My Genealogy Hound

Thomas J. Hartley was born in Dickson County, Tenn., May 1, 1830, and is a brother of Richard Hartley, whose sketch precedes this, being the ninth in the family. After remaining with his father until twenty years of age, he, on the 1st of May, 1850, started to cross the plains to California, and for four years worked in the gold mines of that State. He returned to Cedar County, Mo., in June, 1854, and the following year engaged in merchandising at Stockton, being occupied in the business about three years. In 1858 he espoused Miss Rachel M. Church, who was born in Tennessee, and who died December 23, 1858, having borne one daughter, Rachel M., the wife of R. C. Pyle. She was a daughter of C. C. and Nancy Church, who died in Cedar County. February 14, 1866, Mr. Hartley wedded Miss Margaret C. Montgomery, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., a daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Jackson) Montgomery. To this last marriage seven children were born: Laura, (deceased); William L., Lizzie, Josie May, Maud, Thomas F. (deceased) and Gertie J. In 1864 Mr. Hartley went to Idaho, thence to Oregon, and from there by water to New York City, where he arrived January 1, 1866, and then back to Cedar County, Mo., which place he reached in March of the same year. During the Civil War he was with Sterling Price six months. About 118 acres of his 200-acre farm are under cultivation, and 80 acres are situated on the river bottom. He is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.