David L. Bley, M. D., one of the best known physicians of
Macoupin County, Illinois, and a prominent citizen of Staunton, was born
November 13, 1853, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a son of the late
Dr. George and Elizabeth W. (Lavis) Bley.
Dr. Bley is of German and
English ancestry. His grandfather, George Bley, was born in Wurtemberg,
Germany, and died at Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in 1875, at the
age of 92 years. He was one of the few survivors of Napoleon's disastrous
campaign to Moscow, and spent a number of years in educational work in
Germany, but engaged in farming after coming to the United States. His six
children were: Conrad, at whose home he died; George, father of our subject;
John; Philip; Mrs. Sophia Klump; and Mrs. Mary Wallace.
Dr. George
Bley was born in 1820, at Dettingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and was 11 years
of age when he accompanied his parents to America. After securing a common
school education, in Pennsylvania, where his father had settled, he was
bound out to the drug business, at the age of 13 years. In the course of
time, he graduated at the old Philadelphia College of Medicine, and
practiced all his life and conducted drug stores, with the exception of
three years, when he engaged in farming in Iowa. His death took place at
Staunton in 1886. In politics, he was identified with the Republican party.
For many years he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
Although he started out in life with but a modicum of means, his judicious
investments resulted in the accumulation of a comfortable estate.
Dr. George Bley married Elizabeth W. Lavis, who was born August 17, 1823, in
Philadelphia, and now is one of the most venerable and highly esteemed
residents of Staunton, making her home with her daughter, the widow of the
late Dr. Dripps. She is a daughter of David and Mary (Wilson) Lavis, the
former of whom was born in Bristol, England, and the latter in New Jersey.
Dr. George Bley and wife reared a family of six children, viz: Ellen, who
married David C. Wurtz, of Jerseyville, Illinois; Elizabeth W., who married
Thomas Blair and at her death left one child; George, a resident of
Beardstown, Illinois; David L., of this sketch; Robert E., a prominent
physician of Bunker Hill; and Mary L., widow of the late Dr. C. T. Dripps,
of Staunton.
Dr. David L. Bley is the oldest physician of Staunton,
which has been his home, with the exception of a few years, ever since his
parents settled here, in 1861. His life, prior to this date, had been spent
at various points in Iowa and Illinois, where his father's business
interests had called him. After coming to Staunton, our subject attended
school until he was 14 years of age, and then entered his father's drug
store, in preparation for his medical studies. At the age of 18 years, his
father sent him to Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and he received
his degree there in 1875 and returned to Staunton and practiced with his
father until 1877, and then spent two years in practice at Alhambra, Madison
County. After the death of his father, Dr. Bley entered into partnership
with his brother, Dr. Robert E,, who sold his interest to Dr. C. T. Dripps,
in 1888, and removed to Edwardsville and after a few months to Bunker Hill.
The partnership of Dr. David and his brother-in-law, Dr. Dripps, continued
until the latter's death, in August, 1902. Until January 1, 1904, Dr. Bley
continued alone, but has found it necessary to have assistance again, and
has admitted to partnership Dr. Myron W. Snell.
Fraternally Dr. Bley
is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Staunton
Lodge, No. 177, A. F. and A. M.; Elliott Chapter, No. 120, R. A. M.; St.
Omar Commandery, No. 30, K. T., of Litchfield; Staunton Lodge, No. 685, I.
O. O. F.; and Parnassu Lodge, No. 581, K. of P., of Litchfield. In politics
he votes with the Republican party, but takes not very active interest, his
large practice absorbing the greater part of his time. Dr. Bley stands very
high in professional ranks.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 321-323.
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