Santa
Clara County
Biographies
FRANK
H. BABB
FRANK H. BABB. The foothill country of
Santa Clara county owes an unpayable debt to such energy and resource as
is embodied in the career of Frank H. Babb. When this prominent horticulturist came to
what is now Laurel Ranch, six miles from San Jose, in 1875, no mind had as yet
conceived the plan of irrigating the district, or of converting it into a
fruit-raising center. With Mr. Babb
to conceive was to act, and his efforts at irrigation succeeding, he set out a
ten-acre orchard the products of which not only proved the entire success of
the experiment, but opened up an opportunity to others hitherto unsuspected in
this part of the county. Neighbors who
had placed a far different value upon their land began to follow his example,
and today the foothills are covered with orchards, and thousands of acres of
fruit trees delight the eye and senses with their fragrant blossoms and
luscious harvests. With the ten acres
for a foundation, this pioneer fruit grower has extended his horticultural
domain to one hundred and sixty acres, and prunes, apricots, peaches, almonds
and olives attest the correctness of his prophecy, and the extent of his
industry. The balance of the two hundred
acre ranch has taken on a general farming aspect, and the buildings,
improvements and general prosperity indicate the guidance of a man with a high
agricultural ideal. Hay and early
vegetables supplement the fruit crop, and taken in connection with
Mr. Babb’s prominence in agricultural and horticultural circles, aid in
the establishment of one of the most substantial and far-reaching industries in
the vicinity of San Jose.
In his youth Mr. Babb had certain
advantages which prove him the exception to the rule of early settlers. He had not only a liberal but a classical
education, and an early training which must needs have
developed the strongest and finest traits of his character. In his father, Dr. Clement E. Babb,
he had an inspiration to noble living and earnest endeavor rarely vouchsafed a
growing lad. He was born in
Indianapolis, Ind., February 26, 1852, his father, John P., and
grandfather, Peter Babb, being natives of Wilkesbarre,
Pa., and his mother, Lydia (Hulburt) Babb, a native
of New York. He is the only son in the
family, and his only sister, Helen, is living in San Jose.
Rev. Clement E. Babb was
educated classically in Dickenson College, Pennsylvania, and after removing to
Ohio qualified as a layer, in time becoming prosecuting attorney of Hillsdale county, Mich.
Financially successful, his large nature craved the boon of serving
others in a spiritual capacity, and he entered the Union Theological Seminary
in New York City, and the Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, but before
he completed his course there he was called to succeed Henry Ward Beecher in
the Second Presbyterian Church of Indianapolis.
His voice failing, he purchased the Christian
Herald, now known as the Herald and
Presbyter, a weekly periodical, and bent his energies to making it a strong
and helpful church paper. In 1873 he
sold his interest in the Herald, but
since then has contributed uninterruptedly to its every issue, his
contributions finding their way also into other papers and magazines throughout
the country. During the Civil war he was
chaplain of the Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with the
regiment at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh,
and many other engagements, finally resigning owing to impaired health from
exposure. At the time of Morgan’s raid
he was an adjutant in the state militia.
Since coming to California Mr. Babb has filled most of the San
Francisco pulpits, and in San Jose has been active in the First and Second
Presbyterian churches. He is now
eighty-two years old, but looks much younger because of his moderate and peaceful
life. Five years his junior, his wife
has survived to share the prosperity as she did the struggles of his younger
life, and together they constitute one of the best beloved and most honored
couples in San Jose.
Frank H. Babb was reared in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and after due preparation entered Marietta College, from
which he was graduated with the degree of A. B.
He then took up the study of theology at Lane Seminary with the
intention of devoting his energies to the Christian
Herald, but after a year changed his plans and came to California in the
spring of 1873. Locating in San Jose, he
bought out the drug store of Dr. Lee, on South First street,
and two years later purchased his present farm, known as Laurel Ranch. He has since been an enthusiastic
experimenter along horticultural lines, and in 1892 was one of the organizers
of the Santa Clara County Fruit Exchange, of which he is vice-president, and of
which he has been a director for many years.
The exchange has accomplished much for the fruit prestige of Santa Clara
county, and now has a large export trade with France
and Germany. Mr. Babb is also a
member of the Farmers’ Club, and of the Grange, of which he is overseer. As a stanch[sic]
Republican his name stands for good government in town and city, and he has
been a delegate to various state conventions, in 1902-4 serving as a member of
the state Republican central committee.
In 1903 he was appointed trustee of the San Jose State Normal, by
Governor Pardee, to succeed Senator Leavitt. For many years of his life the Presbyterian
Church has constituted one of the chief interests of Mr. Babb. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian Church
of San Jose, a ruling elder in the same, permanent clerk of the Presbytery of
San Jose and permanent clerk of the Synod of California. For years he has been active in Sunday school
work, serving as superintendent for a number of years, and ardently working to
supply the religious needs of the younger members of the congregation. The Young Men’s Christian Association has
found him one of its substantial friends, and as president he entirely filled
the requirements of that responsible position.
He is a man of intense vitality, of conserved energy and great
resourcefulness, an active, helpful force in the business and religious, and social life of town and county. His high general standing, his genial and
cordial manners, and above all the noble aims of his life have attached to him
many friends and secured the confidence and respect of the community.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 443-444. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Donna Toole.