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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
father 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. Hudnall 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 law 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 firm became Hanitch, 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 the following winter; the
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 at 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.
The story of Clarence J.
Hartley in Duluth will be continued . |
