DR. A. E. BENTLEY was born April 10, 1840, in Staffordshire, England, and is a son of William H. and Eliza (Astle) Bentley, both natives of the same place. The father, who was engaged in manufacturing, died in 1862, aged forty-nine years. The mother still resides in England. Our subject, at the age of sixteen, entered Queen's College, Birmingham, and graduated with honors at the age of twenty-one; he then came to America, and, after remaining about six weeks, returned and arranged his business in England. In a few weeks he returned to New York City, where he engaged in the practice of medicine about five years. During that time he had acquired a fortune by speculating. On account of his mother's illness, he returned to England, and during his absence his entire fortune was swept away by bank failures in New York. On his return to this country he learned, for the first time, of his misfortunes, and concluded to go to New Mexico; there he remained about eighteen months engaged in the practice of his profession, and acquired from the proceeds of his practice, solely, a herd of about 300 head of cattle and mules, valued at about $12,000. While driving this herd to the States, and when near the Kansas line, he was surprised by the Indians, who took all the stock and killed all the herders. The Doctor, having a fleet horse, escaped, and proceeded to Fort Lyon for protection. This horse he exchanged for passage to Kansas by stage, and thence by rail to Philadelphia. In 1868 he came to Webster County, Ky., where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Since September, 1883, he has been a resident of Dixon. Dr. Bentley was married, in 1868, in Philadelphia, to Mrs. Hernandez, of Savannah, Ga., who died in April, 1875, leaving two daughters. His second marriage was in February, 1876, to Margaret Bowles, of Christian County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

 

Source:  J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 1026.