| William Y. Bartels | 133rd Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by Eric Evans |
William Y. Bartels, born in 1844, had one brother (Peter) and one sister (Martha), and enlisted in the same company as Peter in the Civil War (the 133rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry). The Bartels family moved to Westerville in 1863 from Lawrence County, Ohio. William’s parents felt that their children would receive better educational opportunities in Westerville than they would at home in Lawrence County.[1] William graduated from Otterbein University in 1869 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and he would later receive a Master of Arts degree, although it is unclear where he in fact received his Masters degree.
William served in the 133rd OVI for 100 days, from May 2, 1864 to August 20, 1864. He was 20 years old at the time he enlisted in the army. The 133rd was an Ohio National Guard volunteer regiment during the Civil War, and was part of a larger group of regiments formed on the same idea of 100 days of service in the war. The troops serving in these regiments, including the 133rd, came to be collectively known as “hundred days men”.
After serving in the Civil War and graduating from Otterbein University in 1869, William decided to enter into the field of education. He taught for one year in Michigan and one year in Indiana before returning to Ohio to teach in Licking County; he would later became Superintendent of the Westerville public schools. Once William left the educational field he dabbled for a short period of time in the grocery business before turning towards farming.
William married Louisa Rowe in 1877, and the couple had one daughter (Nina). He was very active in the Westerville community, serving as a village clerk and as a member of the board of health. William was a member of the Blendon Lodge, an organization for the art of masonry. He served as a secretary for this organization for a little over a year. William also held a membership in the James Price Post No. 50 G.A.R. The G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) was an organization whose main purpose was to serve as a fraternal organization for veterans of the Civil War, with the James Price Post designated as Westerville’s local chapter.
William’s life came to an end on May 30, 1912 due to a lingering illness. He is laid to rest at the Otterbein Cemetery, buried next to his wife Louisa and his daughter Nina. In fact, William’s entire immediate family is buried here, with the exception of his brother Peter. The gravesite is marked by a tall Bartels family headstone.
[1] "WM Bartels." Local History File. Westerville Public Library, Westerville, OH.