Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1898 — Some County Candidates. [ARTICLE]

Some County Candidates.

Our Candidate For Clerk. Estil E. Pierson, Republican candidate for clerk of the Jasper circuit court, is a son of Elder Aaron E. Pierson, of Union Tp., The Elder is a preacher in the Christian denomination and a farmer, and a good man in both capacities, who is raising up a large family in the fear of the Lord, and a firm adherence to the principles of the Republican party. Estil E., the subject of this sketch, was born at Ligonier, this state, and is now in his 29th year. He has lived in this county since five years old. Always a studious and industrious young man, he has since arriving at manhood devoted his winters to teaching and his summers to farming. He has a remarkably large acquaintance throughout the northern half of the county, and is popular with all classes, but especially so among the young men. He has always taken a lively and most intelligent interest in public affairs, and quite a number of years ago began to make public speeches for the Republican party, and during the last campaign did much effective work in that line. Personally he is a man of the most excellent qualities. He is strictly temperate, thoroughly moral, and of unbending integrity. He is also most genial and accommodating, and will make not only an able clerk but a very amiable and accommodating one. Our Candidate For Auditor. William Cary Babcock, our candidate for county auditor, has not lived in Jasper county as long as some people, but he has done as well as he could in that line, having lived here all the time he has lived any place, and,that is well as anyone can do, He was born about 4 miles southeast of Rensselaer thirty-six and one half years ago. His father, Nathan Babcock, was a pioneer of pioneers. He died in 1874. His mother, Mrs. Maigaret Babcock, died at the good old age of 91 years only a few years ago. Mr. Babcock lived on the old farm until four years ago when he came to Rensselaer, and engaged in the grain buying business. “Billy” is a thoroughly fine fellow in every way, personally, socially and in a business way. There is no better known nor no more universally popular man in the county than he; and so great, in fact, is his popularity, that when way late in the canvass for nominations, previous to the county convention, Mr. Babcock was announced as a candidate for auditor, the other candidates felt, like Davy Crockett’s coon, that they might as well come down at once. His popularity among the farmers, with whom his bnsiness relations principally are, is remarkable, and that irrespective of politics and he will not only have the full party vote but a good deal besides that.. And he will prove himself worthy of all his popularity and public esteem and will be an efficient and most accommodating county auditor.