Early life The eldest of six children, James Hartley was born on June 26, 1858, in
Davenport, Iowa, to
Irish immigrants Edward Hartley and Catherine McManus Hartley. Shortly after his birth, Hartley and his family moved to
Columbus, Ohio, where his parents had been married at
St. Patrick Parish. His father kept a
saloon on West Maple Street, and the family lived upstairs. His father also worked as a Columbus police officer for many years. His first assignment was as
assistant pastor at St. Peter's Parish in
Steubenville, Ohio, then part of the diocese. In 1885, he was named pastor of
Holy Name Parish in Steubenville. While pastor of Holy Name, Hartley organized a school, a high school, and built a new church. That church became the
cathedral of the
Diocese of Steubenville when the diocese was erected by
Pope Pius XII on October 21, 1944.
Bishop of Columbus On December 10, 1903, at the age of 45, Hartley was appointed as the fourth bishop of Columbus by
Pope Pius X. He was
consecrated by his predecessor Bishop
Henry K. Moeller on February 25, 1904, at Holy Name Church in Steubenville. Bishops
Denis O'Donaghue and
Herman J. Alerding served as
co-consecrators. ==Footnotes==