Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. pp. 159-60. SAMUEL EDWARD BARTMESS Samuel Edward Bartmess, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Hood River, was born in Dayton, Indiana, in 1853, his parents being Oliver Cromwell and Sarah (Clarke) Bartmess, who were pioneer residents of Indiana. The first record of a representative of the family in America is that of John Adams Bartmess, who came to the new world from the valley of the Rhine in 1751 on the sloop Patience. He first settled in Pennsylvania and after his marriage to Sophia Rizer, daughter of a Lutheran minister, the Rev. George Rizer, he removed to Maryland. Samuel E. Bartmess, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the graded schools of Dayton, Indiana, and in the Otterbein University at Westerville, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1879. He then took up farming and devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits for ten years, In 1890 he sold his farm property and came west on a visit to Hood River. He was so pleased with this section of the country that he concluded to make the city his home and here purchased a furniture store, to which he has added an undertaking department. For thirty years he has thus served his community in the sale of furniture and undertaking supplies and he possesses two diplomas as a graduate embalmer, His business covers Hood River and a portion of Wasco county and also extends into the state of Washington. He has full equipment for funerals in every particular and his courtesy and kindliness, as well as his ability and equipment, have been strong factors in winning him his patronage. In 1880 Mr. Bartmess was married to Miss Elda E. Crouse, an accomplished young lady and a daughter of Dr. David H. Crouse, who was a pioneer of Indiana and practiced his profession there for more than forty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Bartmess have been born the following named: Earl Kumler, who is a resident of Portland and is a technical draftsman with the Northwestern Shipbuilding Company; Meigs William, living in Cleveland, Ohio, being a designer of motors with the Adams-Bagnall Electric Company, having graduated with honors from the University of Oregon, after which he was for a time electrical expert with the Westinghouse Company; Sallie A., who is the wife of W. B. Small of Portland; and Marie Louise, who is at home with her parents. Mr. Bartmess has been alderman of Hood River and for many years coroner of Hood River county. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and both he and his wife are active and prominent members of the Riverside Congregational church, Mrs. Bartmess being superintendent of the Sunday school. She was also president of the Woman's Relief Corps and is a member of the Hood River Woman's Club. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bartmess were active workers in all the drives made for financing the war and maintaining the interests and welfare of the soldiers in camp and field. They are prominent in every movement that tends to the welfare of Hood River and their labors have been far-reaching and resultant. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.