Biography of E. L. Bartlett of Morris, Illinois

E. L. BARTLETT, musician, Morris, was born in New York September 19, 1821. When he was twelve years old, his father moved to Western New York, where he worked on a farm three years. Our subject entered Hamilton College in 1839, from where he graduated in 1843. He was married October 26, 1843, to Miss Rachel A. CONKLIN, daughter of C. J. CONKLIN, now living with his daughter, Mrs. BARTLETT in Morris. In July, 1844, they settled in Lisbon, Kendall County, where Mr. BARTLETT was for five years Principal of Long Grove Academy, after which he taught one year in Oswego, Kendall County; he was also called to the Principalship of the Plainfield Academy, of Will County, just then erected, at which place he taught three years. Mr. BARTLETT looks with pride upon many of his former pupils, now filling very honorable positions. In 1854, he purchased a farm in Saratoga Township, upon which he lived ten years. At this period of history, he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-six Illinois Volunteers, as Musician, in Hentzleman’s Western Division Band, serving till the close of the war. Returning home, he sold his farm and settled in Morris, where he has since lived. He owns a store building on Washington street, where for some years he conducted a music store. Their family numbers ten children – Napoleon B., born in 1846, killed November 11, 1864, at the battle of Duvall’s Bluff; Francis E., born in 1848, is a merchant in Morris; Leroy, born in 1850, is a merchant in Chicago; Arabella, born in 1852, and died December 28, 1874; Jessie, born in 1854, married to William J. DAVIS of Chicago; Josephine, born in 1856; Lincoln, born in 1859; Sherman, died in infancy; and Stella, born in 1869. Mr. BARTLETT has attained an enviable reputation as a musician, having traveled over Illinois and Iowa with a concert company composed of his own family.