William Bartholomew, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of William Bartholomew
WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW. Porter county, Indiana, is the birthplace of William Bartholomew, and he was born October 13, 1839, the son of Joseph and Mary (Spencer) Bartholomew. His parents migrated to Indiana from Licking county, Ohio, in 1834, being among the first families to settle in this section. William was one of a large family, consisting of the following: Belinda, Delia, Maria, Albert, Eli, John, William, Artillus and Calvin and Alvin D., who were twins. Calvin married Martha Biggart and died at the age of thirty-three, while Alvin became a prominent lawyer in Valparaiso, Indiana. During these early years the family endured the hardships which the pioneer was always called upon to face, and the life of their early days doubtless had much to do with forming and hardening their characters, and developing them into sturdy, self-reliant men and women. They were all educated in the public schools and some of them were sent to Valparaiso.
William Bartholomew received a similar education to the others in the public schools, but had the additional advantage of attending the University of Valparaiso, where he completed his education. He then became a teacher, and for several years followed this profession in Porter county. He then became a clerk in the office of his brother-in-law, Gilbert Pierce, who was a quartermaster in the United States army. He was located first at Paducah, Kentucky, and later at Vicksburg and New Orleans, and other points in the south. He remained in this position three years, getting a taste of real army life and some idea of his country, and especially of the southern portion.
Upon his return to his old home he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1869 his marriage to Sarah Biggart took place. She was born in 1849, in Porter county, being the daughter of George and Pamelia (Edminster) Biggart. Her father was a native of Ireland, and her mother was a plain American hailing from the Hoosier state, where her birth occurred in 1819. George Biggart, born in 1816, came to this country when he was quite young, and the Biggart family were among the pioneers in this district, their farm being near that of the Bartholomews. Mr. Biggart was an extensive land owner and his home was one of the most beautiful places in the county, being known as Marshall Grove. Mrs. Bartholomew was one of eight children, namely; Marion, Jerome, Robert, Sarah, Thomas, Alfred, Martha, and Mary, who is now dead. All of these children were educated in the district schools and at Valparaiso. After Sarah returned home from the latter place she taught school for a while previous to her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew began life together on a farm of a hundred and twenty acres near Tassinong, Indiana, and success came to them with the passing years. They improved the land, built fine barns and out-buildings, and to-day the place stands as a beautiful monument to their years of labor. In 1907 they decided to leave the farm, so came to the pretty little town of Kouts, where they settled, making their home with their nephew, George Bartholomew, a son of Calvin. One of the chief delights of Mr. Bartholomew is fishing, and since he and his brother John own a fine boat, and the Kankakee river is near at hand, he is able to indulge in this sport to his heart's content.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew are both members of the Presbyterian church at Kouts, and are not only active workers in the church but give freely of their money to the support of the same. Politically Mr. Bartholomew is an ardent Democrat, having always been a warm friend and admirer of the work and doctrines of William Jennings Bryan, believing that the ideas set forth by him would mean the welfare of the nation and that he himself is one of the most admirable and strongest reformers of his time. The honesty and integrity of Mr. Bartholomew has won him many friends, and he and his wife are among the most popular residents of the county. During the winter of 1910 they went to California, where they enjoyed the land of sunshine and flowers to the fullest, but they were once more glad to be back among their old friends, and were they given the choice of living in California or Indiana they would in all probability choose the latter.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew, Jerome, Gerald, Mabel, Mollie, Calvin and Nellie. All of these children received good educations, their father and mother giving up everything that they might benefit by the sacrifice. Gerald was graduated from Valparaiso University with honors. Jerome studied two years in the Indiana Normal School. Mabel studied music for a number of years and became a teacher or music in Porter county. She is now the wife of O. E. Johnson, who at the time of their marriage was a resident of Plymouth, Indiana, being employed in a bank. Going to California for their wedding trip, they were so charmed with the country that they remained two years, but are now living in Gary, Indiana, where Mr. Johnson owns a drug store. They have two children, Elinor, aged three, and the baby of two months, William. Jerome married Nellie Marine, of Valparaiso, and they live in the old Biggart homestead. They have one child, Grace, their other daughter, Lucile, having died in infancy. Gerald married Margaret Patten, a popular teacher of Hebron, and they are living in the old Bartholomew homestead. Three children have been born to them, Dorothea, William and Geraldine.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 418-420
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook