Lindsay Coates “Lin” Bartholomew was a State Representative from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
He was born, July 24, 1834, in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania and as a youth attended, Pottsville Academy. During the Civil War he served in two emergency militia regiments. He worked in Schuylkill County as a lawyer from 1857-1880, and during that time was credited with getting an acquittal in one of the Molly Maguire trials. In 1861, he was elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1861 term but chose not to be a candidate for reelection to the House for the 1862 term. His political career included an appointment as aide-to-camp to Brigadier General George C. Wynkoop (1861); an appointment as private secretary to General Simon Cameron (1862); election as a delegate to the Republican National Convention (1868, 1876, 1880); election as a delegate-at-large to the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention (1872-1873); and election to the Republican State Convention (1878).
Lin Bartholomew died August, 22, 1880 in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey; his remains were interred at the Charles Baber Cemetery; Pottsville.
A lengthy obituary appeared in the Reading Times, August 24, 1880:
HON. LIN BARTHOLOMEW
THE PARTICULARS OF HIS DEATH
Stricken Down By Heart Disease — His Last Words
Sketch of His Brilliant Career at the Bar and in Politics
The Pottsville Journal of yesterday gives the following particulars of the manner in which the Hon. Lin Bartholomew met his death: “After leaving the dining room, where he had partaken of some soup, he approached a cigar stand, where he was joined by ex-Sheriff Elliott and Henry C. Howells, of Philadelphia. Leaving the cigar stand he went to the oyster counter and asked for a few raw oysters. After eating one he dropped his fork, tottered backwards, beat the air for an instant with his hands, and fell to the floor. “My God, Judge, what’s the matter,” cried the man who had been serving him with oysters, as he jumped over the counter to assist him in an attempt to rise. As he was assisted to regain his feet, he feebly muttered, “It’s all right. Help me to the door. I want air.” He was carried to the door when his helpless condition was noticed by his friend, William Bann, Esq., of Philadelphia. The latter at once sent for Dr. Reed of Atlantic City, who arrived within a few minutes. In two minutes after the doctor’s arrival, and without uttering a word other than those already mentioned, Lin Bartholomew‘s life passed away. When the news of his death became circulated the wildest consternation prevailed among his many friends at the United States Hotel, and within a short time it became known through the watering place that one of the highest intellects of Pennsylvania had been overthrown by death. Dr. Reed, who attended him in his last moments, pronounced his death caused by heart disease. The Hon. William Kemble provided a special train and shortly after the death of his friend Mayor Losch was on his way to Pottsville with the body. The trip from Philadelphia was made in two hours and forty minutes, the funeral car arriving at Pottsville about midnight. Mr. Bartholomew’s body was taken to his late residence on Mahantongo Street, Judge Green and Thomas A. Reilly, Esc., accompanying it. The remains will be buried on Wednesday; the funeral to leave the house at two o’clock. Mr. Bartholomew leaves a widow, whose maiden name was Mary Allen, and a child , a daughter.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
He was born in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, in 1834. He was the third son of Benjamin Bartholomew, Esq., a gentleman well known throughout the State, and at one time District Attorney of this county. He was educated in the Pottsville Academy, and entered business at an early age, but under the advice of his friends, and at the same time following the bent of his own inclinations, he began the study of law in the office of his father, and in 1857 was admitted to the practice of his chosen profession. At an early age, long before he was entitled to vote, he took an active interest in politics, and in 1856 he was one of five who organized the Central Republicans of Schuylkill County. Even at this early age, he was a ready debater and a bright political speaker. In 1860, he was elected to the Legislature, and there are many here who remember the banner with “The Three Lins” carried that year by the Republicans of Schuylkill. The three Lins were Lincoln, for President, Hamlin, for Vice President, of the United States, and Lin Bartholomew for the Legislature. As a member of the legislature he served… on the Ways and Means Committee. In 1861, he received the commission of Aide de Camp on the staff of Gen. George C. Wyncoop, from Gov. Curtin, and in pursuance of his appointment, served in that position at York, Pennsylvania, and Cockeysville, Maryland. Shortly after this he was appointed by General Simon Cameron as his private secretary, while he was Secretary of War and served in that capacity until after the first Battle of Bull Run, when he resigned and returned to Pottsville to resume the practice of his profession. in 1863, when the State was invaded by the rebels under Lee, he served in the Twenty-Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers under Col. J. G. Frick. While not an aspirant for office, he had always taken an active part in politics. In 1868he was a delegate at large to the Chicago Convention which nominated General Grant for the Presidency. He nominated Gen. Hartranft for the Presidency in Chicago in 1876. In 1872 he was elected a delegate at large to the Constitutional Convention and served on the Judiciary Committee, and also as Chairman on the Committee of schedules. In 1878, he nominated Judge Sterret for Judge of the Supreme Court of the State, and it has been generally conceded that his masterly effort on this occasion carried the convention for his nominee.
LAWYER AND POLITICIAN
in local politics, he always took an active part and was the idol of the rank and file of the Republican Party. His appearance at a meeting was the signal for an enthusiastic reception, and Lin Bartholomew will always be remembered by the Republicans of Schuylkill as the leader in many a hard fought contest. As a lawyer, he ranked among the foremost in the State, and some of his efforts before a jury denoted not only the possession of a brilliant intellect, but profound study. As characteristic of the man it is necessary but to give single incident. In 1879, a large majority of the newspapers of the State urged upon Governor Hoyt the appointment of Mr. Bartholomew as Attorney General of the State. The republicans of Schuylkill were most anxious that the appointment should devolve upon their leader and his friends generally insisted that Mr. Bartholomew should himself take part in the effort made to obtain what was considered his due. General Palmer, of Wilkes-Barre, was an aspirant for the appointment and though Mr. Bartholomew had been induced to take some interest in the fight made on his own behalf, he wrote a letter to Governor Hoyt recommending General Palmer’s appointment. As the latter observed when he read the letter, “There are few men in political life like Lin Bartholomew.”
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News article from Newspaper.com. Portrait from public tree on Ancestry.com.
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