William Benjamin Bloys was born January 26, 1847 in McLemoresville, Tennessee to Mordecai Dowell Bloys and Amelia Patterson Yeargain Bloys. He was the second son and second child of the couple. By the time the 1870 federal census was taken, the family had moved to near Marion, Illinois located in the southern part of the state. W. D. was 23 years old, single and was the oldest son or daughter still living at home. His father’s profession was listed as saddler and W. B.’s profession was listed as farmer. He also had shown a strong interest in becoming a minister and he attended Lane Theological Seminary, graduating in 1879. The Presbyterian Church had conceived the idea in the early 1800s to create a seminary in a western location. Cincinnati was chosen as the site for Lane Seminary. The institution became known for its emphasis and focus on the question of slavery, hosting student debates on the subject as far back as the 1830s. Bloys was ordained as a minister in April, 1879 and was married one month later to Isabella Catherine Yeck, also of Illinois.
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