Tehama County

Biographies

FREDERICK H. BLY, M. D.

Dr. Frederick H. Bly, a man of high professional attainments, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Red Bluff, was born in New York in September, 1866. His father, George H. Bly, was a mill owner and later a merchant of the Empire state and spent his last days in Chautauqua county, New York, passing away in 1883. He had long survived his wife, who bore the maiden name of Arminda Furnam, and who died in Santa Barbara, California, in 1870.

Dr. Bly attended the public schools of New York and then entered the Jennings Seminary, a preparatory school at Aurora, Illinois, where he completed his course in 1886. He was next a student in DePauw University of Indiana, where he continued until 1895, after which he spent one year as an instructor in that institution. For three years thereafter he was a teacher in the high school at Taylorville, Illinois, and from 1898 until 1903 was national secretary of a fraternal life insurance organization. He next became chief auditor of a coal mining syndicate and afterward was general manager of a department store for two years. In 1907 he entered Northwestern University for the study of medicine and was graduated therefrom in 1911. After a year's experience as an interne in the Wesley Memorial Hospital of Chicago he came to Red Bluff, where he has since engaged in active practice, his knowledge and ability gaining him recognition as a leading representative of the medical profession here. He is always careful in the diagnosis of his cases and excellent results have followed his labors.

In 1886, Dr. Bly was married to Miss Clara L. Lester, a daughter of Charles and Emily (Whitman) Lester, of Henry county, Illinois. The father, a native of Connecticut, followed farming in early life and afterward gave his attention to merchandising. Dr. and Mrs. Bly have two children: W. L., who is with the McCloud Lumber Company; and Frederick J., now captain of the highway patrol of Humboldt county.

Politically the Doctor is a republican but not a politician in the sense of office seeking. However he is serving on the board of trustees of the Red Bluff high school and the cause of education and of civic progress always finds in him a friend. He also has been president of the County Medical Society for ten years and is a member of the Kraft City Free Library board of Red Bluff. His favorite sport is golf, to which he turns when leisure permits. While a student at DePauw University he became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an honorary post-graduate organization, and belongs to Alpha Omega Alpha, also an honorary post-graduate medical organization. He is a Mason with membership in Vesper Lodge, No. 84, F. & A. M., and Red Bluff Chapter, R. A. M. He is likewise identified with the Eastern Star and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is faithful in the performance of all public and professional duties and has gained a high place in the regard of his fellowmen.