William Hartley is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and from early boyhood was reared to a farm life. He was born in Moniteau County, Mo., in 1848, but was reared in Cole County, whither his mother had moved after her husband's death, which occurred when our subject was an infant. He was the second of three children born to Emeri and Sarah Ann (Chandler) Hartley, whose ancestors were early settlers of Missouri. After the father's death the mother married Presley Ogden. When twenty-three years of age William Hartley married Miss Nancy Jane Linvile, a native of Cole County, whose father, Beauford Linvile, came from Kentucky to Missouri at an early day. Immediately after their marriage Mr. Hartley bought a farm of 160 acres near Scott's Station, on which he made many improvements and resided until 1886, then rented the Judge Stanley farm of 400 acres, on which he is doing quite an extensive business. He devotes much of his time to stock-raising, and ships one car-load of cattle and two of hogs annually. His own farm is adapted to raising grass and grain, and is nearly all seeded down. He is not very active in politics, but votes the Democratic ticket. His marriage has been blessed in the birth of the following children: Fanny, Bell, Martha Ellen, Edward Scott, Annie, Ollie, William Harley, Maud and Nancy Elizabeth. Mr. Hartley has always been interested in the cause of education, and has served as school director for many years.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).