Henry Hartley was born on 24 July 1840 at
Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He was the son of
Gilbert Rodman Hartley and
Margaret Zeamer. Henry Hartley married
Annie Davish, daughter of
Joshua Davish, on 18 October 1868 at
Lancaster, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. From "Portrait And Biographical Record of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" which was published in 1894 by the Chapman Publishing Co. of Chicago, Illinois:
"HENRY HARTLEY. This popular resident of Lancaster occupies the responsible position of Chief of Police, and shows a splendid record in his official capacity. A jovial, pleasant gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to know, he has many warm, personal friends, not only in the city, but throughout the entire county. He is greatly interested in the welfare of the community, and by energy, tact and good judgement has greatly promoted the material welfare of the place. He deserves prominent mention for the valiant service rendered his country during the late war. While fighting gallanty for the Union he was wounded in his right arm, which he is still unable to use.
Our subject was born in Lancaster, July 24, 1840, and is the son of Gilbert R. Hartley, a native of his county, who in turn was the son of Nicholas Hartley, a farmer in this county, and a soldier in the War of 1812. The latter was a member of the Reformed Church, and of English descent. Gilbert Hartley was also in early life a tiller of the soil, but in 1841 located in this city, where he engaged in the grocery business on West King Street. He was the proprietor of a good establishment until 1852, when he sold out and began the manufacture of brick at Harrisburg Pike. A man of progressive ideas, he was the first in this section to burn brick with coal, thus reducing the time of burning from five to two days. He died in January, 1863, when sixty years of age. He served acceptably one term as Alderman, and was always reliable in citizenship, kindly and considerate in neighborly associations, and honorable in his dealings. In religious belief he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
The mother of our subject, Mrs. Margaret (Zemmer) Hartley, was born in this county, and was of German descent. She died April 27, 1893, when in her eightieth year. Five children of the parentaly family lived to mature years, of whom three are now living. Henry, of this sketch, was reared in his native city, and received a good education in the common and high schools. After completing his studies he learned the brickmaker's trade from his father, at which he worked from 1854 to 1859, and then apprentice himself to a Mr. Borning to learn the trade of a carpenter. He was with him on the outbreak of the Civil War, and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, and was mustered in as Corporal.
With his regiment, Mr. Hartley was sent to join the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Having enlisted in the nine months' service, his term expired about that time and he returned home, and although importuned by his friends to remain there, he in 1863 joined Company K, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, for three months. In the fall of that year he again tendered his services to the Union army for three years, and was mustered into Company I, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Infantry. He was soon promoted to be Sergeant, and remained with his regiment until discharged at the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Brandy Station and the Wilderness under General Grant, and when transferred to Sherman's command, was wounded in the hand at the battle of Fisher's Hll. In December, 1864, he, as a member of the Sixth Army Corps, occupied the front rank at Petersburg, and March 25 at that place he was wounded in the right forearm. Although seriously injured, he walked three miles with his knapsack to the field hospital. April 22 he was given a furlough, and returning home, was on the sick list for one year. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, in May, 1865, and when fully regaining his health, went to work for his father-in-law, Josiah Davish, making threshing machines.
In 1878 Mr. Hartley was elected Assessor of the Fifth Ward on the Republican ticket, and has been re-elected to the same position every succeeding year since. In 1888, under Mayor E.S. Smeltz, received his present appointment of Chief of the Police Department.
Henry Hartley was united in marriage October 18, 1868, in this city, with Miss Annie, daughter of the late Joshua Davish. To them were born two children, of whom the elder, Gilbert Henry, a high school graduate, is a practical printer and engaged in the office of the Examiner; Blanche resides at home. Socially our subject is a Knight of Pythias, and belongs to the George H. Thomas Post No. 84, G.A.R. In religious affairs he is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. He is very prominent in political life, and takes an active part in the Republican County Committee and the Citizen's Republican Club, of which he is a charter member."