BARTLETT, Herbert Gallup 1878-1931

BARTLETT

Posted By: S. Bell (kermit)
Date: 6/28/2010 at 21:20:50

Herbert Bartlett,
Osage Attorney,
Taken By Death

In Prime of Life and Best of
Health, Taken After But
Few Weeks' Illness

While the tragic death of Herb Bartlett has not been unexpected during the past few weeks, the peculiarity of his illness and the suddenness of his taking has come as an unusual shock to the Osage community. Up until the latter part of May when the skin trouble, to which he had been subject for a long time, began to get unusually bothersome, he had been in the best of health - a strong man in the prime of life. The end came last Friday afternoon about 4 o'clock.

Mr. Bartlett had an important part in the preparations for the Jubilee celebration staged in this city early in July, and it was with apologies that he told the committee chairman of his decision to go to Rochester in search of relief from his irritating disorder. The trouble, which he used to think of as a scalp ailment, seemed to be spreading, and he thought it wise to try and get it checked. Two or three weeks, he had been told, would be necessary for the prescribed treatment; and he disliked to leave at that time and burden his fellow committeemen with his share of the Jubilee arrangements.

At that time no one guessed that he was seriously ill, and it was with great disappointment that his friends learned (as the Fourth of July approached) that Herb wouldn't be able even to get back to Osage in time for the celebration. However, even that wasn't taken seriously. It was merely assumed that treatment was taking a bit longer than had been expected.

The skin disorder refused to be checked, and spread over his body. He was taken to a skin specialist at Minneapolis but there seemed to be no effectual treatment. His condition grew worse, and realization that his affliction was fatal was accepted a couple of weeks ago.

The end came with a few day of a year after his wife's sudden death. Mrs. Bartlett, too had died very unexpectedly. She had been taken ill with what appeared to be a simple malady, only to learn that a serious heart disorder made a quick end inevitable.

Herbert Gallup Bartlett passed away Friday afternoon, August 21, at Hill Crest Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a life of a little more than half a century, half of which was spent as a beloved husband and father. The end came peacefully and quietly after a period of suffering for several weeks from an incurable and very rare malady, pemphigus.

Mr. Bartlett was born near Orchard, Iowa, January 4, 1878, the son of John Colby and Ann Eliza Bartlett. He received his early education in the schools at Orchard. As a young man he continued his preparatory work in the Cedar Valley Seminary, and after completing a course in this institution he entered the University of Iowa and graduated from the law department in 1901. Soon after this he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, J. M. Gilmore, and for a few years these young men practiced their profession in the local courts. Later Mr. Gilmore retired from the firm to continue practice in the west and a partnership was formed here with Mr. Carl Spaanum. A short time after, another member was added to the firm in the person of A. A. Kugler, and for a number of years these men were associated together in a very happy and successful business career. With the death of Mr. Spanum and later of Mr. Kugler, Mr. Bartlett was called upon to carry a particularly heavy burden.

On June 8, 1905, Mr. Bartlett and Miss Maude James were united in marriage. Mrs. Bartlett's death occurred August 28, 1930.

Three children are left to mourn the passing of faithful parents: Virginia Bartlett, a teacher in the local high school, John Bartlett, a student of law in his father's office; and James, a junior in high school. Besides these Mr. Bartlett leaves three sisters, Mrs. Mary Gilmore, of Lewiston, Idaho; Miss Fay Bartlett, of Osage; and Mrs. Fern Skuttle, of Des Moines, Iowa; and one brother, Lynn S. Bartlett, who is in business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

As an attorney at law, Mr. Bartlett was known locally and throughout the state as one who knew the law and practiced it according to the highest standards of the profession. He enjoyed the confidence of the community to an extent seldom experienced by anyone. He never shirked the responsibility of citizenship. Among the public duties he was called upon to perform was that of membership on the board of education. For twelve years he served in this capacity,most of the time as president of the board. Whatever he undertook, he performed in a serious, sincere manner and exemplified the qualities of a loyal and patriotic citizen.

But perhaps the highest tribute that can be paid to the deceased is that he was a faithful and devoted husband and father. His home meant everything to him. When the home circle was broken a little less than a year ago by the death of Mrs. Bartlett, the shock was such that it perhaps hastened the onslaught of the disease the ultimately claimed him.

Humanly speaking, Osage can ill afford to lose a man of the type of the deceased. He filled a large place in the professional, civic, and fraternal life of this community.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, August 23, at 2:30 o'clock, at the home, in charge of the Reverend N. C. Dreier, pastor of the Osage Congregational Church.

[Mitchell County Press, Wednesday, August 26, 1931]