edward Babbitt.  A 1 year old John Babbitt was noted with his parents, Charles J. and “Mrs. Mary V. Babbitt,” and siblings in the 1910 federal census of Flagstaff, Coconino Co., AZ.

John George Babbitt was interviewed as part of a “Flagstaff Public Library Oral History Project” (Interview number NAU.OH.28.4) and he recalled:

I was, ah, born in Flagstaff, ah, May 19, 1908 in the old tower room of, ah, what later became the, ah, Elks Club and was also called the "mansion house" and which just burned I think in the last four or five years.  Um, however, ah, I didn't live there very long.  My family moved to, ah, Los Angeles, and I only returned in the summer vacation, ah, and ah, therefore, I did miss a lot of the early history of this area when I was away in Los Angeles.  But, ah, my father was one of the original five Babbitt Brothers.  Ah, his name was, ah, Charles Babbitt and more commonly known as C.J. Babbitt.  Of the five brothers, ah, Edward Babbitt was the youngest, and, ah, he was out here in Flagstaff only a comparatively short time.  Although he did serve in the, ah, ah, in the, ah, territorial legislature.  But he returned to Cincinnati and practiced law.  My father was both a merchant and a cattleman.  The, ah, primary merchant of the, ah, five brothers was David Babbitt, who was also the oldest.  And the other merchant was, ah, George Babbitt.  Ah, William Babbitt, ah, widely known as Billy Babbitt, was, ah, one hundred percent cattleman, and he and my father, ah, ran the ranches.

An 11 year old “John G. Babbitt” was noted with his parents, Charles J. and Mary B. Babbitt, and siblings in the 1920 federal census of Los Angeles Co., CA.  The family was living at 404 W. Adams.  The census was taken January 2-3, 1920.  However, on January 30, 1920, the “Charles J. and Mary V. Babbitt” family was noted in the 1920 federal census of Flagstaff, Coconino Co., AZ.  John’s place of birth was given, incorrectly, as California.

According to the biographical note accompanying his papers at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (John G. Babbitt Papers, Collection numbers: NAU.MS.296, NAU.PH.97.31) John G. Babbitt received his elementary and secondary education in Los Angeles, CA, then:

John attended college at Santa Clara College, and Georgetown before graduating from Loyola University of Los Angeles as valedictorian in 1929, he later graduated with a business degree from Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts in 1931.  While attending Babson he met and married Elizabeth "Betty" Quimby and opened a small brokerage business.

John G. Babbitt has not been located in 1930 federal census records in Massachusetts, Arizona or California.

According to “Ranch profile- Babbitt Ranch”:

C.J. Babbitt, in 1930, became the president of the company after the sudden deaths of Billy and David, and soon after, in 1934, he summoned his son, John George Babbitt to Flagstaff from Boston to help with the immediate situation.  John's wife, Elizabeth Quimby says John came home from work one day and said, Lets pack our bags, my dad needs me.  And so another era of the Babbitt Ranching operation began under John G. Babbitt.  John is considered the individual who developed the ranches into one of the most highly respected outfits in the west.

Back in Arizona, John G. Babbitt began taking part in civic affairs.  According to an obituary (“John G. Babbitt Dies, Served as Legislator, Regent.”  The Arizona Republic, August 6, 1993, p. B1), Babbitt served as a “member of the Flagstaff City Council from 1939 to 1943.”

According to the biographical note accompanying his papers at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (John G. Babbitt Papers, Collection numbers: NAU.MS.296, NAU.PH.97.31):

For a number of years John worked with Victor Watson who managed the Babbitt's Arizona Livestock Loan Company and helped manage the CO bar Ranch.  Around 1942, George Babbitt's son, Herbert, left as CO Bar manager and John stepped into that position.  A position John held until his retirement in 1984.  Over the next 30 years John and foreman, Frank Banks, made many improvements to the CO Bar ranch.

As John began to learn the job of manager of the CO Bar a twist of fate redirected his future.  John's brother, Jim died in 1944 while serving as a member of the Arizona Senate.  John was appointed to fill his term.  In 1946 he was elected to a term of his own and later became Senate President.

John G. Babbitt was a Democrat and served as Senator from Coconino Co., AZ in the 17th Legislature (1945-1946) and 18th Legislature (1947-1948).  He was elected Senate President during the 1st and 2nd special sessions of 1947 and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th special sessions of 1948.

In April of 1948, it was announced that John G. Babbitt would not run for re-election (“John Babbitt Not Candidate for Reelection.”  Arizona Daily Sun, April 27, 1948, pp. 1, 5).  In 1949, he was nominated to become a member of the Arizona Board of Regents (“Babbitt Nomination Referred to Committee.”  Arizona Daily Sun, March 2, 1949, p. 1).  According to an obituary, (“John G. Babbitt, Arizona Legislator, 85.”  The New York Times, August 8, 1993), John G. Babbitt served as President of the Arizona Board of Regents in 1954 and 1964.  According to the biographical note accompanying his papers at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (John G. Babbitt Papers, Collection numbers: NAU.MS.296, NAU.PH.97.31), he served a total of 16 years on the Arizona Board of Regents:

He also served on the board of directors for Valley National Bank and Mountain Bell.  John also maintained an active role in the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association and served as president in 1950-1951.  Even after retirement, John continued to serve on the board of directors of Babbitt ranch operations.

June 22, 1973, John G. Babbitt received investiture into the Knights of Malta (“High Catholic Honor Given John Babbitt.”  Arizona Daily Sun, July 14, 1973, pp. 1).  And he continued to work with his ranches and with the family business.  According to “Ranch profile- Babbitt Ranch”:

For many years tedious efforts went into water development through pipeline and storage tank development, pasture fencing, earthen dam construction, and general range management.  John retired in 1984, at 77 years of age, after overseeing the ranches for over 50 years.

John George Babbitt died August 5, 1993 in Flagstaff, Coconino Co., AZ.  He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Flagstaff, Coconino Co., AZ.  The cemetery is located next to Northern Arizona University.

Additional Information

LEGISLATIVE FAMILY:  brother of Sen. James E. Babbitt

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: AZ birth certificate (Babbett in index):  “John Babbitt” (sic) son of “C.J. Babbitt” and “Verkamp” which was transcribed from old county records), middle name: U of A Arizona and Southwestern Biographical File; Death: SSDI: John G. Babbitt; Cemetery:  Find A Grave Memorial 7079505, created by: Corolla Hoag; appointed to the Legislature:  Sen. James E. Babbitt died November 12, 1944 after having been reelected as Senator for Coconino County.  He was replaced by his brother, John G. Babbitt who took the oath of office January 8, 1945 (Journal of the Senate, 17th Legislature, 1945, p. [9]-10, 30)