GEORGE W. BARTLETT, merchant and Postmaster at Ashland Center, was born Aug. 12, 1850, in Saline Township, Washtenaw Co., Mich. His parents, Phineas and Mary A. (Roys) Bartlett, were natives of New York, where they were married, and shortly after that event removed to Michigan. They settled for a time at Bridgewater, Washtenaw County, and removed later to Saline.
Mr. Bartlett spent the years previous to the age of 18 obtaining his education and assisting his father. Arriving at that age he became manager of the family homestead ad operated in that capacity until the fall of 1876, when he made a transfer to Bridgeton in Newaygo County, and pursued agriculture until the spring of 1883. In 1880 he founded a mercantile business, which he managed in connection with his farm until the above named date, when he disposed of both and located at Ashland Center, where he established the business he has since conducted at that point. His stock in trade represents a cash value of about $5,000, and his yearly transactions caver an approximate amount of $9,000, His business is widening in its extent and popularity, and he is increasing his store facilities to accommodate the growing demands of his patronage. He was appointed Postmaster July 1, 1883.
Mr. Bartlett was married Jan. 1, 1871, in Alpine, Kent County, to Statira, daughter of Peter S. and Cordelia (Joslin) Smith, natives of the State of New York. Mrs. Bartlett was born in Plainfield, Kent County, Feb. 2, 1848. Her parents removed in her youth to Alpine, where she grew to womanhood and obtained a fair education. Mr. Bartlett is a Republican in political affiliation, and both himself and wife are members of a temperance organization and of the Patrons of Husbandry, located at Ashland Center. Four children have been born to them, as follows: Charles E., March 8, 1872; Maurice, Sept. 15, 1881; Clyde, Oct. 14, 1876 (died March 15, 1880); Arthur, Jan. 16, 1879 (died March 17, 1880).