WILLIAM A. BENTLEY, M. D. The world has little else for the misanthrope. The universal truth of brotherhood is widely recognized also that he serves God best who serves his fellow men. There is no profession or line of business that calls for greater self-sacrifice or more devoted attention than the medical profession, and the successful physician is he who, through love of his fellowmen, gives his time and attention to the relief of human suffering Dr. Bentley is one of the ablest representatives of this noble calling in Bismarck, and is today at the head of the Northwestern Sanitorium in that city. His portrait is presented on another page.
He was born in Lebanon, New London county, Connecticut, November 30, 1837, a son of Eleazer and Fidelia (Henry) Bentley, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. His father also studied medicine but never engaged in practice and for many years taught school. He died in his native state in 1865, and his wife in 1867. In their family were three sons and one daughter. One son was drowned off Long Island in 1852, and the other brother of our subject is now a dentist at Hopkinton. Iowa, while the sister is still a resident of Connecticut.
Reared in his native state, Dr. Bentley began his education in its public schools; and later attended H. A. Balcom's Private English and Classical Academy, and Bacon's Academy at Colchester, Connecticut. At the age of seventeen he commenced life as a teacher in the west and was thus employed for some time. He became a resident of Minnesota in 1856 and in 186o removed to Iowa, where during the Civil war he enlisted in November, 1861, in Company H, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Vanderer, whose regiment was known as the Iowa Greyhounds after their march of sixty miles on the 5th of March, 1862, to participate in the battle of Pea Ridge, which commenced the following day. The Doctor was in the service one year, and was with General Curtiss in Arkansas. Besides the battle of Pea Ridge he took part in a number of small engagements. He was discharged on account of disability.
In 1863, Dr. Bentley went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he engaged in newspaper work for some time. He commenced reading medicine in 1867, attending a local school in St. Paul Minnesota, and in 1869 entered .Rush Medical College, Chicago, from which he was graduated the same year. For a time he was engaged in practice with Dr. Woodworth, in St. Paul, and then moved to Rush City. Minnesota, where he remained for several years. In July, 1877, he came to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he has since engaged in practice with marked success, not only in the city but throughout the surrounding country and towns along the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In connection wills his private practice he also conducted the Northwestern Sanitarium as proprietor and manager.
In 186o Dr. Bentley was united in marriage with Miss Emily A. White, a native of Massachusetts, who died in 1894, leaving five children, namely: Hattie F., Nellie S., Emma E., Charles A. and Miriam H. The Doctor is a charter member of the Chicago Orificial Surgical Associations, and is acknowledged to be one of the best and most skillful physicians and surgeons of the state. He served as physician at the state penitentiary for five years, and has been county and city physician several terms. He is also a prominent factor in public affairs, and was mayor of Bismarck for four years. He is president of the board of health of Burleigh county, and has been president of the United States pensions examining board since 1891, prior to which time he was its secretary for ten years. He was president of the board of trustees of the State Soldiers' Home during the period of its construction and for some time afterwards, and was president of the board of trustees in charge of state capital lands and property from 1889 to 1896. He organized the First Regiment Dakota National Guards, under Governor Pierce, and became its colonel, which rank he held for sevens years. He was then commissioned adjutant-general by Governor Burke and served as such for two years. Socially the Doctor is a man of considerable prominence: is past grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for both North and South Dakota; and past grand treasurer of the Masonic Grand Lodge. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and is in line for the thirty-third degree. He is also an influential member of the Grand Army of the Republic and past department commander of the state. Politically he is a Republican, but is an advocate of the coinage of silver on an equal basis with gold. While at Rush City, Minnesota, he was elected to the state legislature and was a member of the North Dakota legislature in 1893. Wherever he goes the Doctor wins friends and has the happy faculty of being able to retain them. In 1897 Dr. Bentley was the nominee of the opposition caucus in election for United States senator for the state of North Dakota, and received twenty-seven votes, which was the entire vote of the opposition to Senator Hansbrough.
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota 1900 Page 216