Marion County, West Virginia          Biography of Alva L. HARTLEY

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. 
Chicago and New York, Volume II 
pg.151

ALVA L. HARTLEY has had an extensive business experience for a man of his 
years, and since removing to Morgantown has been a member of the firm Marchand 
& Hartley, real estate and insurance, one of the leading firms of the kind 
in this section of the state.

Mr. Hartley's grandfather was a native of West Virginia, but he himself was 
born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, on a farm, April 24, 1890. He is a son 
of Cornelius S. and Emma L. (Lemley) Hartley. His grandfather, Elijah W.
Hartley, and his grandmother, Lemley are still living. Elijah W. Hartley was
born in Marion County, West Virginia, in the Indian Creek neighborhood, but 
from there removed to Greene County, Pennsylvania. The Hartleys are of Irish
and English ancestry. Elijah W. Hartley married Sarah Headley. Cornelius S. 
Hartley was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, was educated in the public 
schools, in the Valparaiso, Indiana, Normal School, and the Waynesburg College
of Pennsylvania. He taught altogether about twelve terms of school in
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and later was a farmer for several years 
and finally engaged in merchandising at Kirby, Pennsylvania, where he is 
still living. He served as postmaster of Kirby for about thirteen years. 
He is a Methodist. His wife, Emma L. Lemley, was born in Greene County, 
daughter of Morris and Martha J. (Phillip) Lemley. Cornelius Hartley and 
wife were the parents of three children: Alva L.; Omar G., who is pursuing 
his studies in higher accounting at Philadelphia preparing for the profession
of certified public accountant; and Martha, who died in 1905.

Alva L. Hartley grew up on a farm until he was ten years of age, and then 
lived at Newton or Kirby Post Office in Pennsylvania. He had a public-school 
education, took work in summer normal schools, and in the fall of 1909 entered
the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he was graduated in 1911 with the 
degree B. C. S. For a year after leaving college Mr. Hartley was in life 
insurance work in Greene County, Pennsylvania, after which he became bookkeeper
in the Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Mount Morris, Pennsylvania, and 
in 1915 was elected assistant cashier of that institution. He continued with 
this bank until February 1, 1920, when he resigned to come to Morgantown, and 
has since been associated with D. K. Marchand in the life and fire insurance 
business, in handling real estate and coal properties.

Mr. Hartley is affiliated with Dunkard Lodge No. 569, Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, in Pennsylvania, and Athens Lodge No. 36, Knights of Pythias. 
He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church and the Chamber of 
Commerce. September 18, 1912, he married Lillian Marie Baer, who was born 
in Kirby, Pennsylvania, daughter of Benjamin F. and Flora B. (Connor) Baer.
They have one son, Kenneth Cornelius, born March 5, 1915.