Clarence J. Hartley - Part 2

By Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

Last time we followed the career of Clarence J. Hartley from his birth in Iowa and move to Superior, WI., to becoming a charter member of the Superior Rotary Club and participating in the international Rotary Convention in 1912, then being elected as President of the Superior Rotary Club.

When Hartley moved to Duluth in 1932 to accept the position of assistant general solicitor for the United States Steel Corporation subsidiaries, he joined the Rotary Club of Duluth, where he later served as President.  He also became a member of Kitchi Gammi Club, Duluth Athletic Club, Northland County Club, Minnesota Club, St. Paul Athletic Club, Chicago Union League Club, and the Pilgrim Congregational Church.  In addition he joined the Aad Temple of the Shrine, becoming potentate in 1940, the Midwest Shrine Association, becoming president in 1944, and the Red Cross of Constantine, where he served as an officer.

His colleagues described his community activities this way: "Without ever neglecting his large and successful practice, Clarence Hartley found time to contribute generously of his time and talent to a wide variety of other interests.  During the years of his active participation in the public life of Superior and later Duluth, he was continuously interested in civic, educational, fraternal, and church affairs."

C. J. Hartley spent 15 years working for the US Steel Corporation subsidiaries, which included the Oliver Iron Mining Company and the Minnesota Steel Corporation.  His colleagues noted that he "participated in the trial of a number of cases and hearings of outstanding significance of mining, tax, and railroad law."

Early in 1946, C. J. Hartley became ill and was confined to his home at 21 North 21st Avenue East.  After a few weeks he partially recovered and began spending time in his offices in the Wolvin building.  On February 26, 1947, Hartley died at St. Luke's Hospital at the age of 62.

Hartley's funeral at the Pilgrim Congregational Church included these pallbearers:  E. F. Blu, J. H. Jordan, M. L. Hibbard, A. E. Wheeler, Walker Jamar and Morgan Murphy.  His family in attendance included his mother, Mrs. Olive Hartley, his wife, Marie Damon Hartley, his three children, John R. of Minneapolis, Frederick D., a student at the University of Wisconsin law school, and Ruth Hartley Bagley with her husband Dr. Charles M. Bagley, past President of our Rotary Club, and four grandchildren, including Peter Bagley, current member of Duluth Rotary Club #25.

P.S. - Clarence Joseph Hartley is not related to Guilford Graham Hartley who was a Duluth entrepreneur in lumber, mining and agriculture, originally from New Brunswick, Hartley Park, once known as Hartley Field, was G. G. Hartley's dairy and vegetable farm, called Allendale Gardens.  G. G. Hartley died in Duluth in 1922 at the age of 68, before C. J. Hartley moved to Duluth.