Mr. Bartow was a lifelong bachelor, however, Clorinda Sage Kilbourn was his acknowledged love.
"BARTOW, HERVEY, Portland, Lawyer and Real Estate Operator, was born in Freetown, Cortland County, New York, March 31, 1813. His parents were William and Grace Bartow. His father was born in Rutland County, Vermont, in 1782. When a young man, he came to Cortland County, New York, and was married, May 15, 1808. He was a member of the New York Assembly in 1824. In 1825 he moved to Michigan, and settled in the woods twenty-one miles west from Detroit, where was afterwards organized the town of Plymouth. He was elected to the Territorial Council in 1831, when General Lewis Cass was Governor.
Hervey Bartow was twelve years old when his father removed to Michigan. With the exception of six weeks in a neighboring school, he obtained all his subsequent education by studying at night, after severe labor through the day. During the first fourteen years of his life, his health was feeble; and, feeling the importance of a good constitution, he resolved, if possible, by careful industry, to establish his health on a firm basis. This he accomplished. His next ambition was to secure an education, as above stated.
In April, 1836, having obtained a few hundred dollars by jobbing in clearing land, and other hard labor, he started for the West. He traveled on foot through the wilderness, camping out at night; following Indian trails and section lines to and up Grand River, by the way of the mouth of the Looking glass River, the country along which was then unsettled, but has since been organized into a city known as Portland. Thence he went through the wilderness to the Kalamazoo United States Land Office, where he located some Government land; and finally, in the fall of 1836, settled, with several of his friends, in Ionia County, near where the town of Lyons now stands. Here he farmed until the fall of 1840, when he went to Lyons, and commenced the study of law as a pastime, still looking after his farming interests.
In the winter of 1846, having become unable to perform manual labor, he went to Portland, in said county, and gave his whole attention to law studies. He was admitted to practice in the several courts of the State in May, 1846, and immediately opened a law office at Portland, securing the confidence of the public, which he never forfeited. His talents as a lawyer are rather solid than brilliant; but his integrity, never impeached, gave him all the legal business in this section. As the official Prosecutor of the county, which he was in the years 1855-56, he secured conviction in every case involving guilt. From his knowledge of common and statute law, his services have been sought and secured, if practicable, since his retirement, in the settlement of estates and otherwise, and have been appreciated by his fellow-citizens. In response to their desire, he has occupied honorably the highest offices in his township, until, from multiplicity of personal interests, he has felt it his duty to decline every official position. His personal characteristics are well adapted to his profession. Slow to form an opinion, except on the presentation of evidence, he seldom changes his views when once adopted. After a few years, however, owing to the small amount of law business in the new country, he gave up practicing, and attended to real estate and various other transactions, with a short term in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1870, he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner for Ionia County; but having given up the practice of law, declined to act. He served six years on the Board of Trustees,—with special reference to establishing by-laws, precedents, rules, etc.—in the beginning, under the village charter of Portland.' Mr. Bartow is very desirous for the improvement of the locality in which he lives; and, at an early day, believing that by building a dam on Grand River and racing the whole length of his land, a fine water-power could be obtained, he offered the free use of his property to any one who would make such improvement. This generous offer, owing to jealousies arising from interests in the two sides of the river, was not accepted, and he feels that its rejection has been very prejudicial to the growth of the place. In the summer of 1866, he was appointed to confer with the late Hon. James Turner, of Lansing, concerning the practicability of procuring a railroad through Portland, on a line from Lansing to Ionia. A company was formed, of which Mr. Bartow was chosen a Director. He took an active part in getting stock and in securing the right of way. Soon after there seemed to be a falling off of zeal on some parts of the line. Mr. Bartow immediately opened a correspondence with Hon. C. C. Elsworth, of Greenville; Hon. A. L. Green, of Olivet, and George Ingersoll, of Marshall, with a view to construct a railroad from Marshall, through Portland, to Greenville. A survey was made to Greenville, and also through Lyons and Muir. A company was formed, in which II. Bartow was also a Director. This aroused the jealousy of the Ionia citizens, and people on other parts of the line of the Ionia and Lansing road; and in the fall of 1869, their road was pushed in earnest to Greenville. Thus one railroad was secured for Portland. The other—the Coldwater, Marshall and Mackinaw Railroad — owing greatly to the untiring efforts of Mr. Bartow, notwithstanding much opposition, is in a fair way to be completed. It is graded almost its entire length, as established from Cold water, in Branch County, to Elm Hall, in Gratiot County — one hundred and twenty miles.
