The Biographical Dictionary of America/Babcock, Joseph Weeks

BABCOCK, Joseph Weeks, representative, was born at Swanton, Vt., March 6, 1850; grandson of Joseph Weeks, who was a representative in the 24th and 25th congresses. He removed to Iowa with his parents in 1856, where he received a common-school education at Mt. Vernon and Cedar Falls. In 1881 he settled at Necedah, Wis., and began business as a lumberman, and in 1896 he was manager of one of the largest lumber companies that have made the Northwestern pine regions famous. After filling several local offices he was elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1883, served as chairman of the committee on incorporations, and was re-elected in 1890, and in this capacity was instrumental in passing a number of laws which proved beneficial to the state. He was elected a representative to the 53d Congress in November, 1892, and in March, 1894, was appointed chairman of the national Republican congressional committee. He was re-elected to the 54th, 55th, 56th. 57th and 58th congresses. Speeches on "History of Money and Financial Legislature in the United States" and "Three Evenings with Silver and Money" were published in pamphlet form by him in 1896.