Hartley School was named for Ellis T. Hartley, superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools from 1883-1890. Mr. Hartley was born in Ohio in 1848 and started his education career in that state. After serving as superintendent of schools in an Ohio town, he and Mrs. Hartley moved to Lincoln.
During Mr. Hartley’s work with LPS, he acquired a large tract north of Superior Street and west of 7th Street adjacent to a planned suburban development called Grandview. In 1890 Mr. Hartley resigned his LPS position and devoted himself to developing a large fruit orchard on his tract, which was surprisingly successful. Mr. Hartley died in 1914 and the orchard faded away since no one was interested in continuing it.
Mr. Hartley is buried in Wyuka Cemetery. His grave marker is a huge, rough boulder with the name Hartley carved in it. You can’t miss it.
