Читать книгу Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 3 - Josiah Seymour Currey - Страница 46

Walter Scott Bartlett, one of the prominent young attorneys of Milwaukee, a veteran of the late war and a representative of one of the old and honored families of this city, was born in Milwaukee, January 3, 1888, a son of Dr. Edwin Wilcox Bartlett, for many years a distinguished physician of this city, and a grandson of Ellas Bartlett, who was a farmer of Vermont, the family having been established in New England at an early period in the colonization of the new world. Dr. Homer L. Bartlett, a very prominent physician of Brooklyn, New York, was a brother of Dr. Edwin Wilcox Bartlett. The latter was born in Jericho, Vermont, in 1839 and pursued his education in the medical department of the University of Vermont at Burlington after which he studied in Paris, Vienna and Berlin for two years. He came to Milwaukee about 1873 as a young physician of wide knowledge but comparatively little experience. As the years passed he won rank as the leading specialist on the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and established the first hospital of that character in Milwaukee, the location being on Jefferson street, opposite the site of the Hotel Pfister. Not only did he enjoy an extensive private practice but was also recognized as an able educator and was retained as lecturer in the Milwaukee Medical School, which was later incorporated in the medical college of Marquette University. For several years he was a member of the Milwaukee school board and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion. He served as a member and president of the board of the Milwaukee Public Museum and was very active in removing the museum from the old Exposition building to its present location. In fact he did much. to further intellectual and cultural progress in Milwaukee and his labors were far-reaching and resultant. On the 6th of August. 1874, he was married to Helen F. Ball, who was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, a daughter of Edward H. Ball, a native of New York, who in young manhood came to Wisconsin and established a grocery store at East Troy. In 1860 he removed to Milwaukee and became a member of the firm of Ball & Goodrich, well known wholesale grocers of this city. He had a family of five children, a son and four daughters: Edward H., who lived in Chicago and was president of the Chicago Belting Company; Mrs. Charles Allis, whose husband was for years president of the Allis-Chalmers Company; Mrs. Robert Camp, of Milwaukee, now deceased; Mrs. Oren T. Blodgett; and Mrs. Edwin Wilcox Bartlett. Both Dr. Bartlett and his wife were prominently known socially in Milwaukee and enjoyed the high esteem of many friends, moving in the best social circles of the city. The death of Dr. Bartlett occurred September 11, 1913, while his wife survived until October 11, 1920.

Their son, Walter Scott Bartlett, was educated in the public schools of this city until graduated from the East Division high school as a member of the class of 1906. He next entered the University of Wisconsin and won his Bachelor of Arts degree as one of the alumni of 1910. He afterward became a graduate student at the Harvard Law School, where he pursued his law course, his LL. B. degree being conferred upon him in 1913. Immediately afterward he entered upon active practice at Milwaukee and for three years was associated with the firm of Miller, Mack & Fairchild. In April, 1917, Mr. Bartlett enlisted for service in the World war. Joining the First Reserve Officers' Training Camp at Fort Sheridan, and there won his commission as second lieutenant. He was assigned to the Three Hundred and Twenty-ninth Field Artillery at Camp Custer, Battle Creek. Michigan, and on the 1st of January, 1918, was commissioned first lieutenant. He was graduated from the Fort Sill (Okla.) School of Fire in May, 1918, and in the following July went overseas. After training at the artillery school at Coetquidan, France, he went up to the front on the 25th of October and was in action on the St. Mihiel sector at Thiaucourt until the armistice was signed on the 11th of November. He arrived in the United States April 2, 1919, and received his discharge on the 27th of the same month. Following his return he opened a law office at 728 First Wisconsin National Bank building, where Jie is now located and is associated in practice with Robert R. Freeman, Stanley C. Hauxhurst and Henry J. Bendinger. He specializes in corporation law and has already secured a clientage that is extensive and important. His practice is steadily growing and his ability is attested by his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession.

On the 29th of December, 1917, Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Fitch, a daughter of Grant Fitch, vice president of the National Exchange Bank. Her father was born in Milwaukee and was graduated from Yale University with the class of 1881. He is a son of William Grant Fitch, one of the most prominent residents of Milwaukee. The grandfather of Mrs. Bartlett in the maternal line was Robert Eliot, one of the pioneer grain dealers of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have become parents of two children, Eliot Fitch and Walter Scott, Jr.

In his political views Mr. Bartlett has always been a republican but never an active party worker nor an aspirant for office, he is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity at the University of Wisconsin, belongs to the University Club, the Town Club, of which he is the secretary, and the Milwaukee Country Club. He is likewise a member of the Cudworth Post of the American Legion. That he has interest in many activities which have their root in broad humanitarian principles is indicated in the fact that he was one of the organizers of the Legal Aid Society in 1915 and was chosen vice president at the first election and is now serving as a director of that organization. He is also at the present time serving as secretary of the Milwaukee Country Day School. He has ever recognized the duties, obligations and responsibilities of life and has continually extended a helping hand along many lines that are bringing solution to the great sociological and economic problems of the country.