My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

CAPT. W. H. BARTHOLOMEW, editor of the Valley Record, and one of Catasauqua’s most widely known citizens, was born in Northampton County, Pa., July 1, 1843. He is the son of Daniel and Catherine (Houser) Bartholomew, likewise natives of Northampton County. The father, who was a member of one of the old families of the Keystone State, died in Catasauqua at the age of eighty-six. The mother passed away when seventy-two.

When our subject was a lad of ten years his parents moved to Catasauqua, then a small and unimportant village, and since then his life has practically been part and parcel of the history of the town. His education was received in the schools of this place, but his advantages were limited, and to his unaided efforts may be attributed the eminence he has attained. In the best sense of the word he is a self-made man. At the outbreak of the late war, though but eighteen years of age, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, August 21, 1861. Shortly after entering the army he was promoted to First Sergeant, which position he held until his re-enlistment in October, 1863. At that time he was promoted to First Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in January, 1866.

Returning to Catasauqua, Captain Bartholomew has since made his home in this city. In 1877 he was one of the organizers of Company I, Fourth Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania, which he commanded for ten years. In August of 1870 he founded the Valley Record, and has continued its publication to the present day. The paper is the organ of the Democratic party in the community, and is an eight-column folio, issued weekly. In politics the Captain is one of the leaders of the Democracy in Catasauqua, and was Postmaster here under the first administration of President Cleveland. Twice he was nominated for Burgess, and although the odds were largely against him, he was defeated by a very small majority, running considerably ahead of his ticket. In his religious connections he is a member of the Reformed Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

View a historic 1911 map of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

View family biographies for other states and counties

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.