Tombstone Tuesday - September 13, 2016 - William Bly

William Bly - September 13, 1891

William Bly was born on November 9, 1820 in Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, the son of Jacob and Sophia M. (Eckhart) Bly.  Jacob and Sophia Bly had five children; William(1820), Sarah(1822), David(1824), George(1829), Edwin.

William married Mary Elizabeth Blauser on August 30, 1846 in Ohio. William and Mary Elizabeth had nine children; Caroline Martha(1847-1870), Abraham(1850), Sally Ann(1852), Nancy Isobelle(1854), Phoebe Elizabeth(1857-1863), Lafayette Valentine(1859-1863) Noah William(1861-1865), Sophia Elizabeth(1865-1870), Mary Rebecca(1869).

In the 1850 Federal Census, William and Elizabeth Bly are living in Marion, Hancock County, Ohio with Caroline and a new born son, Abraham. By the time of the 1860 Federal Census, they have moved to Lafayette Township, Allen County, Indiana area which is known as Nine Mile Indiana. They now have 5 children; Caroline, Abram, Sally, Nancy, Phoebe, and Lafayette. My research indicates that in the decade between the 1860 and 1870 census, the family lost four children. Phoebe Elizabeth and  Lafayette Valentine died in 1863. Noah William died in 1865.  Caroline Martha and Sophia Elizabeth died in 1870. In the 1870 Federal Census, the Bly children listed are; Abram, Sally, Nancy and Mary Rebecca ( a new child) are listed but they are still in Allen County, Indiana.

I found a divorce record dated August 6, 1879, in which Elizabeth is requesting a divorce and it was granted. By the 1880 Census she is still listed in the Nine Mile area with Abraham, Nancy and Mary Rebecca are listed with their Mother Mary Elizabeth.

William Bly and Daughter Mary Rebecca Smith

After the divorce and prior to his death, William lived with his daughter Rebecca and her husband Levi Smith.  William died on September 13, 1891. he is buried in Hoverstock Cemetery in Zanesville, Indiana. 

Hoverstock Cemetery, Zanesville, Indiana

 Rest in Peace,

Jan