Washington Bartlett

BARTLETT, SMITH, CANNON, HEATH, HERRICK, VAIL, HILL, JEFFERSON, BRIER, CUPPY, REYNOLDS

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/22/2009 at 14:35:43

WASHINGTON BARTLETT,a prominent citizen of the south part of Audubon County, died at 4 a.m., May 21, 18, at his homestead, near Brayton, Iowa. His death occurred after a brief illness of only four days, in the beautiful home which his own hands had reared, attended by his faithful wife, and surrounded by his children and grandchildren, a fitting end for a useful and honorable citizen and man. The funeral services were held at the residence on the 22d and were of a most solemn and impressive nature. Seats had been provided on the beautiful lawn adjoining the parlor where the dead pioneer lay encased in a rich casket, surrounded by a bank of fragrant flowers, the tribute of friends from far and near. Wreaths, crosses, and anchors, emblems of immortality, faith and hope, spoke the thoughts of tender hearts and loving friends of the deceased. A large number of leading families of this valley were present. There were few dry eyes among them when, after the Rev. E. S. Hill had spoken feelingly of his acquaintance of twenty odd years with the deceased, he asked the choir to sing that dear old hymn, "Nearer, My God to Thee," and explained that grandpa had often asked his little five year old grandchild, Beatrice Reynolds, to sing it for him when weary with toil or care. After the sermon the people took a last look at their dead friend, and six prominent citizens and pioneers, Oliver Smith, Mark Heath, Edson Herrick, Christopher Smith, J. C. Cannon, Sr., and C. H. Vail bore the deceased to the funeral cortege, and thence, followed by a long line of carriages, to the Oakfleld Cemetery, where they laid him to rest with tender and reverent hands.

Green be the turf above thee, friend of our better days, None knew thee but to love thee, nor named thee but to praise.

Washington Bartlett came of illustrious blood. The Bartletts trace their lineage back to Thomas Bartlett, of Mayflower fame, and his own mother, Sabrina (Hill) Bartlett, was a niece of Thomas Jefferson, the celebrated statesman, of Virginia, in which State the subject of this sketch was born September 19, 1820. At the early age of eleven years Thomas Bartlett emigrated to Warren County, Indiana; there the boy grew to manhood through all the privations and hardships of pioneer days. There, too, he married Miss Margaret Brier. One child, David Milton Bartlett, a well-to-do citizen of that county and State, is still living. About the year 1852 Wash, as he was familiarly called, went to the gold fields of California, via New Orleans and the Isthmus, returning eighteen months later. He came to the then new State of Iowa in 1855, and in 1856 located on the estate where he lived so many years, respected and liked by those who knew him best. Here he married Martha E. Cuppy. Three children are the fruit of this union E. G. Bartlett, Esq., Lillie Bartlett Reynolds, wife of J. M. Reynolds, the Brayton merchant, and H. M. Bartlett, agent of the C., R. I. & P. R. R., at Brayton. All are married, and living near the old home. Of the character of the dead it need only be said that he held offices of trust and honor among his fellowmen all his life. As justice of the peace, secretary of the school board, and as a member of the board of supervisors, he discharged his duty faithfully and well. With malice toward none and charity for all he lived a useful and honorable life. The world will be poorer for his going, yet richer in memories of kindly deeds and honest worth. The elements were so mixed in him that nature might stand up and say this is a man.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 805-806