James H. Babbitts

As printed in 1908

JAMES H. BABBITTS, postmaster, oldest son of the late Charles and Margaret (Eobison) Babbitts, was born at Springfield, Ohio, April 1, 1853. He completed his public school course in his native city, and then entered the University of Wooster, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in 1874. He then took up the study of the law under the supervision of General J. Warren Keifer and Hon. Charles E. White. In 1876 he was admitted to the bar, and later entered into partnership with his preceptors. In this engagement he continued until 1881, when he was elected clerk of the courts of Clark County.

During the seventeen years following he was actively engaged in political life. He was chosen chairman of the Republican Connty Central Committee in 1883, and 1884, and again in 1889 he served in the same position. In 1884 he was reelected to the office of clerk of the courts, and was again re-elected in 1887, and served in that position until January 1, 1890, when he resigned to take the position of managing editor of the Daily Republic-Times, the leading Republican journal of Clark County.

In this engagement he continued for eight years, when he resigned his editorship to serve as postmaster of Springfield, to which office he was appointed by President McKinley, May 1, 1898. In 1902 and again in 1906 Mr. Rabbitts was reappointed by President Roosevelt. During Mr. Rabbitts' incumbency the rural delivery service was established, and the volume of the business of the Springfield post office, its gross receipts and the number of its employes have all increased more than one hundred and twenty-five per cent.

Mr. Rabbitts was married December 7, 3882, at Indianapolis, Ind., to Miss Cornelia Burt, who is a daughter of Rev. N. C. Burt, D. D., who was formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, at Springfield. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitts, a son and a daughter survive, viz: Burt and Frances. The family home is at 652 North Limestone Street.

In 1898 Mr. Rabbitts was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Merchants' and Mechanics' Building and Loan Association and served continuously in that position. Following the death of the late Edward C. Gwyn, Mr. Rabbitts was elected president of the association January 1, 1908. Mr. Rabbitts is an active member of the Spring-field Commercial Club and contributes his willing effort in the discharge of all the duties incident to public-spirited citizenship.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.