Text Box:

IOWAN ANCESTORS

OF SOUTHEAST IOWA

• Conrad was born 1835 in Hechingen Germany

• parents died of Calera around 1939 when he was young (not verified) 

• lived in Catholic orphanage in Germany (not verified)

• he immigrated to New York in 1850 to live with 2 sisters Magdalena and Walborah and brother Lewis

• married 1857 to Louise Hahn  (celebrated 62 years of marriage) per obituary

• 14 Children (8 boys/ 6 girls) 3 died infants:

 

             George Henry Bender                                    (died age 2 weeks)

 

             Julius Albert Bender                                         (husband of Martha Gideon)

                                                                                           -buried in Belle Plaines Cemetery, Belle Plaines, Kansas

                                                                                                                       children:  Louise (Bender) Hamilton                   

                                                                                                                                         Maude (Bender) Blankenship           

                                                                                                                                         Ina May (Bender) Gifford                    

                                                                                                                                                         married Harry Clay Gifford

                                                                                                                                                         children: Merle, Dale, Artie

                                                                                                                                        Minnie Faye (Bender) Koger

                                                                                                                                                         Married Wesley Marion Koger

                                                                                                         

             George William Bender                               -see below-

 

             John C. Bender                                                 (died infant)

                                                                                          

             Louie Bender                                                      (died infant)

 

             Anna Mary (Bender) Smithart                      (wife of Marshall Smithart)

                                                                                           -lived in Packwoood, Iowa in 1919

 

 

             Winifred Caroline (Bender) Edwards         (wife of Charles W. Edwards)

             “Winnie”                                                                 -buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Mills County, Iowa

                                                                                                                       children: Leonia Edwards

 

 

             Sarah Elizabeth (Bender) Curtis                  (wife of Joseph L. Curtis)

             “Lizzie”                                                                     -lived in Hedrick, Iowa in 1971

 

 

             Lauretta “Laura” Bender                                 (died age 5 years)

 

             Emma Lena Bender                                         (never married)

 

             Charles Conrad Bender                                 (husband of Ella Knox)

                                                                                           -buried in Compentine Cemetery, Compentine, Iowa

                                                                                                                       children: Eunice(Bender) Holzhauser

                                                                                                                                         Pearl (Bender) Vannoy

 

 

             Fredrick Bender                                                (husband of Bertha Harbin)

                                                                                           children: Harold C. Bender

                                                                                                                                        Helen (Bender) Watckins

 

 

             Edward Waldemore Bender                         (husband of Bessie D.)

                                                                                           -buried in Cedar Township Cemetery, Fremont, Iowa

 

 

             Jennie Louise (Bender) Dennis                   (wife of Lee Dennis)

                                                                                           -lived in Ottumwa, Iowa in 1971

                                                                                           children: Paul Dennis

 

 

 

 

• Conrad was a shoemaker in Ioka, Iowa

          (a pioneer resident—town existed 1858-1902)

 

• he moved to Kansas in 1900 and lived with his son Julius for 18 years to improve his health, moved back to Iowa in 1918 (per obituary)

• Conrad died in 1919 age 83 years

• Louise died in 1922  of cancer age 82 years

• Both are buried in Ollie cemetery- Ollie, Iowa 

 

 

• born in 1861

• 3RD son of Conrad Bender

• lived his entire life in Iowa

• married Nancy Elizabeth McCormick in 1885

• 6 children (2 boys/ 4 girls)

•  

             Hillian Hazel Bender           -see Frank Doak page-

 

             Ralph Raymond Bender       (1888-1965)       husband of Avis S. Hamilton--lived in Idaho

                                                                                           -buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery—Idaho

                                                                

 

             Paul Leroy Bender                 (1891-1983)       husband of Mary Lena Davis--lived in Neb

                                                                                           -buried in McCormick Cemetery, Highland Center, Iowa

                                                                                           children: Robert Lee Bender        1918-2001

                                                                                                                     Married Lydia Buenaobra

                                                                                                                     Children:            Mary

                                                                                                                                               Roberta

                                                                                                                                               Laura

                                                                                                        James Bender

                                                                                                        Frances Bender

                                                                                                                     Married Mr. Meader

 

