After attending the local school in Virginia, he married Elizabeth Welles in 1804 and moved to Jefferson County, Ohio.

Following his service under General William Henry Harrison in the War, Bartley moved to Richland County, Ohio, near Mansfield.

Elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1822, Bartley served four terms before declining to be renominated in 1830.

[2] Bartley was an Ohio Whig Party Presidential elector in 1836 for William Henry Harrison.

[3] He ran for governor in 1844 as a Whig after David Spangler, the original nominee, declined to run.