Clarence J. Hartley Part 1

By Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

In 1912, Twin Ports' attorney, C. J. Hartley, helped organize the Superior Rotary Club.

Born in 1885 in Northwood, Iowa, Clarence J. Hartley moved with his parents, Olive & Walter (Wallace) T. Hartley, to the East End of Superior, WI in 1891.  His farher practiced law with W. E. Pickering, also of Iowa, in the East End until 1896.

C. J. Hartley graduated from Superior's Nelson Dewey elementary & high School in 1902, then attended a local business college & became an expert stenographer.  Hartley was employed as a stenographer in the law offices of E. F. McCausland and George B. Hubnall in Superior.  In 1906 he went to Madison, WI, as a reporter for the Wisconsin railroad commission & the tax commission.  He attended the University of Wisconsin law school, graduating in 1909.

His haw school colleagues described Hartley as "capable, discreet, friendly, and always helpful."  They added that "Clarence became noted for his ability in the analysis of facts, aptitude in the rules of evidence, facility of expression, and the command of clear and vigorous English."

Hartley returned to Superior to practice law with Louis Hanitch.  The firm of Hartley & Hanitch, counsel for transportation, mining and industrial interests in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, was later joined by L. R. McPherson.  When McPherson became City Attorney, the form became Hanich, Hartley, (Oscar S.) Johnson & (John C.) Fritschler.

In April of 1912, Hartley was one of 20 Superior businessmen invited to a meeting at the Superior Commercial Club in the Board of Trade building to organize a Superior Rotary club.  Elected secretary of the new Superior Rotary club, Hartley recorded the highlights of the club in an article in the Superior Evening Telegram: "The first function of the club was the entertainment of the international convention, held in Duluth in the year 1912."

The Superior Club spent $100 of their $150 treasury to host a reception for the convention-goers at the Superior Hotel.  In addition to the reception, Hartley attended the entire 1912 Rotary Convention, saving his badge for posterity.

Hartley actively participated in early Superior Rotary Club accomplishments: the Elliott banquet, which brought together the president & officers of the Northern Pacific Railway company with nearly all the local coal company officers; the Superior steel plant excursion in the summer of 1913; the Pennington banquet and following winter; industrial expositions of 1915 and 1916; the Northern Wisconsin booster excursions; the Billings Park zoo, for which the club contributed $1,000; the Douglas County Fair; the University Chautauqua; the Superior marching club a the St. Paul carnival; and the purchase of cows on long-term payments for farmers.

Later, Hartley was elected President of the Superior Rotary Club, as well as being active in the Superior Association of Commerce.

In 1913, Hartley married Marie Damon from Milwaukee, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin & Downer College, who came to Superior to teach in Central High School. They had 3 children, John R., Ruth, and Frederic D.

When the 1931 Wisconsin Bar Association convention was held in Superior, Hartley was elected president of that organization.

In 1932, Attorney Elmer F. Blu, general solicitor for the Minnesota Steel corporation in Duluth, chose Hartley to be his assistant, Hartley moved to Duluth in December to accept the position.  The following summer, after the school year ended, Mrs. Hartley & their 3 children moved to Duluth.

To read the remainder of this story, please click here.