The Hartley Family papers is a historical collection of materials created by the Hartley family. The collection is arranged in seven series: Genealogy and Family History; Personal Correspondence; Family Photographs; Real Estate; Business/Financial Records; Films; and Objects and Ephemera.
Guilford Graham Hartley was born September 1, 1853 in Shogomoc, New Brunswick, Canada. He grew up on a farm as the third child in a family of nine sons and three daughters. His father was a farmer as well as a logger. At age 18, Guilford learned the trade of land surveying from a cousin, who was then a student at the University of New Brunswick.
Guilford emigrated to the United States in 1872 at the age of 19. He first settled in Brainerd, Minnesota, working primarily in timber and land surveying. Several of Guilford’s brothers also emigrated to Brainerd during this time to work alongside him, including Roland Hartley, who later moved to Washington state and became its governor from 1925 to 1933.
In 1883 Guilford married Caroline Woodward of Minneapolis. He soon was appointed Registrar of the United States Land Office in Duluth, Minnesota in 1885. A year later he resigned this position in order to purchase and manage the Duluth Street Railway Company. During his time managing the company he electrified the railway in 1890, making it one of the first street railways powered by electricity in the United States. He also organized the Duluth-Superior Bridge Company and helped to plan and build what became the Interstate Bridge in 1893, connecting Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin.
During this time, Guilford quickly established himself in the mineral explorations of Northern Minnesota. In 1892 he began mineral exploration in the Mesabi Iron Range. He later extended this to other ranges in Minnesota and Michigan, as well as in Brazil. Many of these properties were later sold or leased to other companies. Hartley also did land surveying work, platting towns on the Iron Range such as Grand Rapids, Bovey, and Cass Lake.
In addition to his involvement in natural resources, Guilford was involved in a wide range of businesses and interests. He owned several farms, including the Hartley Stock Farm in Page, North Dakota, established in the 1870s, which bred prize-winning cattle. In 1890 he established the Allandale farm within the city limits of Duluth, which primarily grew lettuce, spinach, and celery. Allandale Farm is now the location of the Hartley Nature Center. Another property was Island Farm, a dairy farm located approximately approximately 50 miles west-northwest of Duluth, near Floodwood, Minnesota. Island Farm was on the rail line between Duluth and Grand Rapids, and provided milk to Grand Rapids. The Hartley Building, located at 740 East Superior Street in Duluth, was built in 1914 as an office building for all the Hartley businesses.In addition to his work in numerous industries, Guilford was also involved with local and national politics. He served in the Minnesota State House of Representatives in the 1880s during his time in Brainerd. He also worked closely with several National Republican Conventions as a delegate and chairman, in 1888 and 1916 respectively.
The Hartley family’s house at 1305 East Superior Street in Duluth was built in 1889. Guilford and Caroline Hartley had five children together: Jessie, Irma, Cavour, Judith, and Guilford. Their daughter Jessie later married Walter Congdon, son of Chester and Clara Congdon.
Guilford Graham Hartley passed away January 17, 1922 at the age of 68. His family later established the Hartley Trusts in 1952, continuing to operate out of the Hartley Building until 2020. This building is currently on the National Register of Historic Places.
Resources: “The Life and Times of Guilford Graham Hartley” by David Hartley, 1986 Guilford Graham Hartley Autobiography, undated, Hartley Family papers, U6234, Box 1, Folder 12, Archives and Special Collections, Martin Library, University of Minnesota Duluth.
Email: libarchives@d.umn.edu
Phone: (218) 726-8526
Location: Kathryn A. Martin Library
Library Annex 202 (see map)
