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Henry Hart Bartle 1929
Of Illinois and California
In Memoriam H. H. Bartle Funeral Held On Monday
Pioneer Merchant Passes On; Burial In Local Cemetery
Henry Hart Bartle, 71, for many years a respected and beloved citizen of Claremont, on Friday of last week passed from this life. Mr. Bartle, a pioneer business man of this community, had lived for 18 years and had—by his kindness of heart and friendly manner made all admire and love him. Funeral services were held in Pomona Monday afternoon, with Rev. A. D. Stauffacher in charge of the service. Burial was in the Oak Park cemetery.
Mr. Bartle was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 27, 1858. His father went out into the new and rough land of Oklahoma to do work among the Indians. He proved to be not strong enough physically for the demands made upon his strength and at the time of H. H. Bartle's birth, he had a pastorate in Chicago.
Boyhood Days in Mid-west
Mr. Bartle spent his early boy-hood days in Illinois and Michigan. He was the fourth in a family of eight children and often talked of the happy group they made around the table, of the long line in the family pew, or the circle at family worship. His parents always had had a home with an acre or more of ground to give these growing children space and occupation and if he was the most restless and most likely to initiate mischief, it is probable that he was also the one who took the largest share of some tasks and duties. He developed a regard for promptness and thoroughness that went with him all through life for his father’s discipline, though not unkindly, was somewhat stern and rigid. His early teen years and high school days were spent in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he began to form the friendship of older people whom he revered all through life.
When he was 17 years old his father took over a 40 acre farm or the town of Creston, Iowa, continuing in the ministry also. It was here he met his wife, who with her father had moved from Galesburg, Illinois. Mr. Bartle was devoted to her care. Commenting on this relationship, Rev. Stauffacher said, "To him she was the rarest spirit that ever lived." Before they were married they both moved out to the prairies of Nebraska, where she taught a year previous to her marriage.
College Trustee
Mr. Bartle's father was a trustee of Tabor college, and although he wished his son would attend college and train his voice, he did not, to his lasting regret. Mr. Bartle enjoyed working with his hands and it was in Nebraska that he learned the trade of blacksmithing. Later they moved to Kansas City, where he went in- to the offices of the freight department of the Burlington railroad, two of his brothers being railroad men.
Upon the illness of his oldest daughter and the necessity for her to come to California for her health, Mr. Bartle moved his family to the foothills near Redlands. It seemed impossible at the time for him to go into the city where he was to have been engaged in railroad work, so once again he turned to the trade of his young manhood, and in it he continued, doing less and less of manual work and depending more and more on the selling of implements and garden tools.
During the time that he was at Mentone, near Redlands, he gave freely to the life of the church and community in music and social contacts. He was the music for the little mission church, he sang for all social functions as he had when he was a young man. With his wife or by him- self, he called on those who were ill or shut in and always they would urge him to sing for them.
Eighteen years ago he came to Claremont where he established his business. Throughout this time wise counsel and assistance has helped in the development of this community.
Man of Marked Ability
Of him one of his closest friends has written, "He was a man of marked ability, a great reader, a thinker, and with a sense of humor that ran through his conversation he made those happy who talked with him. By untiring industry and close attention to business he set an example to any who succeed. His sterling honesty and upright conduct marked with broad sympathies for all good causes made him a helpful man to the community. We shall miss his face and voice but memory will cary them for many years to come.
"In the loss of his wife Mr. Bartle was deeply affected and always since her death his friends could notice a tone of sadness which filled his life.
"His home was happy and in the love and care of his daughter, Helen, were centered all his affections.
"From his good life, we who remain take hope and courage."
His surviving relatives are one son, W. Hart Bartle, Pomona and one daughter, Miss Helen S. Bartle, at home. There are three grandchildren; two sisters Mrs. John Christiansen, New Haven, Connecticut, and Mrs. Thomas C. Shaw, Cleveland, Ohio, and one brother, George J. Bartle, Creston, Iowa.
AN APPRECIATION OF MR. H. H. BARTLE
The passing of Mr. Bartle is an occurrence of no small consequence in munity is the poorer when a man of such sterling character is taken it. I count myself fortunate in having had a chat with him one of the last days he spent in his shop; and I feel that in those few moments his philosophy of life was revealed rather complete1y. Altho he realized that he was pot at all well, he had recalled an unpaid bill on his desk—and he could not rest until it was attended to. Business integrity was the keystone of that character.
Then he spoke of the fact that the doctor had told him that he must rest more—not work so hard. He said he had tried having someone there to help him—"but I can't let work go out of my shop that is not done as I want it done," he said. Fine craftsman- ship was part of his nature—it hurt him to see slip-shod work. He proceeded to talk of his children and of the great satisfaction they had been to him— then of his friendship for the Oriental who, upon first coming to Claremont, had established a shop next to his own. And in that friendship, interpretive of all that is best both in our American life and in Christianity itself, is seen the extent to which his life radiated “good will to men.”
Then he spoke with deep feeling of the beautiful character of his wife. He told me of the tribute to her which her pastor had written after her death and concluded by saying, "If I feel that after I am gone anyone could say of me anything half so fine as was said of her, I should be very happy." I never talked to Mr. Bartle more than three or four times, I feel that this brief acquaintance has been sufficient to enable me to see in him the highest qualities of Christian man-hood: tender thoughtfulness toward little children, generosity in all his dealings, absolute integrity in business, a deep devotion to his family, and a belief in the brotherhood of man which was manifested in his every day dealings with those about him. When I stopped at the house to express my sympathy, after the word had reached me of his death, and Was told that the end had come quietly the evening before—just at sunset, I left the house thinking of William Ernest Henley’s lines:
“So be my passing!
My task accomplished and the long day done,
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing.
Let me be gathered to the quiet west,
The sundown splendid and serene.”
--A newcomer to Claremont
Claremont Courier, December 29, 1929, Los Angeles California