Mr. Bartow belongs to the society of Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken the seventh degree.
In early life, he thought much of religion, as instilled from Puritan teachings, but could not admit the practicability or adaptability of the theories and creeds as usually taught. He believes eternity commences with each being at its birth; that all things are governed, not by passionate edict, but by fixed laws in all varieties of existing things, whether physical or spiritual, and as adapted to character, as lo water running down hill. It may be dammed and diverted, yet the same laws govern and control it; so, in all things, infinite in worlds; infinite in the existences connected with them, in physical and spiritual capacities and characteristics, representing in this an infinite God. In politics Mr. Bartow at first identified himself with the Whig party, and has thrown his influence, for many years, with the Republicans. He would, however, be glad to aid that party which would best secure the unity and strength of the country, and base prosperity upon the broad principle of rights to man, as promulgated in its Declaration of Independence. He has never married.
Source: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men
Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
-------------------------------------------------
Source: The Mortuary report for 1883 lists Mr. Bartow's death as February 22, 1883 and his age as 69 years, 1 month and 22 days.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
"BARTOW, HERVEY, Portland, Lawyer and Real Estate Operator, was born in Freetown, Cortland County, New York, March 31, 1813. His parents were William and Grace Bartow. His father was born in Rutland County, Vermont, in 1782. When a young man, he came to Cortland County, New York, and was married, May 15, 1808. He was a member of the New York Assembly in 1824. In 1825 he moved to Michigan, and settled in the woods twenty-one miles west from Detroit, where was afterwards organized the town of Plymouth. He was elected to the Territorial Council in 1831, when General Lewis Cass was Governor.
Hervey Bartow was twelve years old when his father removed to Michigan. With the exception of six weeks in a neighboring school, he obtained all his subsequent education by studying at night, after severe labor through the day. During the first fourteen years of his life, his health was feeble; and, feeling the importance of a good constitution, he resolved, if possible, by careful industry, to establish his health on a firm basis. This he accomplished. His next ambition was to secure an education, as above stated.
In April, 1836, having obtained a few hundred dollars by jobbing in clearing land, and other hard labor, he started for the West. He traveled on foot through the wilderness, camping out at night; following Indian trails and section lines to and up Grand River, by the way of the mouth of the Looking glass River, the country along which was then unsettled, but has since been organized into a city known as Portland. Thence he went through the wilderness to the Kalamazoo United States Land Office, where he located some Government land; and finally, in the fall of 1836, settled, with several of his friends, in Ionia County, near where the town of Lyons now stands. Here he farmed until the fall of 1840, when he went to Lyons, and commenced the study of law as a pastime, still looking after his farming interests.
In the winter of 1846, having become unable to perform manual labor, he went to Portland, in said county, and gave his whole attention to law studies. He was admitted to practice in the several courts of the State in May, 1846, and immediately opened a law office at Portland, securing the confidence of the public, which he never forfeited. His talents as a lawyer are rather solid than brilliant; but his integrity, never impeached, gave him all the legal business in this section. As the official Prosecutor of the county, which he was in the years 1855-56, he secured conviction in every case involving guilt. From his knowledge of common and statute law, his services have been sought and secured, if practicable, since his retirement, in the settlement of estates and otherwise, and have been appreciated by his fellow-citizens. In response to their desire, he has occupied honorably the highest offices in his township, until, from multiplicity of personal interests, he has felt it his duty to decline every official position. His personal characteristics are well adapted to his profession. Slow to form an opinion, except on the presentation of evidence, he seldom changes his views when once adopted. After a few years, however, owing to the small amount of law business in the new country, he gave up practicing, and attended to real estate and various other transactions, with a short term in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1870, he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner for Ionia County; but having given up the practice of law, declined to act. He served six years on the Board of Trustees,—with special reference to establishing by-laws, precedents, rules, etc.—in the beginning, under the village charter of Portland.' Mr. Bartow is very desirous for the improvement of the locality in which he lives; and, at an early day, believing that by building a dam on Grand River and racing the whole length of his land, a fine water-power could be obtained, he offered the free use of his property to any one who would make such improvement. This generous offer, owing to jealousies arising from interests in the two sides of the river, was not accepted, and he feels that its rejection has been very prejudicial to the growth of the place. In the summer of 1866, he was appointed to confer with the late Hon. James Turner, of Lansing, concerning the practicability of procuring a railroad through Portland, on a line from Lansing to Ionia. A company was formed, of which Mr. Bartow was chosen a Director. He took an active part in getting stock and in securing the right of way. Soon after there seemed to be a falling off of zeal on some parts of the line. Mr. Bartow immediately opened a correspondence with Hon. C. C. Elsworth, of Greenville; Hon. A. L. Green, of Olivet, and George Ingersoll, of Marshall, with a view to construct a railroad from Marshall, through Portland, to Greenville. A survey was made to Greenville, and also through Lyons and Muir. A company was formed, in which II. Bartow was also a Director. This aroused the jealousy of the Ionia citizens, and people on other parts of the line of the Ionia and Lansing road; and in the fall of 1869, their road was pushed in earnest to Greenville. Thus one railroad was secured for Portland. The other—the Coldwater, Marshall and Mackinaw Railroad — owing greatly to the untiring efforts of Mr. Bartow, notwithstanding much opposition, is in a fair way to be completed. It is graded almost its entire length, as established from Cold water, in Branch County, to Elm Hall, in Gratiot County — one hundred and twenty miles.
