Bartholomew H. Clute, one of the representative dairymen of Glenville, N. Y., was born in Schenectady, June 21, 1831, son of Henry and Cathaline T. (Haverley) Clute. His grandfather, Bartholomew Clute, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was for some time a boatman on the Mohawk River; and on one occasion he had for a passenger the British commander, Sir Henry Clinton. The maiden name of Grandfather Clute's wife was Margaret Peters.
Their son, Henry Clute, above named, was a native of Schenectady. When a young man, he engaged in the grocery business, which he followed for the rest of his life. He died about 1835. His wife, Cathaline, was a native of Glenville. Her paternal grandfather was John Haverley, a large land-owner of this town in his day. His death occurred the same night that the subject of this sketch was born. John Haverley married Anna Adams, a representative, it is thought, of the noted Massachusetts family which has given two presidents — John and John Quincy Adams — to the United States. Henry and Cathaline T. Clute reared four children; namely, Susan H., Christian H., Bartholomew H., and John H. B. Clute, all of whom, except Bartholomew H., are residing in Rotterdam. The mother died May, 1882. The parents were members of the Reformed church.
Bartholomew H. Clute passed his boyhood and youth in Schenectady and Glenville, and attended school in these places. His father's death threw him upon his own resources at an early age, and he began life as a workman in the broom factories of Schenectady at eleven dollars per month. In 1850 he went to Illinois, where he engaged in raising broom-corn on leased land. He also established a factory, and manufactured the first lot of Western-made brooms ever sold in Chicago. Although this enterprise proved quite successful, the gold fever soon caused him to sell out, in order to try his fortune in California. Going there by the overland route, he followed various occupations on the Pacific Coast for four years. Returning then to Schenectady County, he leased land in Glenville until 1863, since which year he has resided upon his present farm of one hundred and ten acres. He has a valuable piece of agricultural property, with good buildings and modern improvements. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and derives considerable profit from the sale of milk.
Ou October 20, 1858, Mr. Clute was joined in marriage with Agnes Swart, who was born in Glenville, April 13, 1832, daughter of Josias and Catharine (Vedder) Swart. Her parents belonged to highly reputable families of this county. Mrs. Clute is the mother of three children, namely: Kitte V., who is now Mrs. McCullum; Elma, who is now Mrs. Dick; and Clarence Clute.
In politics Mr. Clute is a Democrat. To the energy and perseverance which served him so well in his boyhood days is due in a great measure the prosperity he now enjoys, his activity continuing unabated. Mr. and Mrs. Clute are members of the Reformed church.