Biography of Peter E. Bartnett, Miami, Dade County, FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn (naev@earthlink.net). USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ****************************************************************************************** Transcribed from: The History of Florida: Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. II, page 216, 1923. BARTNETT, PETER E. His father being a contractor, PETER E. BARTNETT practically grew up in the atmosphere of construction work, and that has been his regular business for twenty years or more. Mr. BARTNETT since locating at Miami has had a prominent part in the great building campaign which has accompanied the city's remarkable increase in population. Mr. BARTNETT was born at New Rochelle, New York, in 1877, son of ROBERT and HELEN P. (HURLEY) BARTNETT. He was educated in the public school of New Rochelle, learned several branches of the mechanical trade entering into the building industry, and he was associated with his father and other contractors at New Rochelle. Mr. BARTNETT has been prominent since coming to Florida in the Spanish-American War Veterans. In the Spring of 1890 he enlisted in New York City at the recruiting office at the corner of Forty-second Street and Park Avenue, on the site of the present Belmont Hotel, as a private in Company L., of the Twenty-sixth United States Volunteers. He enlisted for service in the Philippine Insurrection, and went to the Philippines with his regiment. He was on active duty with his command for twenty-two months on the Island of Panay, with headquarters at Ilo-Ilo. While there he participated in thirteen engagements with the insurrectionists. The campaigning in fact was almost continuous, and his regiment suffered the loss of between ninety and a hundred men. After his honorable discharge from this service Mr. BARTNETT returned to New York and engaged in the contracting business with his father. In 1916 he left New Rochelle and came to Miami. Here for some time he specialized as a contractor on plastering and stucco work, but for several years past has been a general contractor, building both residential and commercial structures, and has handled a large and gratifying volume of business in this line. Mr. BARTNETT has taken an active part in both the local and state organizations of the Spanish-American War Veterans. In 1919 he was honored by his comrades with election to the office of State Commander of this organization for the department of Florida, and served in that capacity one year. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a past official of the Royal Arcanum. Mr. BARTNETT married Miss EDITH MANEY of New Rochelle. Their four children are PETER E. Jr., LESLIE ROBERT, ELLIOTT and EDITH.