Finding Fred Hartley in Kootenai County, Idaho
The stories I post are a result of my independent research on members of my family tree. I welcome any feedback or information you may have to add. My hope is that these stories will matter so I strive to be as factual as possible.
What About Fred Hartley?
We all have those elusive ancestors. The ones that do not want to reveal themselves. They test our skills, knowledge and patience but once we discover our elusive ancestor we feel a huge sense of accomplishment, and pride. Uncle Fred Hartley has taken me on a genealogical journey I wasn’t sure would ever end. While Uncle Fred remains somewhat enigmatic, a relentless pursuit of information has uncovered so many interesting details about this Hartley family member who stayed out west. Settle in while I piece together Fred’s fascinating, and at times entertaining life.
Early Life and Family Background
Lewis David Hartley and Callie Hash were resourceful folks. Going out to South Dakota was just the beginning of their quest to find their place in the quickly changing landscape of the early 1900’s. Lewis’s 2 brothers, John Howard and Jesse H. were already in South Dakota. The small family of Lewis, Callie, 4 year old Gladys and 2 year old Garnett arrived from Virginia just in time for the historical “Great Equalizer” blizzard that surprised the region by arriving early May 1905, bringing heavy rain, snow and cold temperatures. Some recollections offer that ranchers lost up to 80-90% of their livestock because they had already shed their winter coats and were unprepared for the extreme wet and temperature changes. Those that didn’t freeze to death were washed away in the swelling creeks. It must have left Lewis second guessing if this were the right decision at the time.
Soon after, on May 31, 1905, Fred Randolph Hartley was born in Lawrence County, South Dakota. He was the third child of Louis David and Callie Hash. A sister Hazel was born soon after in 1907. The family endured life out west for a couple years before returning to Grayson County, Virginia as shown on the 1910 US Federal Census, where they remained until showing up in Melville, Sweet Grass County, Montana on the 1920 US Federal Census. Fred was 14 years old, and the family had grown. He was one of 10 children total. With 2 more to soon arrive in Montana.
From Montana to California
After the family’s relocation to Melville, Sweet Grass County, Montana, Fred must have been captivated by the picturesque landscapes of the region and decided to stay. He tied the knot with Mary Jane Sexton in Ryegate, Montana, on December 11, 1924. However, their marriage was short-lived, and Fred eventually made his way to Long Beach, California.
In the 1930 census, Fred, now married to Grace Rosella Dunn, resided in Long Beach. Working as a cook in a local cafĂ©, he and Grace rented a home on May Avenue for $22 a month. And here’s where things get interesting… Fred Hartley was briefly married to Grace Rosella Dunn and they had a daughter, Catherine Frances. I was able to locate Catherine Frances’ birth certificate. She was born in Butte, Montana on October 31, 1928. In the 1930 census Fred & Grace are living in Los Angeles but there is no baby Catherine. Perhaps she was left with grandparents? By 1940 they are divorced and Grace is remarried to Albert Peterson and Catherine is living with them and is enumerated on the census form as Catherine Peterson.
Through my DNA research, I found that my father and I were genetically connected to a daughter S.F #1 and daughter S.F. #2. DNA does not lie. These two ladies are Fred’s descendants. I have made contact with one daughter and unfortunately her mother Catherine never knew her birth father Fred. If the occasion presents itself, I will gladly share our Hartley family history.
Unveiling Fred’s Life Through Random Discoveries
For a significant period after 1933, Fred’s whereabouts remained a mystery. However, a remarkable turn of events led to the discovery of a box containing funeral memorabilia belonging to Robert Paul Hartley, Fred’s brother. Among the guest book, lists and cards, a surprising detail emerged—a card from a flower arrangement signed “Fred and Babe Hartley”, assumed to be a nickname due to the lack of official records under that name. I finally at least had the latest wife’s name.
Through a random search on newspapers.com, a wealth of information emerged regarding the lives of “Fred and Babe Hartley” in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It was revealed that they were an active and resourceful couple, travelling often and exploring various entrepreneurial endeavors.
Tracing Fred’s Life: Marriage, Occupation and Residences
Over the next 20 or so years, a series of significant, and published events shed life on Uncle Fred’s life out west.
- In 1933 Fred and Ada were living in at 1316c Lewis Avenue in Long Beach, CA. Fred was a cook.
- On February 15. 1936 F. R. Hartley and Miss Ada McClellan (1st husband’s surname) got their marriage license in Canyon, texas.
- In April 1940, they are living in Raton, Colfax County New Mexico. Fred has what I think might be a food truck. I can’t make out the name but it is ____ ____ Cafe. Ada is a waitress at the hotel.
- In October 1940 Fred’s World War II Draft Card, he lists Willie May Bowser as his next of kin. This is Ada’s mother. He says he just sold his restaurant. He describes himself at 5’11, brown hair, gray eyes with a scar on his left forehead.
- In 1950 they are living on Highway 95 in Kootenai, Idaho. Fred is 44 and hauls slab wood. Ada is 43 and manages tourist cabins.
- By 1951 Fred & Ada are selling the Tourist Camp on highway 95 about 2 miles north of Sandpoint, ID.
- April 1953 Fred sold their home located at 415 Jefferson, to Clyde Burrill.
- February 1957 Fred sold their home at 320 S. Lavina Ave Sandpoint, ID. Look at that cute house! I included the link because I love to ‘look inside’ and imagine their lives there.
- March 1957 there is mention that Fred & Ada used to own Connie’s Diner in Sandpoint but now own Fred’s Diner in Coeur d’Alene.
The Final Chapter: Searching for Resting Places
Regrettably, precise details regarding Fred’s passing remain elusive, with the Social Security Death Index only indicating March 1987 as his date of death. The search for his burial site continues, with potential locations in Arizona, Montana, or Idaho. Any information, funeral cards, or leads regarding this aspect would be greatly appreciated.
Conclusion: The relentless investigation into the life of Fred Randolph Hartley, our enigmatic ancestor, has brought forth captivating details of his journey from South Dakota to California, with intriguing stops along the way. Although many questions remain unanswered, the connection with his daughter and granddaughters has enriched our family history. As we continue to piece together the fragments of Uncle Fred’s life, we remain hopeful that further discoveries will shed light on his legacy, bringing us closer to understanding this elusive relative.