Bartlett, Levi (b. 1830)

BARTLETT, HILL, JENKINS, HUBBARD

Posted By: Cindy Baker (email)
Date: 10/28/2012 at 14:45:15

LEVI L. BARTLETT
LEVI L. BARTLETT, of Harlan Town ship, has been identified with Shelby County since 1870. He was born in Henry County, Virginia, January 11, 1830, and is a son of Thomas Bartlett, a native of West Virginia, who traces his ancestors back to three brothers who came over in the Mayflower. One of the descendants of these three brothers was one of the signers of the Declaration of independence. The ancestors of Thomas Bartlett settled in Virginia at a very early day. Sabrina Hill, the wife of Thomas Bartlett, was a native of Virginia; the rebel General Price and Thomas Jefferson are numbered among her relatives. Levi L., the subject of this biography, was two years old when his father removed to Warren County, Indiana. There were twelve children in the family. Nancy died in infancy and John died at the age of twelve years. Ten grew to maturity -- William, Washington, George, Thomas, Levi L., Maria, Sabrina, Elizabeth, Martha J. and Eliza. The father was born in 1791, and lived until his death in Warren County, Indiana, which occurred in 1862. The mother was born in 1793 and died in 1866. Thomas Bartlett, in the day of the Whig party, was a Whig; in later times he was a Republican. In religion he believed in universal salvation. Levi L. grew to manhood in Warren County, Indiana. He was reared a farmer, and was educated in the common schools. In 1852 he went overland to California with an ox-team. The first year he was engaged in mining; the second year he embarked in the lumber and lime trade, and after that he freighted goods to the mining camps. In 1855 he returned to the east via the Nicaragua route, remained in Indiana a few months and then came to Iowa and bought some land in Cass County, and went on to Pike's Peak where he engaged in mining for two years; thence he came to Audubon County, Iowa, where he lived a short time and then returned to Warren County, Indiana, remaining there two years. In 1863 he went to California by water, and after a residence there of two months he went to Idaho, where he engaged in mining for three years. He then returned across the plains to Audubon County, Iowa, and settled near Brayton, where he was one of the pioneers; here he lived until 1870, when he came to Shelby County. His farm contains 720 acres of well-improved land which is watered by Bartlett Creek; there are all necessary conveniences in the way of buildings, and there are as fine cattle to be seen on this farm as one will find in western Iowa. Mr. Bartlett was married May 9, 1859, to Miss Sarah Jenkins, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of John Jenkins. By this union seven children were born, two of whom died in infancy -- Raymond died at the age of two years, and Mary at the age of twelve years; Harrison, Jasper J. and Clarence L. are living. Mrs. Bartlett died in 1878. Mr. Bartlett was again married October 3, 1880, to Mrs. Victoria Hubbard, whose maiden name was Crouch; she was born in Moultrie County, Illinois, and is ad daughter of William F. and Priscilla (Box) Crouch. By her former marriage Mrs. Bartlett had three children -- Irvin R, Burdell and Charles. By his last marriage Mr. Bartlett has one child -- Leola. Politically he is a Republican, and served his party officially in Audubon County. He bears his years lightly, is honest and industrious, and is one of the leading citizens of the county.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 387-388
Contributor: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs