John Hartley, Rebecca Arvecost and Family

Joseph Hartley and Family

Hartleys Flee To Oregon; Part I

Hartleys Flee To Oregon; Part II

Hartleys in Oregon & Washington

Charles Lycurgis Hartley Family Photographs

Bibliography

Joseph Hartley and Family

From A Sketch of the Life of Elder Joseph Hartley we learn that Joseph Hartley started attending local church meeting in Hardin Co. KY at the age of sixteen years. He was baptized into a Baptist church in January 1823 and he was elected a deacon in April of that year. He bought 100 acres of land for $320 which he paid for in four quarterly installments. At the urging of the preachers in the church he was elected to and became a licensed preacher in the Baptist Church in November 1834. He preached in the Union Church (close to his home), Gilead Church (20 miles from home), Bethel Church (nearby), and Rock Creek Church (30 miles from his home) in Hardin Co. KY on a regular basis. On March 1, 1838 he became an ordained minister. The summer of 1840 he and a number of other ministers separated themselves from the other Baptist ministers of the area forming the Union Baptist church which taught the doctrine of Predestination rather than Free Will.

On 22 Jan 1821 in Hardin Co. Kentucky Joseph Hartley married Mary (Polly) Singleton. Mary was born 26 Mar 1803 in Nelson Co. Kentucky to Benjamin Singleton and Mary Shumake. Joseph Hartley in his Sketch describes Mary (Polly) Singleton:

Thus I grew up to manhood; and, about one month before I was twenty one, I was married to a neighbor-girl, whose name was Polly Singleton. As there was something singular in our attraction and alliance, I will make a few remarks concerning the subject. My wife's father and mine had been neighbors from my infancy; consequently I knew Polly when a mere child-I being three years older. We went to the same school; and, when quite a boy, I found myself warmly attached to her. I would often think that, when I got to be a man, I would make her my wife. The same controlling principle never ceased, let me be where or with whom I may. And, amidst all the incidents attendant on a youthful life, when my mind reverted to her, I loved her. I well recollect, the day I was nineteen (it being Sunday), I paid her a visit--when my courtship commenced. I was then a poor boy, under the control of my father, and had no idea of marrying soon--not having any arrangements for housekeeping, and with no expectations of assistance, from any source. I thought it advisable to let her know my feelings toward her, and I was not long in finding out how she would reply, if I were so situated as to be able to support a wife. I also learned that she had had the same attachment for me, in her childhood, that I had for her. With this understanding, we pledged ourselves to each other as companions for life, and, when we thought our situation admitted of it, we got married. I visited her, but with as little show as I well could, nearly two years before we married. We lived together almost thirty-nine years, and raised ten children. In the early part of our wedded life we were poor, and hard run to make a living; yet I never saw the day, had there been such a thing as dissolving the bonds of matrimony, but what I would have married her again; and I have every reason to believe she would have done the same.

I will here remark that the reason why there are so many unhappy matches, and so much parting of man and wife, as there is in the world is, that they do not come together from a pure matured motive. My wife was what is called a resolute, high-strung woman, and I was always an ambitious man; yet we lived together all those years without ever quarreling--and I have often said to our children, by way of caution, whey they were about to marry, not to forget that they never heard their father and mother quarrel. What I most grieved for, during her life, and after her death, was, that I was not so circumstanced all the time that she might enjoy life; for I loved here, and wished her to be happy.

Joseph and Mary (Polly) Hartley raised ten children: Martha Ann Hartley born 1821 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Simeon Buchanan Hartley born 1823 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Edmund Waller Hartley born 1825 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Mary Lucinda Hartley born 1827 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Eliza Harriot Hartley born 1830 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Susan Ann Hartley born 1832 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Joseph Marion Hartley born 1834 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, David Franklin Hartley born 1837 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, Henry Harrison Hartley born 1841 in Hardin Co, Kentucky, and James Clayton Hartley born 1845 in Jefferson Co. Illinois.

On the 8th of November 1841 Joseph and Mary (Polly) Hartley moved from Hardin Co. Kentuckey to Horse Prairie, Jefferson County, Illinois. Joseph Hartley in his Sketch describes the move:

I now come to my history in Illinois. In the first place, I will give my reasons for emigrating to this State. We had now nine children; one married, and two or three more nearly grown; while I was penned up on a little farm, not half big enough for myself and boys to work on. Consequently, I was compelled to spend much of my time with my wagon, from home, in order to meet my demands, which, to me, was disagreeable, besides depriving me of the necessary attention at home. My boys were old enough to see our situation, and were much dissatisfied; on which account my wife encouraged me to go where our prospects would be better. And, having a knowledge that in this part of Illinois much of the better land was yet vacant, I determined to move thither. Accordingly, in the spring of 1841, I began to make arrangements to that effort, and to sell my little farm where I lived. At length at some sacrifice I effected a sale, but not until October. Late as it was, however, I meant to move that fall. I traded around in haste, soon procured me a suitable wagon, with two yoke of oxen, and a smaller one for the convenience of my family, and was ready to start by the 8th of November. . . . our wagon being loaded, on the 8th of November, as above stated, we started, and landed in Horse Prairie, Jeffereson County, Illinois, on the 20th--being twelve days on the road. Nothing of interest occurred on the way. We found ourselves among strange people, without house or home; ten in family, and with but little money, just at the approach of winter, and with all our provisions to buy. We could find no place to rent so I began to look around, and in a few days I bought forty acres of land, second-hand, with a cabin on it, for $150. Still having a little money, I went to the land office and entered forty more. We now owned eighty acres of prairie land, but without one particle of improvement, except the cabin, and that could barely have the name of a shelter; yet we were glad to have done so well. Now, reader, all things being considered, you know we had plenty of work to do, and but little time for anything else. We put up a few shanties, out of poles and rails, for the present season. I then paid out what money I had for meat and corn; and we worked a while for some more. Having a supply of provisions, we then commenced making a farm. I had two boys, one in his nineteenth, and the other in his seventeenth year, and I was then in my best days for labor. The result was, by the middle of March we had a field fenced, eighty rods long by seventy five wide, nine rails high, all new. We still had time to fence a pasture ere plowing time. The reader may judge that we did a good winter's work. In short we got our land all broke, and planted, in good time--the season being favorable. We had amply sufficient land, and some to spare, without renting a single foot. . . .

Federal Land Purchase Records for the State of Illinois show that Joseph Hartley bought 40 acres of land (a Federal sale, FS)) for $1.25 on 2 Dec 1841 in Elk Prairie township, Jefferson Co. IL. (Elk Praire township is a square eight miles on a side, and is south and slightly west of Mount Vernon IL in southern Illinois) He made a number of purchases in Elk Prairie township:

2 Dec 1841, 40 acres
28 Oct 1842, 40 acres
6 Sept 1849, 40 acres
5 Nov 1849, 40 acres
30 Nov 1852, 80 acres

The History of Jefferson County, Illinois describes Elk Prairie township:

Elk Prairie township lies in the south tier of townships in Jefferson county and contains considerable fine farming land, though it is rather rough and broken along the streams. . . . Big Muddy Creek flows south nearly through the middle of the township, receiving numerous small streams in its course. . . Along these streams was originally heavy timber, and there is still considerable of it left, principally oak, hickory and walnut. The land is rather hilly and rough along the streams, but back from them some distance it becomes of a more even surface, and has some small prairies. Elk Prairie, from which the township derives its name, is an excellent body of land, though of rather small extent. It takes its name from the number of bones and horns of elk found here by early settlers. Some very excellent farms may be seen in this township.

The Illinois State Genealogical Society named 146 families as "Prairie Pioneers"; among them are listed "Hartley, Joseph, Jefferson County, 1841, spouse Mary Singleton". The Federal Census of 1850 for Jefferson Co. Illinois shows the Joseph Hartley family:

Joseph Hartley 50 KY, Mary 48 KY, Eliza H 20 KY, Susan A 18 KY, Joseph M 15 KY, David F 12 KY, Henry H. 9 KY, James H 5 KY.

The first name is the head of the household with age and state of birth; Mary is the spouse; children are shown with their middle initial, age, and state of birth.

The ministry of Joseph Hartley is described by his grandson, James Joseph Fitzgerrell, in "Appendix to A Sketch of the Life of Elder Joseph Hartley ", which appears in the Hartley Family:

Regarding the ministry of Grandfather, he undoubtedly built up a fine church of Regular Baptists, who purchased a site for and built a nice frame church house, and laid out a nice cemetery about one mile from our home. The church meetings were usually monthly. That gave an opportunity to visit other church meetings as indicated in his history.

The Primitive Baptist Library in their "Church and Family History Research Assistance for Primitive Baptist Churches in Jefferson County, Illinois" include the following copyright description.

Union Church was organized May 7, 1842, at the home of Elder Joseph Hartley, with nine charter members, viz., Elder Joseph Hartley, Mary Hartley, Sarah Hillman, Clabourn J. Cash, John Fleener, Sarah Fleener, William Miflin, Anna Miflin, and Fanny Clampet. The presbytery consisted of five Elders, from Nine Mile, Holt's Prairie and Salem Churches.

In August 1844 Union Church petitioned the Southern Illinois Association for admittance, which was granted; but in 1846 Union Church was granted the privilege of being dismissed in order to unite with the Bethel Association.

In 1857-1858 the Union Church erected a frame meeting house at the north edge of Horse Prairie, in Elk Prairie township. Prior to that time meetings had been held primarily at the homes of the members.

Elder Joseph Hartley was the first pastor and served until he was released at his own request in December 1864, shortly before removing to the state of Oregon. Pastors who followed him included Moses Neal, Elijah T. Webb, Josiah Harriss, W. E. Weaver and C. C. Mitchell (all at the Elk Prairie township location).

Their copyright article "Church and Family History Research Assistance for Primitive Baptist Churches in Wayne County, Illinois" includes:

Little Flock Church was organized in December 1848, in Hickory Hill township, by Elder Joseph Hartley, and Brethren John Martin and Barnes Reeves, of Union Church, Jefferson Co.; and Solomon Blisset and Brady Meeks of Hopewell Church. The charter members were Stout Atteberry, Fanny L. Atteberry, Joseph Crask, Nancy Crask, Sarah M. Crask, Abraham P. Witter, Alfred Wilson, Enos K. Wilson, Sarah M. Wilson, Wilkins Dewees, and Eleanor Dewees.

The University of Missouri system-wide Western Historical Manuscript Collection R288 for theBethel Association of Regular Baptists (Ill.) includes in the "Minutes of annual meeting, 1851":

The Bethel Association held its twenty-second annual meeting on 19-21 September 1851 at the Rock Spring Meeting House in Johnson County, Illinois. Delegates attended from twelve churches, representing 325 members. Joseph Hartley of the Union Church in Jefferson County was chosen moderator of the sessions.

The "Prairie Historian", September 1973 Volume 2 Number 3, Waltonville, Jefferson Co. IL includes an article about the Baptist Church of Jefferson Co. IL with the following description:

With the arrival of Elder Joe Hartley in the area, the small group of Baptists petitioned for a church to be established in that area. On May 7, 1842 a group of Elders from Nine Mile and Holt's Prairie and Moses Neal from Salem Church near Benton listened to the articles of faith proclaimed by the small congregation and pronounced them a legally constituted Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ.

The 1850 Jefferson Co. Illinois census (see above) shows that Martha Ann Hartley, Simeon Buchanan Hartley, Edmund Waller Hartley, and Mary Lucinda Hartley, children of Joseph and Mary Hartley, were not in his household in Jefferson Co. in 1850. Simeon Buchanan Hartley had died in 1845. Edmund Waller Hartley had married Anna Elizabeth Whitlow (born 1829 in Laurel Co. Kentucky to Thomas Whitlow and Elizabeth Tomkins) on 27 Dec 1847. The Federal Census for Jefferson Co. 1850 shows the Edmund Waller Hartley family:

Edmund W Hartley 25 KY, Ann E. 20 KY, Malissa 1 IL.

I have put together a set of charts of the ancestors of Edmund Waller Hartley and his wife Anne Elizabeth Whitlow starting at this pages.

When Joseph Hartley and family moved to Illinois in 1841 Martha Ann Hartley had already married (19 Jan 1841 in Jefferson Co. Illinois) James Lusk. Interestingly, the Illinois Land Purchase Records show a James Lusk purchasing land 29 Oct 1839 in Williamson Co. Illinois. Williamson Co. is two counties south of Jefferson Co, (close to the Ohio River) the destination of the Hartleys two years later.

In 1850 Mary Lucinda Hartley would have been 25 and already married (25 Oct 1841 Jefferson Co. Illinois) to William Ellis Fitzgerrall and thus not living with her parents.

Edmund Waller Hartley bought Federal Land in Elk Prairie township, Jefferson Co, Illinois:

27 Aug 1849, 34.51 acres 30 Nov 1852, 80 acres 27 Oct 1852, 40 acres 15 Dec 1853, 40 acres

Map of Elk Prairie Township, Jefferson Co., Illiinois, showing the location of Federal Land purchased by Joseph Hartley and sons; it also show the Hartley Cemetery and the Hartley Branch of the Big Muddy Creek. Click to enlarge.

