John Milton HARTLEY, son of Josephus and Sarah HARTLEY, was born at Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1840. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1862 and served in the Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry until the close of the war.

On October 17, 1869, he was united in marriage with Hannah Jane KEENAN.

John M. and Hannah came to Iowa in 1874 and settled on a farm about three miles west of Maloy. Eight years later they moved to Maloy where John operated a hardware business for many years.

He was one of the chief promoters in building hte Christian Church at Maloy and served as one of the eldeers of that church.

His granddaughter remembers that he kept a horse-drawn hearse at his home in Maloy. To visiting grandchildren, it made a great playhouse. It is likely that he served as funeral director in addition to pursuing his other interests.

The HARTLEYS were the parents of nine children.

Sarah, the oldest, married Omar FRANKLIN and lived in Colorado.

Virginia "Nin" married Harry WORTHINGTON. They lived in or near Maloy for many years. Virginia had graduated from Drake University with a major in music and was for a time postmistress in Maloy. Harry farmed and operated the livery stable. As a community service, they sold textbooks to Maloy school children. They had two daughters, Hannah Hope and Rachael (sic). Also making her home with them was Grace (Mrs. William SCHOENAMAN), Harry's daughter by a previous marriage. She was the first graduate of Maloy High School.

Iloa (NELSON) was a teacher and married a teacher. Together they taught in several foreing contries including Salonica, Greece and Hilo, Hawaii.

Bernice (Mrs. Ralph BAILEY) also was a teacher and lived in the East. After retiring from teaching, she engaged in the antique business.

Jessie married J. Guyman (sic) DOWLIN. They lived in the HARTLEY family home on the farm. They were the parents of three children: John T., Mrs. H.E. RICH, and Virignia DOWLIN. Virginia lives in Rockford, Illinois, and a grandson, Hubert G. RICH, lives in Marshalltown.

Georgia, the youngest daughter, was the last to live with their parents at their home in Maloy. She also served for a time as postmistress. She married Orlie STEEN, and they with Orlie's son and daughter lived on a farm near Blockton.

Ora (Mrs. I. T. SKINNER) lived in Colorado.

Hugh, the older son, lived on a farm near Blockton. His wife was Ferne CARTER, daughter of Day CARTER and granddaughter of John D. CARTER, one of Maloy's earliest settlers.

Leslie (b. 1887) married Mabel WARING, daughter of Dr. Benjamin WARING, pioneer physician in Maloy. In addition to helping his father in the hardware business, Leslie served as station agent. Later he was transferred to Mingo, where he also served as station agent. His son Paul lives in Des Moines.

J. M. HARTLEY died in 1918 at his home in Maloy.

The HARTLEY home on the farm is still [1987] standing as is the one they built in Maloy. The latter has since been occupied by the SMITH family, then by Katie CARR and her family. It is presently the property of the Forest OVERHOLSER family.

NOTES: John Milton HARTLEY died at the age of 77 years on March 3, 1918. Hannah Jane (KEENAN) HARTLEY was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania on November 10, 1852, the daughter of Hugh and Isabella (MINOR) KEENAN. She married John Milton HARTLEY October 17, 1869, and died at the age of 79 years at Maloy on March 17, 1932. John and Hannah were interred at Platte River Cemetery near Maloy.

Samuel HARTLEY, John Milton's uncle, ws born September 1, 1805 [1815, WPA records] in Greene County, Pennsylvania, the son of Mathias and Hannah (LESLIE) HARTLEY, and died at the age of 80 years on September 1, 1885. He was interred at Platte River Cemetery near Maloy.

Sarah Isabell (HARTLEY) FRANKLIN died at the age of 86 years on April 6, 1957, Fort Morgan, Colorado. Her husband, Omar Stanton FRANKLIN preceded her in death in 1928.

Jessie (HARTLEY) DOWLIN was born in 1872, and died February 28, 1935 at the aged of 63, Taylor County, Iowa. Her husband, Josiah Gwynne DOWLIN was born in Dunkard Township of Greene County, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1859,and died at the age of 85 years in 1944, Taylor County, Iowa. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Taylor County, Iowa. Their children were John Lewis (1893-?), Gladys E. (1897-1967), and Virginia (1904-?).

Virginia (HARTLEY) WORTHINGTON was born in 1878, and died in 1963. Her husband, Harry E. WORTHINGTON, was born in 1874, and died in 1943. They were interred at Jordan Cemetery, West Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

Eliza "Iola" (HARTLEY) NELSON was born in October of 1881, and died in 1959. She was interred at Platte River Cemetery near Maloy.

Ora (HARTLEY) SKINNER died January 9, 1916 at her home near Fort Morgan, Colorado. She was the wife of Isaac SKINNER.

Hugh Josephus HARTLEY was born April 15, 1884, and died July 11, 1939. Fern and Hugh's daughter, Barbara Virginia HARTLEY was born August 23, 1827, and died at the age of 5 months on February 19, 1928. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Taylor County, Iowa.
Bernice (HARTLEY) BAILEY was born in March of 1889, and died in 1980. She was interred at Platte River Cemetery near Maloy.

Georgia (HARTLEY) STEEN was born in September of 1891, and died August 23, 1970. She was the second wife of widower John Orlan STEEN, marrying on March 11, 1924. john ws born in Shelby County, Iowa, on September 27, 1883, and died in Mount Ayr on June 14, 1974. They were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton, Taylor County, Iowa.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 Pp. 116-17.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Notes by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011