Outagamie-Winnebago County WI Archives Biographies.....Barteau, Julia Osborn 1822 - 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 August 10, 2008, 10:18 pm Author: J. F. Fuller Julia Osborn Barteau. IT may truly be said of Julia Osborn Barteau that few natures have so blended sweetness with strength, truth with tenderness; few women have kept throughout life such a beauty of person, of spirit, and of character; few have worked so diligently; few have maintained such fervency of spirit; and few have found it possible, with failing strength, to render such efficient service to a loved cause. She was a woman so rare, so genial and so lovable that her life seems a sort of divine benediction. Julia Osborn was born in Broom county, N. Y., January 24th, 1822. She received a good common-school education and successfully taught several years before her marriage to Morris R. Barteau, which took place at her childhood home, Dec. 1st, 1847. The early part of her married life was spent in the East, but in 1859 she came with her family to this city. Mrs. Barteau was thus one of the early settlers of Appleton while there was still much to do that savored of pioneer life: she was ready to respond to a friend's need, to watch at a neighbor's bed-side, or to minister to the sorrowing. She thus made for herself a place in the confidence and esteem of the community which every successive year served only to strengthen. The mother of eight children, she sought in every way possible to co-operate in giving them opportunities for education and spiritual growth; and considered no work too hard, no sacrifice too great that helped to this end. She knew much of sorrow, suffering, and disappointment; yet she never lost courage or faltered in her noble aspirations. She possessed the ability to adapt her spirit to her surroundings, to put high purposes and true nobility into every-day living. She loved nature and out-door life, and nothing gave her more pleasure than the cultivation of flowers. These found their way to the church desk, to the sickroom, and to the neighbor's table. In 1860 she united with this church by letter from the First Congregational church of Oshkosh. She was a devoted and loyal member for over thirty years. She was a constant attendant at its Sunday and mid week services, and her sweet, clear voice was seldom silent during singing. Her nature was essentially religious, and her songs were hymns of real praise and worship. Her varied experiences, her life of labor and self denial made it impossible, for many years, for her to use her talents for the specific work of the church. But they served to prepare her for great usefulness. With increased leisure she devoted all her powers to its service: her careful judgment and wise counsels were helpful to her pastors, and were felt in ever}' department of the church. Her work as a district visitor was most valuable. It is impossible to enumerate her deeds of kindness to the poor and sorrowing, or to tell into what humble lives she entered as helper and friend, not once but many times. She was fond of the study of the Bible, and was an earnest and successful teacher in the Sunday school, having a large class of young ladies, to which she gave untiring devotion when her domestic cares and her strength would permit. She was well informed as to the work of the church in the field of missions, and was a devoted leader in the Woman's Missionary Society. She became its president, and held this office at the time of her death. She was successful in making its meetings so interesting as to attract members, and was fertile in expedients to fill the society's treasury. She was an earnest, though conservative, worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. When she began to realize the limitation of her strength, she did not allow it to cloud her sunny spirit or to lower the habitual keynote of her living; but she seemed, rather, to have increasing interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the church. Her death, on Dec. 27th, 1890, involved a loss of moral power and executive ability which no church and community could well spare. What fullness of existence is prepared for the soul so rich in service we know not. The influence of her spirit and example lives in many a heart. Not a few recall her words and deeds, and ascribe to her character some of the most precious impulses of their own lives. The following words aptly describe her: "Her useful deeds can ne'er be hid, We're moved to do by what she did Within her earthly dust there dwelt A soul that pity oft would melt Compassion moved her for the woe That sin had wrought on hearts below; With steadfast faith that nerved her will, She worked intently, e'en when ill— Listened unto the message sent. Ran on His errands, well content." MARY BARTEAU GRAVES. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. APPLET0N, WIS. PREPARED FOR THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY, DEC. 18, 1900. BY J. F. FULLER, A. M., Compiler of the "Fuller" Genealogy. 1850—1900. APPLETON PRINTING CO., APPLETON, WIS. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/outagamie/photos/bios/barteau1120gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/outagamie/bios/barteau1120gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 5.7 Kb