Rudolph Bestle, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Hunter, N. Y., was born in Troy, this State, on August 20, 1866, his parents being John and Wilhelmina (Shutheis) Bestle. His father, who was of German birth, came to Troy, N. Y., before marriage, and engaged in the restaurant business. He died when only thirty-four years of age. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bestle also was born in Germany, being one of a family of several children. She is still living at Kingston, this State. Her father, who was a druggist and medical practitioner, lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Of her eight children, four are living, namely: George, who resides in New York; Henrietta, who married William Weston, of Rondout; August; and Rudolph, the special subject of this biography.
Rudolph Bestle received his elementary education in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen began the study of medicine with Dr. McLane, a leading physician of Troy, and Dr. O'Conner of the Troy Hospital. He subsequently entered the Albany Medical College, and was graduated at that institution in 1888, at twenty-one years of age, standing high in his class. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Troy, but eighteen months later removed to Burke, in Franklin County, N. Y., where he remained for the next six years. He then came to Hunter, where he has since been in practice. He is a general practitioner, and also a surgeon of unusual skill, having performed many difficult operations. During his two years in the Troy Hospital, and for several months while he was in the New York Polyclinic, he had a large amount of valuable experience in attending cases of appendicitis, and in his subsequent practice he has had remarkable success with the many cases of that nature brought to him for treatment.
Dr. Bestle is a member both of the Greene County Medical Society and of the Medical Society of Northern New York. He is also a member of the Sixth Separate Company of militia of Troy, and of the Arba Reed Steamer Company of that city. Fraternally, he holds membership in Frontier Lodge, F. & A. M., of Chateaugay. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, and in religious faith an Episcopalian, being connected with St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Troy. Although he has been in Hunter a comparatively short time. He has already built up a large practice, and is very popular both socially and professionally.