Franklin C. Bartlett, born April 8, 1841, in Newcastle County, Delaware, was a successful farmer and stock raiser of English descent, related to Gov. Bartlett of Colonial fame. His parents, Jonathan and Eliza (Jackson) Bartlett, originally from Maryland, moved to Conway County, Arkansas, in 1849. Franklin served in the 62nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and later resided in Illinois before returning to Arkansas. He married twice, first to M. H. Burns and then to Mary White, fathering nine children. Active in community and church, Bartlett was a dedicated farmer and member of several fraternal organizations.
Franklin C. Bartlett is a successful farmer and stock raiser. He was born in Newcastle County, Del., April 8, 1841, is of English descent and a relative of Gov. Bartlett, of Colonial fame. The parents, Jonathan and Eliza (Jackson) Bartlett, were both born and reared on the east shore of Maryland, and Mrs. Bartlett was a descendant of President Jackson. They were married in 1818 in Maryland, and after one year moved to Delaware, where they resided until 1849, when they removed to Conway (now Faulkner) County, Ark., on a place of 160 acres, of which they at first improved some forty or fifty acres. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bartlett (the father) died in 1862 at the age of sixty-two years, and the mother died in 1874 aged seventy-four. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom lived to maturity: M. H., Thomas J., John, Ann, Elether, Louise (who was the wife of A. Hartje, a retired farmer living at Conway), Franklin C., and Mary Ellen (wife of J. K. Williams, a farmer of this county).
Mr. Bartlett was reared to farm life and received his education in the common schools of Faulkner County. At the age of eighteen he began life for himself, engaging at one time as a farmer and again at any employment that would requite him for his time, and in 1861 he married Miss M. H. Burns, a native of East Tennessee, and a daughter of James Burns, a farmer of Pulaski County. In September, 1863, he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and in which he served until the close of the war. He was in most of the movements of his regiment, the capture of Pine Bluff being the only important event. He was honorably discharged at Little Rock in 1866, and was mustered out at Camp Butler March 6 of the same year. During the war Mrs. Bartlett’s death occurred, also that of two children (twins) at the same time. At the close of the war, instead of returning to Arkansas, Mr. Bartlett resided in Clinton, Bond and other counties in Illinois for four years, and in November 1867, was married to Miss Mary White, a native of Illinois, and after his second marriage lived in that state for three years. In 1870 he removed to Faulkner County, Ark., and resided for one year on his father’s place. In 1872 he selected 160 acres for himself and began to clear and improve it, and later sold it and bought forty acres where he now lives. This he cleared and otherwise improved, and he now has a fine farm and a comfortable home.
By his last marriage he became the father of nine children, six of whom are living: Frank (born November 3, 1875), Augusta Louise (born November 12, 1877), Minnie (1881), Annie V. (1883) and Goldie Gertrude (1886). Mr. Bartlett is nothing if not a farmer, and a good one. He votes the Republican ticket, but is not active in politics. He has been for years a member of his school board, and his family are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he is a steward. He is a member of Green Grove Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M., of Post No. 3, G. A. R., Department of Arkansas, of the Wheel No. 1,795, of Woodland Lodge No. 11, K. of P., also Eastern Star Chapter No. 47, Palmet, and belongs to Conway Lodge No. 16 I. O. G. T. Mr. Bartlett takes an active interest in schools, churches and other enterprises, and gives support to the same to the extent of his ability.