Benjamin Hartley
Benjamin Hartley
Benjamin Hartley, who since 1903 has owned and operated the
Mount Hope farm, located eleven miles southwest of new Albin, is
one of Allamakee county’s native sons, his birth having
occurred in Union City township in 1870. His father, John W.
Hartley, was born in England, and when he was four years of age
was brought to America by his parents, the family landing in New
York in 1848, and after a short period moving to Wisconsin. They
moved to Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1853, and here the father
assisted with the work of the homestead until the outbreak of the
Civil war, when he enlisted in the Union army, serving with
credit and ability for one year, and at the end of that time
receiving his honorable discharge. After he was mustered out he
returned to Iowa and purchased land in Union City township, later
selling his first tract and buying again in the same section. In
1868 he married Miss Sarah G. Ratcliffe, a native of Wheeling,
West Virginia, and they began their wedded life on this farm,
where they remained until 1881. In that year the father sold his
holdings in Union City township and bought land in French Creek
township, whereon he has resided since that time, gradually
adding to his holdings until he now owns nearly one thousand
acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. He has
survived his wife for many years, her death having occurred in
1889. They became the parents of the following children: Joseph,
of Union City township; Benjamin, of this review; Charlotte H.,
the wife of A. L. McClintock, of Rossville, Iowa; Mary, who lives
in Chicago, Illinois; J. Leonard, who is engaged in lumbering in
the state of Washington; Helen S., who is superintendent and head
nurse in the Tuberculosis Tent Colony in Ottawa, Illinois; Frank,
who lives in Allamakee county; Thomas, of Idaho; and Sarah, the
wife of Charles Berkey, of California.
Benjamin Hartley acquired his education in the public schools of
Allamakee county, and graduated in 1895 from the commercial
department of the Nora Springs Seminary of Floyd county, Iowa.
From his early childhood he assisted with the work of the
homestead, thus becoming, before he reached manhood, a practical
and able agriculturist. He remained at home until he was thirty
years of age, and then rented land in Union City township, which
he operated for three years. At the end of that time he bought
the Mount Hope farm, located about eleven miles southwest of New
Albin, and upon this he has since resided, being today considered
one of the most progressive and substantial farmers of this
vicinity. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land and upon
it carries on diversified farming, raising grain and breeding and
selling high-grade stock, both branches of his activities being
well managed and profitable.
In 1900 Mr. Hartley married Miss Carrie F. Bulman, a native of
Union City township, and a daughter of Thomas and Phoebe (Stocks)
Bulman, who were born in England. Their marriage occurred in that
country, and in 1848 they came to America, settling first in New
Orleans, Louisiana, for one year. They removed to Evansville,
Indiana, where they remained a number of years, but in 1854 they
came to Iowa and, settling in Allamakee county, took up
government land in Union City township, whereon they continued to
reside until the father retired from active life in 1888. They
then moved into Waukon, and there the mother died in 1892. Her
husband survives her and is still living in Waukon, having
reached the age of eighty-five. To their union were born twelve
children, of whom Mary, John H., Samuel and Phoebe have passed
away. The others are: Alice, the widow of Rev. L. M. Green of
Idaho; James T., who is residing on the old homestead in Union
City township; Emma J., the wife of Alfred Beardmore of Union
City township; Thomas S., who resides in Pawnee, Oklahoma; Carrie
F., wife of the subject of this review; Jason C., of Allamakee
county; Walter W., an attorney of Chariton, Iowa; and Anna P.,
the wife of William Rayburn of Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs.
Hartley became the parents of three children, the eldest of whom
died in infancy. The others are: Allen B., born in 1902, and
Cecil G., whose birth occurred in 1904. The family are members of
the Presbyterian church, the church building and the school being
both located on Mr. Hartley’s farm.
Fraternally Mr. Hartley is identified with the Brotherhood of
American Yeomen and his political allegiance is given to the
republican party. He takes an active and intelligent interest in
community affairs and is always ready to do all in his power to
promote the general advancement and development, but he is not in
any sense an office seeker, although he is serving as justice of
the peace at the present time. In his native community he is
known and honored as a man of strict business and personal
integrity, and by his upright, straightforward and industrious
life has added something to the respect and esteem in which the
family name has long been held in this part of Iowa.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Linda Earnheart
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