Salmon M. Babbitt - Oakland

undated ¹

Salmon Moulton (“S.M.”) Babbitt (August 27, 1823 – September 4, 1897) served on the City Council in 1883 and 1884. He was an early merchant in Oakland. Babbitt was a Republican.

NB: Some obituaries give his name as Solomon, but Salmon appears in directories, voter registrations, and some obituaries. ^2,3 Likewise there are various spellings of Moulton (e.g., Malton). One mention says "Salmon M. Babbitt, also known as Solomon M. Babbitt". It's not yet known what his name was officially.

Babbitt was born August 27, 1823 in Ohio, but lived in Illinois in his early days, and lived there again in the middle of his life. While in Illinois, Babbitt served as the treasurer of McHenry County, and also served as deputy sheriff, though it's not clear where.

Babbitt married Lucinda Balch (Babbitt) (November 30, 1827 – June 7, 1914) of New York on December 10, 1845 in Illinois. They had five children: Mary (“May”) Babbitt (Gilpin) (November 22, 1846 – January 25, 1935), Emma Grace Babbitt (November 6, 1849 – April 19, 1864), Ella Florence Babbitt (December 4, 1855 – April 8, 1870), Harriet (“Hattie”) Adele Babbitt (Owen) (August 10, 1863 – January 10, 1925), and Walter L. Babbitt (September 22, 1871 – August 4, 1872). May was married to Zachary Taylor Gilpin, who was deputy city clerk in 1887.

Babbitt first moved to California in 1850 and did some mining, then after time in Illinois, came back with the family in 1874, living first on Broadway near 20th, then at 1954 Webster Street for many years.

The 1880-1881 directory lists Babbitt in business with George W. Manuel and Z.T. Gilpin, as part of Babbitt, Manuel & Gilpin.

In 1885, he purchased the interest of M.C. Garber in Barstow & Garber, a partnership with Anson Barstow. Barstow would later be the 33rd mayor of Oakland. The 1887 directory lists him as part of Barstow & Babbitt. They dissolved the partnership in 1890, and Barstow continued the business.

from 1887 directory

In 1889, he was also a director of the California Bank and Trust Co. In 1895, the bank changed its name to California Bank, and Babbitt was the vice president.

Home

1954 Webster was at 29th Street and Webster (now 2904 Webster after the 1912 renumbering). In 1879 when Babbitt had the house built, 29th St. was known as Prospect.

The undated photo by Frank B. Rodolph is labeled "Babbitt's Residence", and is thought to be the family home. There were not many Babbitt families in Oakland when Rodolph was active in photographing Oakland, and the shape matches what is shown on the Sanborn maps.

undated Frank Rodolph photo1902 Sanborn excerpt1912 Sanborn excerpt

Death and Burial

Babbitt had a stroke, and his mental condition began to deteriorate. Realizing this, Babbitt took his own life. He was buried in the Odd Fellows' cemetery in San Francisco. ^2,3