My Genealogy Hound

ADDISON HOMER BARTLETT was born upon the farm at Belchertown where he now resides, February 15, 1843, son of Cyrus Sabin and Emily (Stebbins) Bartlett. His father, who was born at Stafford, Conn., May 6, 1814, was a son of Cyrus Bartlett, a native of the same place, born in 1778.

Cyrus Bartlett owned and operated a saw and grist mill in his native town for some time before 1816. He then moved to Belchertown, settling upon the farm now owned by his grandson. Here he resided for the remainder of his days, and died at the age of seventy-nine years. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Sabin, a native of Ellington, Conn. (An account of Mrs. (Sabin) Bartlett’s ancestors may be found in a work entitled, “The History of the Sabin Family.”) She died at the age of ninety years, having raised a family of four children, named: Selden, Elvira, Cyrus S., and Louisa. Cyrus S. Bartlett was two years of age when his parents moved to Belchertown. He received a good education in the district schools and at the Monson and Hadley Academies. During his young manhood he taught school for several terms, also engaging in agriculture. At the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of the farm, which he cultivated profitably for several years. In 1872 he sold the property to his son, purchased a home in the village, and there resided until his decease, which occurred February 25, 1888. The wife of Cyrus S. Bartlett, who was before her marriage Emily Stebbins, was born at Belchertown, November 10, 1814, daughter of Samuel Hinsdale and Nancy (Reed) Stebbins, and a direct descendant in the seventh generation of Rowland Stebbins. (An account of Mrs. Bartlett’s early ancestors is given in the “Annals of Belchertown,” by the late Hon. Mark Doolittle.) She died December 17, 1893, having been the mother of three children; namely, Eliza, Addison, and Julia. She and her husband were devout members of the Congregational church, and contributed generously toward its support.

Addison H. Bartlett obtained the rudimentary branches of his education at the district schools. After completing his studies at the Wilbraham Academy he taught school for a time. His chief attention, however, was devoted to agriculture, of which in due time he acquired a thorough knowledge. The family homestead is known as the “Cold Spring” farm, because it contains a never-failing spring of pure water. The town was originally so named for the same reason. When the farm came into his possession in 1872, he gave his whole time to its cultivation. The home is very desirably situated upon the west side of a hill, commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country.

On November 18, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Violet Isabelle Bardwell, a native of Belchertown, daughter of Antipas Steward Bardwell, who was also born there. He was a son of Martin Bardwell, whose father, also named Martin, was a son of Joseph, through whose father, John, the descent goes back to Robert Bardwell, who came from London to Boston about the year 1670, and settled in Hatfield, Mass. Robert was a hatter by trade, and his son, John Bardwell, was one of the first settlers of Belchertown, having come about the year 1732. The farm upon which Mrs. Bartlett was born was the original property of the family in that town. Antipas Bardwell, who inherited a portion of the old homestead, purchased the interests of the other heirs and resided there until his decease, which occurred on April 18, 1877. The maiden name of Mrs. Bartlett’s mother was Caroline C. Sikes. She was from Ludlow, and was a daughter of John and Dorothy (Kellogg) Sikes. She died February 4, 1879, having been the mother of seven children; namely, George S., Alonzo J., Maria L., Francis N., Violet I., Martin W., and Charles E.

Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have five children living: Lizzie Maria, Marion Estella, Dwight Stebbins, Francis Alonzo, and Edward Payson. Their third child, Alice Isabelle, died August 30, 1877, aged thirteen months; and their fourth child, Henry Addison, died May 11, 1888, at the age of ten years. The family attend the Congregational church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett and several of their children are members. Mr. Bartlett has been a Deacon of this church since 1882.