The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-18
GEN. JOSEPH BARTHOLOMEW.
An Indiana Pioneer Whose mo
Deserves Public Honor.

An Indiana Pioneer Whose Memory
Deserves Public Honor.
TO the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
While the question of honor to the Illus
trious dead who helped to make Indiana
with their treasure, their patriotism and
their blood is up, there is one name that
seems to be overlooked, winch certainly
shines as a bright star in the little group
which rescued Indiana from the treacher-
Gus savage and helped to make it a great
State, General Joseph Bartholomew. He
lived adjoining Charlestown, Ind, from 1850
to 1881, where he cleared and cultivated a
fine farm, and bore a conspicuous part in
all that pertained to the welfare of the
Territory and State, until he was sacrificed
by the default and dishonesty of a public
officer, whom he had bonded and which
swept away his fortune and home, and
here he also buried his wife, who had been
the light of his home. Leaving behind
him his first love and sympathizing neigh
bors and the honors he had SO richly
earned and so modestly borne, he removed
to Mclean county, Illinois, and with char
acteristic energy, at the age of sixty-five
years, began lite anew on the prairie near
the town of Lexington, where his memory
is revered for his modest worth and true
haroisln. During the exciting campaign
OF 1910 he made many earnest Speeches in
behalf of his old friend and fellow-patriot
under whom. he had fought and suffered,
and died on the evening of the election,
eraI Clarke. was a native of New
Jersey, and was born March Is, 1865.
Old, ana shortly after his mother moved to
Laurel Hill, Pa, where his early life was
spent on a farm until he was twenty-one
years of age. Here he learned the use OF
the rifle, and at the age of ten years joined
in a campaign against a band of marauding
Indians that We're robbing the settlements;
and often, during the revolutionary war.
though but a youth, he served as a patrol
in the interest OF his country. After the
revolutionary war he moved into Ohio. then
the Northwest Territory, ana, remaining
but a short time, descended the Ohio river
vile. Here his early Indian experience
served him well and often, as troubles With
while he was sick, and all the men of the
neighborhood absent, a band OF Indians
them away. As soon as he could leave his
bed he pursued them, and with only the
assistance of a twelveeyear-old boy, at
tackled the Indians and reeaptured the
horses and brought them back. In 1888 and
1874 he served under General Anthony
He was at Fort Jefferson Oct. %, 1888: and
in the following hazardousA campaign
against the Maumees serving in the very
important but dangerous position OF scout
and guide with two thousand warriors close
around them all the time. He participated
IN the battle of Aug. 70, 1874, at the rapids of
ments.
In iSUU, With q few daring neighDOrS, he
crossed the Chic river and located near the
present site of Charlestown. / was shown
his cid home by some of his old neighbors
in 1880. The settlers kept up a military
organization, with Joseph Bartholomew in
command. On the 21st of September, 1903,
he was commissioned by Governor Harrison
a major in the Clark county militia, and
three years later he was promoted to lieu
tenant colonel, and about 1871 TO colonel.
In the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe Col.
bartholomew was severely wounded in the
forearm by a rifle ball. breaking both bones,
in n TlE MORT of II fin ~ h1If IA 70
manned unflinchingly with his cunmand,
directing and encouraging his men until the
close of the battle, although almost over
come by pain and loss of blood. Governor
HarrisonS report to the Secretary of War
says the whole of the infantry was formed
into a brigade, under Colonel Boyd. and
that Colonel Joseph Bartholomew a very
valuable volunteer officer commanded the
militia infantry. He was wounded early
in the action For his distinguished serV-
ices in this battle Colonel Bartholomew was
promoted and commissioned brigadier gem
eral of the militia of Indiana Territory By
the United States government. The follow
ing resolution was adopted by the House
"Resoived, That the thanks of this
Decker and Col Joseph Bartholo-
NEW, the officers. northumberland officers
their command : . /" for the distinguished
valor, heroism and bravery displayed by
them in the brilliant battle fought with the
Shawnee Prophet and his confederates on
the morning of Nov. 7, 1871, by the army
under the command of his Excellency, Will
liam Henry Harrison
About a year after the battle of Tippe-
canoe a draft was made on the militia of
Clark county for active service, in which
John Bartholomew. a son of the general,
was drafted. Believing his son. a delicate
youth, was not able 10 bear the hardships
of the campaign, the general took his place
as a substitute. The army TO which the
drafted men were attached was under com
mand of General Russell, and marched to
the relief of Fort Harrison, then severely
besieged by the sayases.s Early in the march
the commanding general was taken sick.
generaD Bartholomew and placed him in
temporary command of the army. For his
activity, perseverance and courage in this
campaign and several expeditions he was
commissioned a major general OF volun-
teers by President Madison.
Every station he was called to he hon.
devotion to. his country. He served as Rep
resentative and Senator in the State Legis-
lature with credit to himself and hoaor
to his constituents. He was one of the
ital of the State at its present site. Bar
thoiomeW county was named for him in rec
0gnition of his services in the States early
history. When Blazing Star Lodge, +. and
a.. NJ, of Charaestown, Ind, was installed,
in 1916, he was made senior warden. Gen
Bartholomew was a self-taught, modest,
truthful, brave and honest man, who rose
from obscurity and attained distinction
solely on his merits. i doubt Ii Indiana has
a more deserving name. while she has those
who have received more honor, as modesty
was one of the crownin characteristics of
his life. Intimately associated with the
adventurous Clarke in their early history,
he was unlike him in all save courage. /
am largely indebted for the details in this
sketch of his life and service to an account
of the Generals life written by his friend,
Major General Simonsons of Charlestown.
Ind. g q. BARTHOLOMEW.
Upton, Ind, March IL.