Eugene Monroe Bartlett Sr., a cornerstone of Southern gospel music, left an indelible mark on the genre through his work as a songwriter, publisher, and educator.
Born on December 24, 1885, in Waynesville, Missouri, Bartlett’s most significant contributions unfolded in Hartford in south Sebastian County where he spent years building a family and a musical legacy. While his final resting place lies in Siloam Springs’ Oak Hill Cemetery, it was in Hartford that he shaped the course of gospel music.
Bartlett’s early years set the stage for his career, He pursued music education at Hall-Moody Institute in Martin, Tennessee, and William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri.
Trained in shape-note singing, he began teaching singing schools across the South, honing his craft and sharing his passion for gospel music.
In 1917, Bartlett settled in Hartford and married Joan Tatum.
The couple raised two sons, Eugene Bartlett Jr. . and Charles, both of whom later pursued music-related paths--Eugene Jr. as a hymnist and Charles as a minister of music in Texas.
That same year, Bartlett joined the Central Music Company, a shape-note publisher owned by David Moore and Will M. Ramsey.
His drive led him to co-found the Hartford Music Company in 1918 with Moore and John A. McClung.
As president until 1935, he oversaw its growth, expanding operations to Nacogdoches, Texas, and Hartshorne, Oklahoma.
The company’s first hymnbook sold over 15,000 copies within a year, featuring Bartlett’s early works like “Everybody Will Be Happy Over There” and “Just a Little While,” alongside contributions from peers like McClung’s “Just a Rose Will Do.”
Hartford was more than a base of operations for Bartlett—it was a hub of creativity.
In 1921, he established the Hartford Music Institute, a school dedicated to training musicians in vocal technique, sight-reading, and conducting.
Among his students was Albert E. Brumley, who arrived in 1926 and, with Bartlett’s support, later wrote “I’ll Fly Away.”
Bartlett’s mentorship helped launch Brumley’s career, a testament to his influence on the next generation of gospel artists.
Family life in Hartford anchored Bartlett’s endeavors. Joan provided steady support, and their home was a place where faith and music intertwined.
His sons grew up surrounded by his work, carrying forward his legacy in their own ways.
Professionally, Bartlett’s songs—like “Camping in Canaan’s Land,” “He Will Remember Me,” and the playful “Take an Old Cold Tater and Wait” (later recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens)—gained traction through gospel quartets such as the Stamps Quartet and the Blackwood Brothers.
A stroke in 1939 halted Bartlett’s active years in Hartford, leaving him partially paralyzed. It was during this period of recovery that he wrote “Victory in Jesus,” his most famous hymn, completed in 1939.
Unable to continue his work, he relocated to Siloam Springs. The move likely stemmed from a need for medical care or family support in his final years, though specific ties to Siloam Springs remain unclear.
He passed away there on January 25, 1941, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, a quiet end to a vibrant life.
Bartlett’s time in Hartford defined his career, producing over 800 songs and establishing institutions that shaped Southern gospel.
His family carried his influence forward, and his hymns remain a staple of the genre. While Siloam Springs marked his resting place, it was Hartford, Arkansas, that truly claimed his heart and legacy.