Mr. Bartow belongs to the society of Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken the seventh degree.
In early life, he thought much of religion, as instilled from Puritan teachings, but could not admit the practicability or adaptability of the theories and creeds as usually taught. He believes eternity commences with each being at its birth; that all things are governed, not by passionate edict, but by fixed laws in all varieties of existing things, whether physical or spiritual, and as adapted to character, as lo water running down hill. It may be dammed and diverted, yet the same laws govern and control it; so, in all things, infinite in worlds; infinite in the existences connected with them, in physical and spiritual capacities and characteristics, representing in this an infinite God. In politics Mr. Bartow at first identified himself with the Whig party, and has thrown his influence, for many years, with the Republicans. He would, however, be glad to aid that party which would best secure the unity and strength of the country, and base prosperity upon the broad principle of rights to man, as promulgated in its Declaration of Independence. He has never married.
Source: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men
Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
-------------------------------------------------
Source: The Mortuary report for 1883 lists Mr. Bartow's death as February 22, 1883 and his age as 69 years, 1 month and 22 days.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
Mr. Bartow was a lifelong bachelor, however, Clorinda Sage Kilbourn was his acknowledged love.
"BARTOW, HERVEY, Portland, Lawyer and Real Estate Operator, was born in Freetown, Cortland County, New York, March 31, 1813. His parents were William and Grace Bartow. His father was born in Rutland County, Vermont, in 1782. When a young man, he came to Cortland County, New York, and was married, May 15, 1808. He was a member of the New York Assembly in 1824. In 1825 he moved to Michigan, and settled in the woods twenty-one miles west from Detroit, where was afterwards organized the town of Plymouth. He was elected to the Territorial Council in 1831, when General Lewis Cass was Governor.
Hervey Bartow was twelve years old when his father removed to Michigan. With the exception of six weeks in a neighboring school, he obtained all his subsequent education by studying at night, after severe labor through the day. During the first fourteen years of his life, his health was feeble; and, feeling the importance of a good constitution, he resolved, if possible, by careful industry, to establish his health on a firm basis. This he accomplished. His next ambition was to secure an education, as above stated.
In April, 1836, having obtained a few hundred dollars by jobbing in clearing land, and other hard labor, he started for the West. He traveled on foot through the wilderness, camping out at night; following Indian trails and section lines to and up Grand River, by the way of the mouth of the Looking glass River, the country along which was then unsettled, but has since been organized into a city known as Portland. Thence he went through the wilderness to the Kalamazoo United States Land Office, where he located some Government land; and finally, in the fall of 1836, settled, with several of his friends, in Ionia County, near where the town of Lyons now stands. Here he farmed until the fall of 1840, when he went to Lyons, and commenced the study of law as a pastime, still looking after his farming interests.
