BENCE, George Worth M. D. - Putnam

Bence, George W. Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1871

In presenting the record of this successful and representative member of the Bence family, one of the best established and most highly honored of Putnam County during the last half century, the reader will not only find much that will prove interesting, but may profit by those experiences which, when properly applied to those conditions that (juite generally fall to the lot of the average man, invariably lead to success. For the past quarter of a century he has been one of the leading physicians in this community which has long been noted for the high order of its medical talent, his name having become a household word not only to the citizens of Greencastle but to those residing in remote parts of the County and in adjoining counties. He is also regarded as one of the County's foremost citizens, being deeply concerned in all that pertains to its general uplift and. although a very busv man. he is always readv to do his full share in furthering any movement looking to the general good. Doctor Bence was born near Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, November 11, 1846. His father, Philip Bence, was also a native of the Blue Grass state, where he grew to maturity, was educated and where he took up farming, which he made his life work. He moved to Indiana in 1853. locating in Washington township. Putnam County, where he lived until his death, in 188j, at the age of eighty-one years, having been born in 1801. He was a very industrious and honest man. respected by all who knew him, and he became inriuential in Washington township, although he led a rather quiet life on his farm. He was one of fifteen children born to Pliilip Bence, Sr., and wife. The Bence family comes of good old German stock on both the paternal and maternal sides. Grandfather Philip Bence, Sr., was a native of Pennsylyania, from which state he descended the Ohio river in a flatboat to Louisville. Kentucky, in a very early day. The Doctor's father first married Lydia Doup, of Maryland. In which union four children were born, namely: Fountain R., Onesimus O., Tabitha E. and Jeptha D. These children have long since passed to the great beyond, each having lived to be over seventy years of age, the psalmist's allotted span of years to mankind. Philip Pence chose as his second wife Anna Yenawine. by which union six children were born, named as folliiws: John A., who lives on the old home farm in Washington township: Lydia. now deceased, was the wife of John Lydick, of Putnam County: Lcuisa J. is the wife of Philip Plutcheson. residing in Washington township; Geneva A., who nnrried G. C. Smith, is deceased; Matilda M. married Levi Hepler and they are both deceased: Dr. G. W., of this review, was the youngest in order of birth. When seven year's of age. George W. Bence came to Putnam county, Indiana, with his parents. He received a common school education and w orked nn the hduie farm until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1869 he gratified a desire of long standing by beginning the study of medicine with Dr. John Wilcox in Greencastle. with whoiu he remained one year, then entered the medical department of the University of Virginia, where he made rapid strides in materia medica and from which institution he was graduated with honor in June. 1871, being one of thirteen who were graduated from a class of sixtyfive. Thus being well equipped to enter his chosen profession, the Doctor opened an office on August 1, 1871, at Carbon, Clay County, Indiana, where he soon had a good foothold and where he practiced with increasing success for a period of eight years. On July 9, 1879, he came to Greencastle and he has maintained his office here ever since. While living at Carbon he took a post-graduate course on diseases of the eye, in New York, with the noted Doctors Noyes and Mittendorf. He also studied for three months with Dr. John Green of St. Louis. He has successfully engaged in continuous practice here since the date mentioned above. Doctor Bence has long been interested in politics, finding time in the midst of his manifold duties to take an active part in party affairs, and while living in Clay County in 1874. he was elected to the lower house of the state Legislature, and was a member of the regular and special sessions of 1875, in which he made his influence felt on the floor and in committee work, and he represented his locality in a very able and conscientious manner, reflecting credit upon himself and receiving the hearty commendation of his constituents. Doctor Bence was secretary of the Putnam County board of health for a period of twentv-two years, beginning in 1882, when the law was first passed, and serving until 1904. During that long period the affairs pertaining to this branch of the County's business were looked after with a fidelity that resulted in incalculable good and in winning for the Doctor the hearty praise of all classes. The domestic chapter in the life of Doctor Bence dates from 1873, when he espoused Kizzie C. Pratt, a native of Clay County, who lived only three weeks after their wedding. In 1876 he married Sibbie Loftus, of Carbon, Indiana, who was a native of this County, and her death occurred in October, 1881. Two children resulted from this union, one dying before the mother passed awav and the other four years later. On January 16, 1884, Doctor Bence married Alinnie Brandon, of Greencastle, who was born on a boat on the Hudson river, New York. Three children were born to this union, namely; Era, born in 1890: Edna, born in 1891; the other child died in infancy. Both the living children are at this writing attending DePauw University, where they are making excellent records. The Doctor is a Mason in his fraternal relations, belonging to Temple Lodo-e, No. 47. He has also taken the degrees of the Scottish rite up to and including the thirty-second. He has been very successful from a financial Standpoint, and he is at this writing President of the Owl Drug Company and the Red Cross Drug Company, both of Greencastle. He was one of the first breeders of Angora goats in Indiana and has shipped them all over the country, having recently shipped a consignment to Argentine Republic. He now maintains a goat farm and his fine goats are admired by all who see them. He owns some valuable farms and much city property. He endowed the German library of DePauw University with the sum of two thousand dollars. He is President of the Plezee Company, manufacturers of the celebrated soft drink known as "Plezee" -all over the country. He is President of the Greencastle Commercial Club, the success of which has been very largely due to his wise counsel and active interest in promoting the city's various affairs. He is secretary of the Live Oak Plantation Company, which owns over twelve thousand acres of lands in Louisiana. The company raises hogs, cattle, rice, fruits, etc., and it has proven to be a very successful venture. Doctor Bence's methods are in keeping with the progressive spirit of the twentieth century and the splendid condition of the property over which he has charge is a monument to his well directed efforts. He is a man of broad humanitarian principles, earnest purpose and upright life, and by all is esteemed for his courteous manner, genial disposition and genuine worth.