The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-03
dr. BENBOW IS DEAD
Great Factor in Greensboro S
Industrial Life.
The State viii Mourn for Him, Having Lost
One Of Her Best and Most Useful
Citizens.

Especial to the News and Observer
Greensboro. n. c., Sept. 2.--At two
o'clock this morning, after a lingering
illness of over twelve months. DR.. De-
Witt Benbow, breathed his last in his
apartments at the Benbow Hotel, sur
rounded by his devoted children, Mr..
Charles d. Benbow, Mrs. Mary B.
Crawford, Miss Lily Benbow and numer-
Gus attached friends.
Dr. Benbow was seventy-two years of
age, and survived his wife who was
Miss Mary Scott, daughter of Mr..
Daniel Scott, five years, For more than
a year his health had failed and several
times his death had been expected. Last
winter he went to Johns Hopkins for
treatment, receiving some benefit, but
each time he eXerted himself in bust
ness matters, he would suffer relapse.
Two months ago he went to Atlantic
City, and only returned last Wednesday,,
apparently some better, but he had only
come home to die amid the scenes of
his long strenuous honorable business
life, in the confines of the city he had
done so much to bring forward after
long years of exertion to the front rank
of progressive towns of his native State
and county.
He will be laid to rest tomorrow in
Green Hill cemetery at $3.50 o'clock, the
funeral being conducted from the Ben
bow Hotel by pastors of the Friends
church. of which he was member.
In the death of DR.. Benbow, not only
does the city and county lose a de-
voted son and a strong right arm but
the State can well be called on to mourn
the qoss of one of it's best and most hon
est citizens.
Despising sham, hypocrisy and all
forms of deceit, he ever and always took
up great matters, pushing them through,
and declaring always when derided or
f1attered what helps Greensboro and my
county and State helps me, they are the
moving impulse of my scheme" He said
this, when as a member of the board OF
aldermen of Greensboro he planned and
pushed to success the first graded
school in Greensboro and the first in
North Carolina. He said this when as
an alderman he established the first
city market in the Piedmont section,
and in all public enterprises.
IIe organized and was the principal
stakeholder in the North State Improve
ment Company, which built the Cape
Fear Railroad.
His last great work was the prepare
tion of plans and personal supervision
for his son. Mr. Charles d. Benbow,
of the new Benbow Hotel, in Green's
boro.
He was a man of strong individuality
which impressed itself upon all he
came in contact with and upon all mat
tiers which received his attention. He
had, as all strong characters have, de-
voted friends, determined enemies, but
through it all he lived to bind his
friends closer to him and to realize that
his enemies had ceased to Cypress or
treasure i'll will
Before beginning his active and re-
markable business career, DR.. BenbOw
had practiced dentistry in Fayetteville,
Wilmington, Raleigh and other North
Carolina towns, with eminent success,
finally locating permanently in Green's
boro after his marriage in 1860.
Another honored and highly esteemed
citizen of Guilford died last night, Mr..
G. J. Smith, of Summerfield, aged IS,
at his home there. He was stricken
with paralysis on Saturday. and never
regained consciousness. He was one of
the best men of his community and
leaves large and estimable family con-
nection.