Macoupin County
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Biography - ROBERT E. BLEY

Robert E. Bley, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, and a prominent and representative citizen, was born on a farm in Scott County, Iowa, December 2, 1855. He is a son of Dr. George and Elizabeth W. (Lavis) Bley.

Dr. George Bley was born in 1821 at Dettingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and died at Staunton, Illinois, in August, 1887. At the age of seven years he accompanied his parents, John George and Sophia (Miller) Bley, to America. John George Bley had been a farmer and wine grower in Germany, and he settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania, where he lived to the age of 96 years. Dr. George Bley was the eldest of his five children. When the latter had finished his local schooling, he was apprenticed to the drug business in Philadelphia for five years and then became a student and a graduate of the old Philadelphia College of Medicine, which now, as an institution, has passed out of existence. Dr. Bley practiced all his life, sometimes combining with it a little farming and frequently operating a drug store in connection. He was a very successful physician. His knowledge of drugs was thorough and his handling of them careful and scientific. He married a daughter of David and Mary Lavis, the former of whom was born in England, and the latter in New Jersey. They had six children: Mrs. Ellen Wurtz, of Jerseyville, Illinois; Mrs. Elizabeth W. Blair, who died at Staunton in 1901; Dr. George, of Beardstown, Illinois; Dr. David L., of Staunton; Dr. Robert E., of this sketch; and Mrs. Mary L. Dripps, widow of Dr. Calvin T. Dripps of Staunton, Illinois.

Dr. Robert E. Bley accompanied his parents in childhood from the Scott County farm to Davenport, Iowa, thence to Rock Island, Illinois and from there to Randolph County, Illinois, where his father was located for three years, finally settling at Staunton, Illinois, in October, 1861. Here our subject was educated and began his study of drugs in his father's store, the careful supervision of the elder physician being of the greatest advantage to him. From the age of 16 years until 1875, when he was prepared for entrance into Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Dr. Robert applied himself closely. He was graduated at that fine old medical school which has sent out some of the most eminent men in the profession, in March, 1877, receiving his degree of M. D. His practice was inaugurated at Staunton, a partnership being formed with his father, under the firm name of George Bley & Sons, and he continued there for the succeeding 12 years. In 1888 he located in Bunker Hill, where he has continuously practiced to the present time.

Dr. Bley was married, first, December 2, 1886, to Mary L. Hall of St. Louis, Missouri, who died in August, 1894, leaving a son, Robert E. In December, 1897, he was married to Jessie A. Boswell, of Madison County, Illinois.

Dr. Bley is identified with the Republican party as was his father. He takes an interest in local matters and is a member of the Board of Education.


Extracted 2018 May 05 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 84-85.


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