Richard Bartlett, one of the large and prosperous farmers of Oakland County, Michigan, located in section 27, Pontiac Township, where he owns a fine estate of 430 acres, he was born on a farm near Collins, Erie County, New York, November 28, 1829, and is a son of Smith Bartlett and Sarah Allen, both of whom belong to honored old families of New England.

Smith Bartlett was a son of Abel Bartlett and Drusilla Phillips, the former of whom was a native of Rhode Island, and a blacksmith by trade. Abel Bartlett and his wife reared a family of nine children, namely: Dexter, Mrs. Amy Taft, Daniel, Smith, Mrs. Lydia Allen and Mrs. Mary Pearson (twins), David, Jeremy and Abel. The fourth member of this family was the father of her subject and he married Sarah Allen, who was born in Danby, Vermont, and was a daughter of Zoheth Allen of that place. Their children were as follows: Zoheth A.; Mrs. Mary Pratt; Mrs. Jane Lawton; Seth, who lives at Collins, New York, aged 82 years; John, a resident of Pasadena, California; Richard, of this sketch; Silvia Willet of Collins, New York; Mrs. Sarah Allen; and Mrs. Ann Taylor, of Collins, New York. The father of this family was born in Rhode Island and died at Collins, New York. He took part in the war of 1812. For some 30 years he was engaged in tanning and shoemaking at Collins and was one of the leading citizens in the village.

Our subject was educated in district schools of his native locality which he attended during the winter season until use about 20 years of age, remaining at home until the age of 18 years. He assisted in his father’s tannery when he was a lad and later spent five years at this business at Collins Ctr., New York. In May 1865, detained Oakland County, Michigan, and located in this present farm of 430 acres, the beautiful home being situated in section 27, Pontiac Township. Mr. Bartlett has built all commodious and substantial buildings on the place, and has made most of the improvements; the farm ranks as one of the best in Oakland County. He is a practical farmer and has been more than usually successful.

In 1851 are subject married Phoebe L. Smith, who was born in Collins, New York, and is the daughter of Augustus Smith and Elizabeth White, and two children were born to them: Charles S., A farmer of Pontiac, who married Carrie Osmun, a native of New York, and has three children – Lena, Beulah and Charles; and Augustus Smith, who married Louise Carr,