In the winter of 1846, having become unable to perform manual labor, he went to Portland, in said county, and gave his whole attention to law studies. He was admitted to practice in the several courts of the State in May, 1846, and immediately opened a law office at Portland, securing the confidence of the public, which he never forfeited. His talents as a lawyer are rather solid than brilliant; but his integrity, never impeached, gave him all the legal business in this section. As the official Prosecutor of the county, which he was in the years 1855-56, he secured conviction in every case involving guilt. From his knowledge of common and statute law, his services have been sought and secured, if practicable, since his retirement, in the settlement of estates and otherwise, and have been appreciated by his fellow-citizens. In response to their desire, he has occupied honorably the highest offices in his township, until, from multiplicity of personal interests, he has felt it his duty to decline every official position. His personal characteristics are well adapted to his profession. Slow to form an opinion, except on the presentation of evidence, he seldom changes his views when once adopted. After a few years, however, owing to the small amount of law business in the new country, he gave up practicing, and attended to real estate and various other transactions, with a short term in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1870, he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner for Ionia County; but having given up the practice of law, declined to act. He served six years on the Board of Trustees,—with special reference to establishing by-laws, precedents, rules, etc.—in the beginning, under the village charter of Portland.' Mr. Bartow is very desirous for the improvement of the locality in which he lives; and, at an early day, believing that by building a dam on Grand River and racing the whole length of his land, a fine water-power could be obtained, he offered the free use of his property to any one who would make such improvement. This generous offer, owing to jealousies arising from interests in the two sides of the river, was not accepted, and he feels that its rejection has been very prejudicial to the growth of the place. In the summer of 1866, he was appointed to confer with the late Hon. James Turner, of Lansing, concerning the practicability of procuring a railroad through Portland, on a line from Lansing to Ionia. A company was formed, of which Mr. Bartow was chosen a Director. He took an active part in getting stock and in securing the right of way. Soon after there seemed to be a falling off of zeal on some parts of the line. Mr. Bartow immediately opened a correspondence with Hon. C. C. Elsworth, of Greenville; Hon. A. L. Green, of Olivet, and George Ingersoll, of Marshall, with a view to construct a railroad from Marshall, through Portland, to Greenville. A survey was made to Greenville, and also through Lyons and Muir. A company was formed, in which II. Bartow was also a Director. This aroused the jealousy of the Ionia citizens, and people on other parts of the line of the Ionia and Lansing road; and in the fall of 1869, their road was pushed in earnest to Greenville. Thus one railroad was secured for Portland. The other—the Coldwater, Marshall and Mackinaw Railroad — owing greatly to the untiring efforts of Mr. Bartow, notwithstanding much opposition, is in a fair way to be completed. It is graded almost its entire length, as established from Cold water, in Branch County, to Elm Hall, in Gratiot County — one hundred and twenty miles.
Mr. Bartow belongs to the society of Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken the seventh degree.
In early life, he thought much of religion, as instilled from Puritan teachings, but could not admit the practicability or adaptability of the theories and creeds as usually taught. He believes eternity commences with each being at its birth; that all things are governed, not by passionate edict, but by fixed laws in all varieties of existing things, whether physical or spiritual, and as adapted to character, as lo water running down hill. It may be dammed and diverted, yet the same laws govern and control it; so, in all things, infinite in worlds; infinite in the existences connected with them, in physical and spiritual capacities and characteristics, representing in this an infinite God. In politics Mr. Bartow at first identified himself with the Whig party, and has thrown his influence, for many years, with the Republicans. He would, however, be glad to aid that party which would best secure the unity and strength of the country, and base prosperity upon the broad principle of rights to man, as promulgated in its Declaration of Independence. He has never married.
Source: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men
Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
-------------------------------------------------
Source: The Mortuary report for 1883 lists Mr. Bartow's death as February 22, 1883 and his age as 69 years, 1 month and 22 days.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
"BARTOW, HERVEY, Portland, Lawyer and Real Estate Operator, was born in Freetown, Cortland County, New York, March 31, 1813. His parents were William and Grace Bartow. His father was born in Rutland County, Vermont, in 1782. When a young man, he came to Cortland County, New York, and was married, May 15, 1808. He was a member of the New York Assembly in 1824. In 1825 he moved to Michigan, and settled in the woods twenty-one miles west from Detroit, where was afterwards organized the town of Plymouth. He was elected to the Territorial Council in 1831, when General Lewis Cass was Governor.
Hervey Bartow was twelve years old when his father removed to Michigan. With the exception of six weeks in a neighboring school, he obtained all his subsequent education by studying at night, after severe labor through the day. During the first fourteen years of his life, his health was feeble; and, feeling the importance of a good constitution, he resolved, if possible, by careful industry, to establish his health on a firm basis. This he accomplished. His next ambition was to secure an education, as above stated.
