Biography - William J. Mobley

WILLIAM J. MOBLEY, M. D. The profession of the physician, when properly conducted, is one of the noblest callings to which a man can devote his life, and to say that Dr. Mobley has made a proper use of the powers given him would be a very mild statement of the case. He was born in Bienville Parish in 1843, a son of William and Martha A. (Williams) Mobley, the former born in South Carolina in 1801, and the latter in Illinois, in 1819, their marriage taking place in Bienville Parish in 1841. The father was a farmer , and in all probability erected the first water-mill in that parish. He died in 1884, but his widow still survives him and makes her home with her son, Dr. William J. Mobley. The paternal grandfather, Michael Mobley, was born in South Carolina, and died in Mississippi, but the mother's father was a native of Wales, and died in his native land when Mrs. Mobley was a child. The Doctor is the second of three children-two sons and one daughter-and was reared on his father's plantation in Louisiana, the advantages of the country schools being given him, and also the college at Mount Lebanon. In 1862 he left college and joined Company C, Ninth Louisiana Infantry, the most of his service being confined to the State of Virginia; but he was in thirty-two important engagements and many skirmishes. He was wounded in the fight at Sharpsburg, and was home a short time on furlough, but afterward surrendered with Lee at Appomattox Court House, and returned, where he devoted his time to teaching school and studying medicine, graduating form the medical department of the New Orleans University (now Tulane University), in 1869. He began practicing in Sparta, but in 1870 removed to Bellevue, where he has built up an excellent reputation and a large and paying practice. Since 1879 he has also given his attention to the drug business, and in all the enterprises to which he has devoted his attention he has been successful, and is now the owner of 1,000 acres of fine farming land, all of which ha s been obtained through persistent and honorable endeavor. He has always taken quite an active interest in the political affairs of his parish, and, in addition to being coroner of Bossier Parish for some years, he was secretary of the school board for four years, and was president of the board of examiners of the schools. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Bellevue Lodge No. 95, and was master several times, but is at this time senior warden. He also belongs to the A. L. of H. of Bellevue, No. 1120. He was married in 1870 to Miss Mattie L., daughter of Eldred and Mary Hardy, the former born in South Carolina and the latter in Bienville Parish, the father's death occurring in the latter place. Mrs. Mobley was born in Bienville Parish, and is a worthy member of the Missionary Baptist Church, her husband being deacon and clerk in the same.

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, page 139.