Sam Bartell - Pioneer Lawman

Samuel E. Bartell served as Deputy U.S. Marshall from the late 1800's, worked for the early Oklahoma City Police Department, served as Justice of the Peace, and ran for Sheriff a time or two. He hunted down desperadoes , kept the peace, put his life on the line to "protect and serve." In a time when politics and political party affiliations ruled law enforcement, these brave individuals often went in and out of favor, were brought up on charges, discharged, only to be rehired with a change in the political climate. OKC might have been tamed but it was not altogether "civil."

As a U.S. Deputy Marshall, his name appears in several federal court records as witness, arresting officer, etc.

According to U.S. Federal Census records, in 1900 Sam E. Bartell was a 39 year old (born 1861) born in Kentucky who was living at 11 Noble Avenue, OKC. With him was his wife of 6 years, Alto, 21, and three children: Carl (1895), Burnice (1896) and Fae (1899) . In 1910, Deputy Sheriff Samuel E. Bartell, 47, but now listed as being born in Kansas (such mistakes were common on the census), was living with wife of one year, Mary E. 34. With them were Carl 14, Bernice,12 and Fay, 11. According to a news article Sam's father was Inglehart Bartell of California. He may have had a brother who was also living in Oklahoma.

It is known that as early as 1902 Sam Bartell was living in Oklahoma City and in 1904 he was a city police officer with a son named Carl. Around 1905 he purchased the "Oklahoma Detective Agency" and became involved in one of the most notable cases of early day Oklahoma, the kidnapping and murder of young Mrs. Kate James of Weatherford. In about 1910, his wife Mary E. Bartell becomes the Oklahoma City Police Matron and he was serving as a Justice of the Peace at about the same time.

He may be the "Samuel E. Bartell", 85, who died while living at 1428 SW 25 on November 14, 1944 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery.

---Ongoing Research, Marilyn A. Hudson