Joseph Bartholomew: Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County

Joseph Bartholomew Gravestone

3/15/1766-11/3/1840

Clarksville Cemetery, Money Creek Twp.

Photo by Kevin Lowrey, Find-a-grave

~Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County~

Introduction - Ebenezer Barnes - Joseph Bartholomew - Samuel Beeler - David Haggard - Frances Hodge - Moses Hougham - John Karr - William Lee - John Maxwell - Thomas McClure - William McGhee or Gee - William McCullough - John Toliday - Jacob Williamson - Gravesites Not in McLean County

Joseph Bartholomew is a prominent historical figure in McLean County. Born in New Jersey, He served with a Pennsylvania regiment until 1780. After the war, he was a surveyor in the Indiana Territory and later served in the War of 1812, playing a prominent role in the Battle of Tippecanoe. He was also a prominent politician in Indiana. Bartholomew County, IN is named after him.

Joseph's first wife, Christiana, died around 1810. He later married Elizabeth McNaught, who died in 1824. Both women were buried on the Bartholomew family farm.

Bartholomew encountered some financial difficulties in Indiana, which likely led him to migrate to McLean County, IL in 1830. He wasted no time in getting involved in local politics and civic activities. During the Black Hawk War, paranoia swept McLean County. In response to fears of Native Americans attacks, several block houses, or wooden forts, were built. Bartholomew built one just to the southwest of Lexington, near Dawson Cemetery. No battles or attacks occurred in McLean County during the Black Hawk War.

Block House Monument
Dawson Cemetery, about 1.5 miles southwest of Lexington, IL

Bartholomew and his son, Marston, laid out Clarksville, just west of Lexington in 1836. Some sources state it was laid out by James Clark, the town's namesake, between 1824 and the late 1830s. It could have also been named after Martson, as Clark was his middle name. I could not find any evidence to support that claim. Although more a subdivision than an actual town, one can still see the layout in the current roads. Bartholomew also had plans to build the first bridge over the Mackinaw River.

Bartholomew died in 1840, tirelessly campaigning for his friend, William Henry Harrison, for president.

References & Map

See the Introduction to Revolutionary War Gravesites in McLean County for references.

Click on the map or this link to view a map of Revolutionary War veterans buried in McLean County.