Biography of Silas H. Bartlett, pages 705/ 706.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Silas H. Bartlett, proprietor of the Newville Hotel, and insurance agent, was 
born in the town of Melbourne, County of Sherbrooke, Lower Canada, Jam. 20, 
1825, a son of Frazier and Arolina (Brown) Bartlett, natives of Vermont.  
His grandfather, Joseph Bartlett, served seven and a half years in the 
Revolutionary war; three years of the time was Washington’s body-guard.  
In July, 1836, his parents came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in 
Concord Township, and the following October moved to section 7, Newville 
Township.  The country was inhabited mainly by Indians who often visited 
them, trading venison and berries for supplies.  One evening in the fall 
of 1837 when the family were at supper, they were startled by an Indian’s 
voice, and on looking around saw an Indian’s head sticking through a hole 
in the wall, called a window.  After trading a ham of venison for some 
potatoes and a pumpkin, he left in delight.  The Bartlett cabin was made 
of round hickory logs, 20x30 feet in size, with puncheon floor, clapborad 
ceiling and roof.  They cooked by fire-place.  Wild animals were numerous 
and very troublesome.  Their home was in the woods and they were obliged 
to undergo many hardships.  The father went to Maumee to buy corn, a 
distance of fourteen miles.  Six miles of the way he had to cut a road 
through the woods, and two miles had to cut through the ice.  He took a 
part of the corn to Hughes Mill and took home a box full of ears.  His 
oxen gave out on the way, and he was obliged to leave a part of his load.  
He hung some pork, which he had bought, in the bushes to keep it from the 
wolves.  For five weeks the family lived on hulled corn.  The father died 
in May, 1860, and the mother Dec. 27, 1882.  They had a family of eleven 
children, but four of whom are living---Mrs. Lucina Woodcox, Silas H., 
Simon S. and Mrs. Delilah Ayers.  Silas H. Bartlett was married March 29, 
1849, to Almira A. Weeks, daughter of Luther Weeks.  To them have been 
born seven children; but five are living---Adelaide, Sarah, Charles, 
Evaline and George.  He engaged in farming till forty years of age and 
then in saw-milling several years.  He has been Justice of the Peace 
twelve years, and is now a Notary Public.  He is a member of the Disciples 
church.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com