In April, 1836, having obtained a few hundred dollars by jobbing in clearing land, and other hard labor, he started for the West. He traveled on foot through the wilderness, camping out at night; following Indian trails and section lines to and up Grand River, by the way of the mouth of the Looking glass River, the country along which was then unsettled, but has since been organized into a city known as Portland. Thence he went through the wilderness to the Kalamazoo United States Land Office, where he located some Government land; and finally, in the fall of 1836, settled, with several of his friends, in Ionia County, near where the town of Lyons now stands. Here he farmed until the fall of 1840, when he went to Lyons, and commenced the study of law as a pastime, still looking after his farming interests.
In the winter of 1846, having become unable to perform manual labor, he went to Portland, in said county, and gave his whole attention to law studies. He was admitted to practice in the several courts of the State in May, 1846, and immediately opened a law office at Portland, securing the confidence of the public, which he never forfeited. His talents as a lawyer are rather solid than brilliant; but his integrity, never impeached, gave him all the legal business in this section. As the official Prosecutor of the county, which he was in the years 1855-56, he secured conviction in every case involving guilt. From his knowledge of common and statute law, his services have been sought and secured, if practicable, since his retirement, in the settlement of estates and otherwise, and have been appreciated by his fellow-citizens. In response to their desire, he has occupied honorably the highest offices in his township, until, from multiplicity of personal interests, he has felt it his duty to decline every official position. His personal characteristics are well adapted to his profession. Slow to form an opinion, except on the presentation of evidence, he seldom changes his views when once adopted. After a few years, however, owing to the small amount of law business in the new country, he gave up practicing, and attended to real estate and various other transactions, with a short term in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1870, he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner for Ionia County; but having given up the practice of law, declined to act. He served six years on the Board of Trustees,—with special reference to establishing by-laws, precedents, rules, etc.—in the beginning, under the village charter of Portland.' Mr. Bartow is very desirous for the improvement of the locality in which he lives; and, at an early day, believing that by building a dam on Grand River and racing the whole length of his land, a fine water-power could be obtained, he offered the free use of his property to any one who would make such improvement. This generous offer, owing to jealousies arising from interests in the two sides of the river, was not accepted, and he feels that its rejection has been very prejudicial to the growth of the place. In the summer of 1866, he was appointed to confer with the late Hon. James Turner, of Lansing, concerning the practicability of procuring a railroad through Portland, on a line from Lansing to Ionia. A company was formed, of which Mr. Bartow was chosen a Director. He took an active part in getting stock and in securing the right of way. Soon after there seemed to be a falling off of zeal on some parts of the line. Mr. Bartow immediately opened a correspondence with Hon. C. C. Elsworth, of Greenville; Hon. A. L. Green, of Olivet, and George Ingersoll, of Marshall, with a view to construct a railroad from Marshall, through Portland, to Greenville. A survey was made to Greenville, and also through Lyons and Muir. A company was formed, in which II. Bartow was also a Director. This aroused the jealousy of the Ionia citizens, and people on other parts of the line of the Ionia and Lansing road; and in the fall of 1869, their road was pushed in earnest to Greenville. Thus one railroad was secured for Portland. The other—the Coldwater, Marshall and Mackinaw Railroad — owing greatly to the untiring efforts of Mr. Bartow, notwithstanding much opposition, is in a fair way to be completed. It is graded almost its entire length, as established from Cold water, in Branch County, to Elm Hall, in Gratiot County — one hundred and twenty miles.
Mr. Bartow belongs to the society of Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken the seventh degree.
In early life, he thought much of religion, as instilled from Puritan teachings, but could not admit the practicability or adaptability of the theories and creeds as usually taught. He believes eternity commences with each being at its birth; that all things are governed, not by passionate edict, but by fixed laws in all varieties of existing things, whether physical or spiritual, and as adapted to character, as lo water running down hill. It may be dammed and diverted, yet the same laws govern and control it; so, in all things, infinite in worlds; infinite in the existences connected with them, in physical and spiritual capacities and characteristics, representing in this an infinite God. In politics Mr. Bartow at first identified himself with the Whig party, and has thrown his influence, for many years, with the Republicans. He would, however, be glad to aid that party which would best secure the unity and strength of the country, and base prosperity upon the broad principle of rights to man, as promulgated in its Declaration of Independence. He has never married.
Source: American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men
Published by Western biographical publishing co., 1878.
-------------------------------------------------
Source: The Mortuary report for 1883 lists Mr. Bartow's death as February 22, 1883 and his age as 69 years, 1 month and 22 days.
Research of Marilynn Johnson
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