[1] He attended the Iowa State College, graduating with a bachelor's in science, and meeting his future wife, Ella Louise Henderson.

He began working as a reporter for the Minneapolis Journal before becoming one of the first daily editorial cartoonists in the world in the late 1890s.

The subject of his cartoons ran the gamut from the Spanish–American War to local Minnesota politics and weather.

During his time at the Journal, he also drew a number of Saturday cartoon strips, and worked as a children's book illustrator.

After retiring from the Minneapolis Journal, Bartholomew became the dean of the Federal School of Illustrating and Cartooning, where he give large lecture-style chalk talks for students and everyday citizens.