Thomas Battle Bartlett

Surnames: BARLETT, BATTLE, DICKSON, HARLAN, GRAVES, McCALEB, HENRY, MARTIN, STEELE, NORTON, SEHON, HODGES, ALLEN

Thomas Battle Bartlett, b November 24, 1889 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d July 14, 1963 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - was a son of Charles H. and Mary ("Mollie" Dickson) Bartlett, whose other children were Madeline Bartlett, Mary Bartlett, Zenas Bartlett, Lawrence Bartlett, and Charles Bartlett. Thomas Battle Bartlett was born in the old family built for his grandmother, and his father was serving as a City Alderman at the time of his birth - being elected Mayor of Marlin soon thereafter.

On November 12, 1912, Thomas Battle Bartlett was married to Elizabeth Graves Harlan, b January 11, 1890 in Falls County, Texas, d December 1964 and also buried in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of Zill Isaiah and Maude (Graves) Harlan, a granddaughter of George and Pauline Jane (McCaleb) Harlan, and a great granddaughter of Dr. Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan and Zill Harrington and Mary Elizabeth (Martin) McCaleb.

At the age of fourteen years, Thomas Battle Bartlett suffered the loss of his right arm while roping cattie on a family ranch. He was educated in the Marlin Public Schools and the University of Texas, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the "Eleveners" Law Class (Clas of 1911).

Thomas Battle and Elizabeth Graves (Harlan) Bartlett reared four children:

Thomas Battle Bartlett, Jr., b October 3, 1913 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - married Anna Byrne Steele, b January 9, 1915 in Fitzpatrick, West Virginia, d July 19, 1983 - a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Steele, of Huntington, West Virginia.

Sarah Kendrick Bartlett, b June 19, 1916 - married Hammond Norton, of Calvert, Texas.

Ann Harlan Bartlett, b July 18, 1918 - has not Married, and resides in Marlin, Texas in the original of her grandparents, Zill Isaiah and Maude(Graves) Harlan. She is a retired Medical Records Librarian, and served as Secretary for the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin for many years, where she is an active member.

Elizabeth Graves Bartlett (called "Betsy"), b October 8, 1921- married first to James Franklin Sehon in 1942; married second in June 1963 to John Neal Hodges; and married third to Walter Hamilton Allen.

Thomas Battle Bartlett served as City Attorney of Marlin, and one term as Mayor of the city. He was then elected Falls County Attorney (1914-918), and was appointed, and again elected to that office during World War II. It was as counsel for the defense that he most often appeared before the courts, and as which he is identified in the annals and legends of the Central Texas Bar. He was always active in the democratic Party, and served as a delegate to the 1928 Democratic National Convention in Houston which nominated Al Smith as the Democratic presidential candidate, and again delegate to the convention of 1932 in Chicago which nominated Franklin Delano Roosevelt as its candidate.

Mrs. Bartlett attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she was a charter member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority; and subsequently graduated from Hollins College in Virginia. She was talented in her own right, and her poetry was published in several national magazines. She was active in Marlin literary circles.

The Bartletts were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Marlin, and reared their family in this church. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary a few months before his death.

Mr. Bartlett was a member of the Marlin Country Club, where he became a proficient golfer. He won a statewide golf tournament in 1925-sponsored by the 1918 - has not Dallas Morning News for one-armed golfers.

Some biographies from "Families of Falls County", compiled and edited by the Falls County Historical Commission.
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart by the Falls County Historical Commission, for use on this page.