[2] She was a graduate of Jamestown High School and the Lyons Musical Academy.

[1] At the age of eighteen, she married Prof. John W. Babcock, of Jamestown, New York, who served as city superintendent of public schools in Dunkirk, where they made their home.

From early girlhood she felt the injustice of denying to woman a voice in government, which concerned her the same as a man, but as her time was taken up to a great extent in household affairs, and she lived in a community where few sympathized with her feelings and none were ready to come out and take a stand for freedom, she did not take an active part in the reforms of the day until 1889.

Then, owing mainly to her efforts, a political equality club was organized in Dunkirk, of which she was made president.

On July 25, 1891, she had the honor of presiding over the first woman in suffrage meeting ever held at the Chautauqua Assembly, where, through the request of the county club, the subject was allowed to be advocated.