By 1860 the Hartley family had grown in Jefferson Co. The 1860 Jefferson Co. IL census shows the following:

Hartley, Joseph 60 KY farmer, Polly 57 F KY, Henry H 19 M KY, James C 14 M IL

We see that Henry Harrison Hartley and James Clayton Hartley are living with their parents. Next to that household the 1860 census of Jefferson Co. IL shows:

Fitzgerral, Mary L 33 F KY, James J 17 M IL, Mary J 15 F IL, Martha 12 F IL, Monroe M 10 M IL, Susan E 8 F IL, Andrew J 3 M IL, Therisea 1 F IL

This is Mary Lucinda Hartley. Her first husband William Ellis Fitzgerrell had already died in 1858.

There is no record of Federal land purchased in IL by Henry Harrison Hartley. He married Melissa Martin on 1 Nov 1860 in Jefferson Co. Illinois.

The family of Edmund Waller Hartley is also shown in the 1860 census:

Hartley, Edmund 35 M KY farmer, Ann E 30 F KY, Malissa I 11 F IL, Emily D 9 F IL, Charles L 7 M IL, Elenor S 2 F IL, Hiram A 7 months M IL, Hartley, David F 23 M KY

We see that on the day of the census in this part of Elk Prairie, 27 July 1860, David Franklin Hartley is visiting his brother-- a little piece of history frozen in the records of the federal census. This is confirmed by the 1860 census showing the separate household in Jefferson Co. IL:

Hartley, Amanda 22 F IL, Laura 3 J IL, F. M 1 M IL, Archelus D. 1 M IL

Amanda Hartley is David Franklin Hartley's wife, Amanda Dollins. They were married on 3 Feb 1856 in Franklin Co. Illinois by David's father, Elder Joseph Hartley. She is at home with their children when the census was taken. (There is no record of Federal land purchased in IL by David Franklin Hartley.)

Joseph Marion Hartley married Rebecca Armstrong on 23 Feb 1854. He purchased 40 acres of Federal land in Jefferson Co. in 1853, another 40 acres in 1854, and another 40 acres in 1887 when he was 53 years old. (He may have made other purchases which are not shown in the Federal Land Purchase records.) Joseph Marion Hartley had a family in Bald Hill township, Jefferson Co. IL as the 1860 census shows.

Hartley, Joseph M. M KY farmer, Mary J 20 F KY, John G M IL, Mary L 3 F IL, Wm. H 6 months M IL

The passing of Mary (Polly) Singleton is described by Joseph Hartley in his Sketch of the Life of Elder Joseph Hartley :

I now propose to give a condensed history of the last three years of my life, in detail. The first sore affliction was the loss of my wife. As I have nowhere spoken of the circumstances of her death, I will given an account of it in this place. She contracted an affliction of the lungs some fifteen years before her death; and although she had a shortness of breath and a more or less a cough, yet otherwise she enjoyed tolerable health until about the last two years of her life, when she became a subject to bad spells in the spring and fall. I tried hard to effect a cure, and spent a great deal, for several years to that end, until I became convinced it could not be done. We then kept such medicines as we found by experience to be the best relief for the lungs. In the summer of 1860 it became manifest that her lungs were consuming, and she began to sink under the disease and, from the 1st of July to the 5th of October, at which time she died, I never left her bed-side without some faithful person taking my place. I fully anticipated her death before hand, but having every confidence that when she was done suffering here she would be at rest forever, I became in a certain sense reconciled. Feeling sure, from the nature of the disease she had to die. I felt it my duty to try to make her as comfortable, be in mind and body, as I could. I therefore gave her my constant attention and, when the spirit left the body, I felt so sure that she had gone to be with Him who had died for her sins, and rose again for her justification that I considered her condition as being a thousand times better than my own. Often have I thought , when in the midst of my late troubles, that the Lord in his mercy had taken her from the storm just ready to burst in an overwhelming torrent upon us. But I was left alone. The object of my earthly happiness had fled. She who had been my bosom companion, and faithful sharer in all the vicissitudes of life was no more. But few of my readers can enter into my feeling with me. None but those who have experienced a similar trail. I can never forget the gloomy sensation of mind I often had in the twilight of the evening, as I would retire from the business of the day; or on my way to or from my meetings. No one to unburden my mind to; no one to share in my joys or sorrows. I had long loved my home better than nay other place, and was most happy there. This was not th

e case now. I therefore carried my plans into effect; sold of what I did not want for immediate use, and tried to reconcile myself to my fate for the first months. And although my children and all my friends treated me kindly, I could not be satisfied to live in this way. I had to long been accustomed to having a home of my own.

On 2 Nov 1861 Joseph Hartley married the "Widow McKee . . . an old Baptist, very motherly, much disposed to religious conversation and quite a favorite of ours", Isabel Harris-McKee.