John S. Bartholomew. A Representative Dakotian. Yesterday afternoon, the HERALD man drove out to the residence of J. S. Bartholomew, which is situated about one mile south of the city, on the Fargo road, and is one of the most sightly places in Dakota. Mr. Bartholomew received the reporter cordially and proceeded to show his improvements. The house is of brick, and is a spacious and handsome structure. It sits back from the road about fifty feet, the front yard enclosed by a neat picket fence. There is a broad walk leading from the gate to the house, about five feet wide paved in diamond shape black and white stone, closely resembling marble. This stone is manufactured by Mr. Bartholomew, of Portland cement and is said to be the most durable and ornamental of any material that can be used. He is prepared to furnish and lay the walks to order for all who desire it. His brick yard is one of the finest to be seen anywhere. Being on a hill everything is dry, clean and in order. He is at present running two brick machines, which turn out 22,000 brick a day. He employs a force of 21 men and 14 horses in the prosecution of his extensive business. The brick manufactured here are of a very superior quality and meet with a ready sale. His barns and out-buildings are models of taste and neatness, and it was with great surprise we received the intelligence that but one year ago on the very site of these neat and costly improvements there was nothing but a wood pile. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, June 21, 1883, Page 1)
That year (1880) Bartholomew Brothers started a yard in what is now Bartholomew’s addition to the city (of Grand Forks). (History of Grand Forks County With Special Reference to the First Ten Years of Grand Forks City, H. V. Arnold, Larimore Pioneer, Larimore, North Dakota, 1900, Page 91)
Bartholomew’s Belmont Brick Works. Near the southern boundary of the city on the neatly graded Belmont avenue, are the extensive brickworks, palatial dwelling and large barn, on a 120 acre farm, owned by John S. Bartholomew, who has achieved signal success and is one of our leading men of enterprise. Mr. Bartholomew is a native of Madison, Lake county, Ohio, where he was born in 1838, and learned the trade of brick laying in early life, which vocation he followed near Painesville for twenty years, becoming thoroughly familiar with all branches of the business. In April, 1880, he came with his family to the new northwest, at first stopping at Crookston, with a view of locating there. However, Grand Forks impressed him as a better point and he has no reason to regret his choice, for he prospered beyond expectation. His first brickyard was established at [the] corner of 5th St. and Minnesota avenue, but the onward growth of the city to whose substantial upbuilding he contributed materially, soon crowded him out. He then purchased the Gus Loan place of 120 acres from Mr. Campbell and there erected his yard and kiln, a palatial brick residence, which anyone might be proud to own; a fine, commodious barn, 44x64, and other valuable improvements. His brick works have been enlarged and furnished with the best quality of brick to all building points in the valley from Hillsboro to the boundary line and west to the end of the line. The clay here, beneath the loam, is of a superior character for durable brick, and there is enough to build a metropolis as large as London. Some of the particulars of Mr. Bartholomew’s industry are given elsewhere. He is a heavy contractor and builder, and cheerful to give estimates in person or by letter to any point in the valley. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Sunday Morning, December 19, 1886, Page 2)
Bartholomew’s Belmont brick works at the southern boundary of Grand Forks, with a capacity of three million a year, the past season produced nearly two million of which over 200,000 were shipped to outside towns, Bathgate, Inkster, etc. Among the new blocks for which it furnished the brick in this city, were the HERALD block, 60,000, Grosvenor’s 40,000, NcNicol & McAdam’s 25,000, Budge & Co.’s, 400,000, Henderson & Griggs livery 30,000. For the Bathgate Bank Mr. Bartholomew furnished 90,000. The average annual product of this important industry has been 1,500,000 bricks. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Sunday Morning, December 19, 1886, Volume 11, Number 42, Page 7)
John Bartholomew’s engine and boiler from Erie. Pa., arrived this morning. John expects to turn out more brick - real solid substantial burned clay, than any kiln in this section. What about your pottery John? (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Monday Evening, April 29, 1889, Volume XV, Number 150, Page 4)
