Sumner County Biographies
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Sumner County"
Chapman Bros., Chicago, 1890
SAMUEL C. BARTLETT. The solid element of the township of Jackson recognizes no more worthy citizen than Mr.
Bartlett � a life-long farmer of more than
ordinarily good judgment, and one who has been
very successful. He comes of substantial New
England stock and was born in Guilford, New
Haven County, Conn , March 4, 1844.
The immediate progenitor of the subject of this
sketch was John Bartlett, likewise a native of Guilford, Conn., and the son of Samuel Bartlett, who
was born in the same town. The father of the latter was John Bartlett, who was a farmer by occupation, and as far as is known, spent his entire life
in Guilford. Samuel Bartlett likewise followed in
the footsteps of his father, spending his entire life
in his native place. His son, John the father of
our subject, was reared in Guilford and was there
married. He obtained a good education and taught
school when a young man, but aside from this occupied himself as a farmer. His entire life was
spent at the homestead of his birth.
Mrs. Lodoiska (Coan) Bartlett, the mother of
our subject, was born in New Haven County, Conn.,
and was the daughter of Josiah Coan, a native of
the same county, and a carpenter by trade, who
also followed farming. Mrs. Bartlett died in 1851,
when her son, Samuel C, was a lad of seven years.
He was wholly orphaned by the death of his father,
which took place in 1864. He remained a resident
of his native county until the death of his father,
then emigrated to Illinois and secured employment
on a farm near Quincy. He sojourned there three
years, then went into Pike County, Mo., where he
secured land and prosecuted farming until 1875.
Then selling out he started with a team for Texas,
intending to settle there; he visiting Denison, Sherman, Dallas, and various other counties in the
northern part of the State. Not being suited with
the country he turned his horses' heads northward,
riding up through the Indian Territory into Sumner County, this State.
Upon his arrival in Kansas Mr. Bartlett entered
a tract of Government land � that which constitutes
his present farm, and comprising the northwest
corner of section 8, Jackson Township. At that
time the small village of Wichita � forty miles distant � was the nearest railroad depot, and the nearest market for grain and stock. Only a few miles
west deer and buffalo were plentiful, roaming undisturbed over the prairies and through the woodlands. Mr. Bartlett possessed the elements most
needed to battle with the difficulties and dangers
of frontier life, and proceeded with the improvement of his property, being greatly prospered.
He brought the soil to a good state of cultivation,
erected a fine set of frame buildings, and added to
his landed possessions until he is now the owner of
three hundred and sixty broad acres, all in one
tract and well-improved. As a member of the
community he stands second to none in Jackson
Township. His estimable wife, to whom he was
married in Pike County, Mo., October 8, 1868, was
formerly Miss Mary C. Wheeler, a native of Cass
County, Mo. The parents of Mrs. Bartlett were
Edmund and Barbara A. (Robinson) Wheeler, natives of Kentucky, but now deceased. To Mr. and
Mrs. Bartlett there have been born seven children,
five now living, namely: Walter Edward, Lavina.
Pearl, Samuel and Ernest. Charles Sumner, the
third in order of birth, and an infant unnamed,
are deceased.
In connection with this sketch of Mr. Bartlett
may be found on another page of this work a lithographic view of his homestead.
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This website created Oct. 29, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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