President of the Carlinville Coal and Mining Company, is a native of Carlinville and has from his early manhood been engaged in business here. He was born March 20, 1858, and received his early education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he entered Blackburn University at Carlinville, where he carried on an advanced course of study. After leaving school he worked at the carpenter’s trade with his father until 1874, then assumed supervision of the work at the South Carlinville coal shaft, of which his father was proprietor. Since 1883 he has had full charge of the business.
As the patronymic indicates; the paternal ancestors of our subject came from Germany. His father and grandfather each bore the name of Henry and were born in Brunswick. The grandfather served in the army of the Empire eight years and with that exception devoted his mature life to the carpenter’s trade. The father of our subject was the only member of the family who came to America. He attended school steadily until he was fourteen years old and then began to learn the trade with his father. In 1854 he decided to seek a home in the New World and in October set sail from Bremen, landing at New Orleans six weeks later. He came up to St. Louis, spent a month there, and then came to Carlinville and began work at his trade.
Mr. Bartels had left his family in Germany intending if lie did not like America to return to that country. But being pleased with the prospects here he sent for them and was joined by his wife and four children about a twelve-month after his own arrival. He bought a residence and has continued to live in Carlinville. He followed his trade some time and during those years bought thirty acres of land in the city limits and in 1870 opened a coal mine, which he personally superintended some years. For a few years past he has been living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He is advanced in years, having been born April 18, 1816. The lady who became his wife in 1847 was born February 7, 1820, in the same locality as he, and bore the maiden name of Minnie Larke.
William G. Bartels and Emma Singelman were united in marriage September 13, 1883. The bride’s parents, Henry and Louisa Singelman, are natives of Germany, and were early settlers in Carlinville. Mrs. Bartels was born here, received a good education and careful attention from her parents. To her and her husband three children have come, who are named respectively: Eda, Leonora and Leila. Mr. Bartels has served as Collector of Carlinville Township and represented the Second Ward in the City Council two years. Politically, he is a Republican. The family, including his parents, belong to the Evangelical Church. They are classed among the best citizens and have many friends.