Gas and Electric Combine. Special to the Globe. ABERDEEN, S. D., Jan. 3. – The electric light plant was sold today by J. L. W. Zietlow to J. S. Bartholomew, of Grand Forks, owner of the local gas plant. Facilities will be greatly improved and additions made to the buildings, etc. The consideration was $6,000. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Saturday Morning, January 4, 1896, Volume XIX, Number 4, Page 3)
Was a Brilliant Wedding. Special to the Globe. ABERDEEN, S. D., Aug. 27. – The wedding tonight of Miss Myrtle Leach, of Aberdeen, and Fred A. Bartholomew, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Bartholomew, of Grand Forks, N. D., was the finest appointed function of the kind seen here for many years, and attracted society people from many points in the Dakotas and Minnesota. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Friday Morning, August 28, 1896, Volume XIX, Number 241, Page 7)
Gas Plant Destroyed. At Aberdeen, S.D., on Sunday Evening, Resulting in a Heavy Loss to J.S. Bartholomew of This City Who Owned the Plant Which Was Valued at About $60,000 - Mr. Bartholomew Left for Aberdeen Last Night, and Will Probably Rebuild. A telegram was received by J.S. Bartholomew of this city, yesterday morning announcing that on Sunday evening the Aberdeen gas and electric light plant at Aberdeen, S.D., had been totally destroyed by fire Sunday night, involving heavy loss. The plant was but partially insured. Mr. Bartholomew owned all of the stock, and the loss is a heavy one, as but little insurance can be secured on a plant of that kind. It is impossible at this time to state the amount of the loss, as the dispatch was brief, giving no particulars. The plant including the mains was worth about $60,000.00. Mr. Bartholomew left for Aberdeen last night. It is probable that he will rebuild the plant. The cause of the fire is not known here. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Tuesday Morning, July 31, 1900, Volume 19, Number 234, Page 5)
MRS. JOHN BARTHOLOMEW DEAD. The End Came Suddenly Yesterday Morning After a Short Illness. Mrs. John Bartholomew died yesterday morning at 6 o’clock in her apartment in the Bartholomew bock, after a short but serious illness. Deceased had been afflicted for some time past with Bright’s disease, but it was not until late the day before her death that immediate alarm was felt over her condition. The end came yesterday morning very peacefully, those at the bedside being her husband and a few intimate friends only. Mrs. Bartholomew had been an honored resident of Grand Forks for nearly 25 years, and during that time had endeared herself to many, to all of whom the news of her death came as a great shock yesterday, as no general apprehension had been felt regarding her condition. Deceased leaves a son Fred, who is now en route from San Francisco, having been summoned on account of his mother’s illness, and a husband to mourn her death, and the entire community join in extending to them the deepest sympathy. Funeral services will be held in the family apartments in the Bartholomew block this afternoon at 4 o’clock and in the evening the remains will be shipped to Paynesville, O., the old home, for interment. The remains will be accompanied by her husband, and he will be joined in Chicago by his son Fred. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Wednesday Morning, November 19, 1902, Volume 22, Number 17, Page 8)
JOHN S. BARTHOLOMEW DIES IN CALIFORNIA. Funeral Today for Former Brick Man and Builder of Frederick Hotel. John S. Bartholomew, aged 84, a prominent resident of Grand Forks in the early days and founder of the Frederick hotel, died Tuesday (October 29, 1929) at the home of his son, Fred A. Bartholomew at Atascadero, California, according to a telegram received by Frank V. Kent, secretary of Grand Forks Elks lodge No. 255. Funeral services will be held today at the California home with Elks lodge No. 322 in charge. Mr. Bartholomew came to Grand Forks from Ohio in 1880. He engaged in the contracting business upon his arrival here and a short time later established a brick yard where a small triangle is now located on South Sixth street. Later he operated his contracting business, a large brick (yard) and a 200 acre farm on the southern edge of the city, selling the brick yard to A. I. Hunter in 1902. The Frederick hotel building was built by Mr. Bartholomew as the Bartholomew block and was operated as an office building for a number of years. It was later called the Antlers hotel and later when it was taken over by Fred Bartholomew was called the Frederick hotel. Mr. Bartholomew is described by his former associates here as an active and successful business man. He was a prominent member of the Grand Forks Elks lodge. (Grand Forks Herald, Wednesday, October 30, 1929, Volume XLVIII, Number 309, Page 1)