J. K. Hartley

    J. K. Hartley was born October 16, 1844, in Hawkins County, Tennessee. When four years old, he removed with his parents, William L. and Matilda (Anderson) Hartley, to Ripley County, Indiana. After completing a two years course at Moore's Hill College, he engaged in farming two years, and in 1867 began clerking in a dry good store at Catlin, Illinois, where he was married December 16, 1868, to Miss Deborah J. Hodges. Shortly after this event he engaged in merchandising, and in March, 1871, together with his brother, George S., removed to Indianola, and established a mercantile business. In 1877, they began similar business at Earl Park, Benton County, Indiana, continuing three years and for the ensuing four months traveled through all the States and Territories of the West. In August, 1880, the Hartley brothers purchased their brick block, now occupied by A. Meyer, where they conducted a successful mercantile business of about $40,000 per annum, until March, 1883, when they sold out and in June, 1883, J. K. Hartley and L. A. Warden associated together in a general grocery business.

    Mr. Hartley is a Democrat, and was defeated by thirteen votes in the election of a joint Representative to the State Legislature from Benton and White counties. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Fraternities, and he and wife have two daughters, Valley Pearl and Maud Golden.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.