My grandmother, Nola Gowen, was born in the tiny town of North Loup Nebraska, in 1902. Her mother, Myra Babcock was the daughter of one of the founders of the town, Oscar Babcock. Nola’s father, William Gowen, co-owned the largest general store in town, and William’s father ran the largest hotel at one time. Nola by all accounts was a gentle, caring, positive, godly woman. Unfortunately I never knew her, she died five months before I was born. But I am certain that her prayers for me, though not yet born, have had an influence on my life.
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| Oscar & Metta (Bristol) Babcock. Wedding Photo June 1858 |
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| Myra Babcock, January 1893 |
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| Nola (age 16) with her father William in Los Angeles, 1918. Months before his death. |
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| The Arlington House hotel in North Loup, before 1895. William's father and mother (John and Maria) are in this photo just to the right of the window on the left. |
Nola’s grandfather, Oscar Babcock, also was the founding pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist church in North Loup, Nebraska. (Google records about 6,000 hits for “Oscar Babcock” (with quotes)).
Wikipedia briefly summarizes the founding of North Loup:
In 1871, a party of Seventh Day Baptists from Wisconsin explored Valley County for settlement sites. In May 1872, they established a community near what is now North Loup. A post office and general store were established in 1873; in 1877, the town of North Loup was formally organized. The name was taken from the North Loup River, in whose valley the village lies.Oscar organized that 1871 scouting party.
His life accomplishments were nicely summarized in the eulogy
given at his funeral:
Oscar Babcock was licensed to preach in 1858; at the same
quarterly meeting when a like call came to A. H. Lewis and to A. B. Prentice.
He was not ordained till twelve years later, that is, in 1872. He was a member
of the state [Wisconsin] legislature in 1863-4 and in 1865-6. He was promoter
and president of a scheme of colonization that resulted in the establishment of
a Seventh-day Baptist society in North Loup, Nebr. He has been pastor at
Dakota, Wisconsin, and at North Loup. He was Sabbath school superintendent in North
Loup for seventeen consecutive years. He was postmaster at Dakota and was
connected with the post office department while member of the Wisconsin
legislature. He was postmaster at North Loup for about twenty-seven years. He
was the first preacher in Valley county, preaching the first sermon among the
covered wagons camped near the river May 18, 1872. A rocking chair was used for
a pulpit. He performed the first marriage and conducted the first funeral. He
assisted in organizing Valley county in 1873 and was the first county judge. He
laid out the site of North Loup which was a part of his homestead. For years he
was chairman of the village board and of the school board. He was also immigration
agent and county commissioner for many years. At one time he was superintendent
of schools for Valley county. In 1878 he was elected to the legislature of
Nebraska.
North Loup was essentially established as a Seventh-day Baptist colony, though, it wasn't
exclusive. Anyone was welcome. Because
of the relatively small size of the denomination since it’s American founding in
Rhode Island in 1665, there was a considerable intermarriage among church
members. Of course there was. These are the people you worship with, they are
your very best friends. You share life together as a congregation, celebrating
births and weddings and comforting those left behind at funerals.
I am a product of that Seventh-day
Baptist community. I have three photos taken in 1938 of the adult, teen and
children’s North Loup SDB Sunday classes. Every person is identified.
As I started going through these photos
I realized that I am related to about 90 percent of these people through
marriage or blood. The more I work on
these families, the more tightly I find them connected.
Just a few weeks ago when I
spotted a photo on ebay of “George Miller taken at North Loup, Nebraska.” I was
interested. Wasn't I related to most of the people of North Loup? He could be a
cousin! The ebay posting went on to say "I purchased
I will relate what I found in the
box in my next post.
postscript: The photos posted here are also available at the links below:
Oscar Babcock
Myra Babcock
John Brackett Gowen
William Gowen
Nola Gowen
postscript: The photos posted here are also available at the links below:
Oscar Babcock
Myra Babcock
John Brackett Gowen
William Gowen
Nola Gowen
