Lucas-Polk County IA Archives Biographies.....Bartholomew, Orion A. 1863 - 
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Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

COLONEL ORION A. BARTHOLOMEW is a successful attorney-at-law of Chariton, Iowa,
and an honored veteran of the late war. He is respected by all who know him and
is well worthy of representation in the history of the Hawkeye State.

   He was born in Danville, Indiana, September 4, 1837, and is a son of Dr. B.
and Harriet T. (Ward) Bartholomew, residents of Danville, where the father's
life has been spent in the practice of medicine. The family is of English
origin, having descended from William Bartholomew, who came to this country from
England in 1634 and settled at Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Bartholomew was born
in Vermont in 1804, and is yet living, hale and hearty. His wife, a native of
Indiana, is also living. To this worthy couple were born three sons and two
daughters, of whom the subject of our sketch was the eldest.

   He acquired his education in DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana,
pursuing the classical course and graduating in 1859 with the degree of A. B.,
and afterward receiving the degree of A. M. He studied law in the office of
Colonel J. M. Gregg, of Danville, was admitted to the bar in the fall of i860,
and immediately began practice; but when the war broke out he laid aside the
pursuits of civil life to enter his country's service. In April, 1861, he became
Second Sergeant of Company A, Seventh Indiana Infantry, being mustered in on the
17th of the month.

   Mr. Bartholomew participated in the first regular battle at Philippi,
Virginia, June 4,1861, at Carrick's Ford and Rich mountain. The regiment had
been mustered in for three months' service and was discharged in August. He
re-enlisted in August, as a private soldier, in Company K, Seventieth Indiana
Infantry, the regiment being commanded by Col. Benjamin Harrison, afterward
President of the United States. He was made Second Lieutenant and afterward
First Lieutenant, and remained with the regiment until October, 1863, doing
service in Kentucky and Tennessee. In October, 1863, on examination, he was
appointed Lieutenant Colonel and assigned to the Fifteenth United States Colored
Regiment, which he organized at Columbia, Tennessee. This regiment did guard
duty at Nashville, Columbia and Shelbyville, Tennessee. In the spring of 1864 he
received orders from the War Department to take charge of the recruiting station
at Nashville, where he remained until June, 1864, and organized the One
Hundredth and the One Hundredth and First United States Colored troops, when he
received a commission as Colonel of the One Hundred and Ninth United States
Colored Infantry, and ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. There he found 1,600
recruits, and, selecting 1,000 of the best, organized his regiment. It was found
that the officers of the regiment represented every battle of the war up to that
time with the exception of Pea Ridge.

   A band was organized and twenty-five silver instruments were purchased by the
officers of the regiment, which band was in demand on all occasions when good
music was desired. This was the first colored regiment organized in Kentucky,
and its organization caused a great deal of excitement. The colored people of
Louisville made a flag for the regiment and presented it in the presence of
several thousand people.

   After remaining at Louisville for a time, the regiment was ordered to Louisa,
Kentucky, whence it was transferred to the Army of the James, and became a part
of the Twenty-fifth Army Corps, serving under General B. P. Butler, and was with
the Army of the Potomac at the surrender of Lee. His regiment took part in a
number of skirmishes and battles, from Bermuda Hundred until the surrender, and
went from Petersburg by way of the Gulf to Texas, where it remained until March,
1866, when it was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out and
the flag returned to the donors. The band also remained at Louisville, and its
organization was maintained for many years after the war. Colonel Bartholomew
was brevetted a Brigadier General for his meritorous and valiant service.

   When the war was over he came to Des Moines, Iowa, where he engaged in the
practice of his profession, but afterward purchased a farm in Lucas county,
which he still owns, and upon which he lived for four years. In 1871 he formed a
partnership with T. M. Stuart, Esq., a leading lawyer at Chariton, Iowa, and the
partnership still continues.

   He is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and is Past Commander of Iseminger
Post, No. 18, G. A. R. In his political views he is a Republican, and has served
for two terms as Mayor of Chariton; was Prosecuting Attorney of Lucas county
from 1890 until 1895, and has been honored with other positions of trust and
responsibility.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."'—MACAULAY.

"Biography is by nature the must universally profitable, universally pleasant,
of all things."—CARLYLE

"History is only biography on a large scale"—LAMARTINE.

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896


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