 

             Lela Bender                              (1893-1968)       wife of James V. Morgan—lived in Iowa

                                                                                           children: Carlos Morgan

                                                                                                         Jack Morgan

 

 

             Marguerite Bender                 (1897-1973)       wife of Bottorff, George Williamson & Max Venator

                                                                                           -buried in McCormick Cemetery, Highland Center, Iowa                                                                                                                       children: Pauline Williamson        ?-1947

                                                                                                        Dale Williamson              1927-1986

 

 

             Ruth Elizabeth Bender         (1902-1953)       wife of Lyle R. Whitehead

                                                                                           -buried in McCormick Cemetery, Highland Center, Iowa

 

 

• owned an implement store

• had been in poor health for a long time (per obituary)

• died in 1932 age 70 of a cerebral hemorrhage

• buried in McCormick Cemetery– Highland Center, Iowa

 
Text Box: HILLIAN Text Box: RALPH Text Box: PAUL Text Box: LELA Text Box: MARGARITE Text Box: RUTH Text Box: ELIZABETH Text Box: CONRAD BENDER obituary Hedrick Journal Hedrick, Iowa 1 October 1919 The subject of this sketch –Conrad Bender– was born in Hechingen, Germany November 25th 1835. He came to this country with his parents in 1850 landing in Buffalo, New York. Three years later he came west to Iowa and settled in Keokuk county. On February 3rd 1857 he was united in marriage to Miss Louise Hahn and on the 2nd day of last February they celebrated their 62nd anniversary of marriage. (1919) Mr. and Mrs. Bender resided in Ioka until the fall of 1900; when they moved to Belle Plaine Kansas and here they resided until January 7th 1918 when they moved back to Iowa– thinking this might benefit his health but the family soon realized that his end was growing near and gradually he grew weaker until Friday morning September 26th 1919 at about 6 o’clock God released him from his suffering– He was aged 83 years, 10 months, and 1 day. To this union there were born 14 children, 5 of whom had preceded their father in death– Besides his faithful wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows for more than three score and two years– 5 sons, 4 daughters, 27 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren survive him.

Keokuk County,

Iowa Biography Center

Residents of Jackson Township Biographies 1880

                                              

-Bender, C. shoe maker, Ioka; born in Hohenzollern, Hackengen, Germany; his parents died when he was about four years old, leaving him an orphan and alone in the world; he came to the United States in; 1849 and landed in New York, where he stopped a short time in Indiana, where he began to learn his trade, but did not stay long till he went to Harrison county, Ohio, where he finished his trade; in the spring of 1853 he came to this county, and located in Lancaster, and went to work at his trade; he came to this town in the fall of 1858, and has lived and worked at his trade here ever since; he was married February 2, 1857, to Miss Louisa Hahan, an native of Pennsylvania; they have had ten children: Julius A., George W., Mary A., Winnie C., Anna E., Laura and Emma, living and George H., Louie and John, deceased; he has been town trustee three terms, and school director several times.
Text Box: George W. Bender Dead: Obituary Hedrick Journal 23 March 1932 George William Bender died Saturday night at 10:30 of cerebral hemorrhage at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Doak. Mr. Bender had been in poor health for along time and his death was not unexpected. He was 70 years of age. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the Doak home, conducted by Dr. J.A. Suyker of the Hedrick Presbyterian Church and interment was made in the McCormick Cemetery near Highland Center. George W. son of Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Bender, pioneer residents of Ioka, was born there in 1861 and spent his entire life in Iowa. He was married March 13, 1883 to Elizabeth McCormick who survives him together with the following children: Mrs. Hillian Doak of Hedrick, R.R. Bender of Buhl, Idaho, Paul Bender of Grand Island, Nebraska, Mrs. Lelia Morgan and Mrs. Ruth Whitehead of Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. Marguerite Williamson of Ottumwa, Iowa. He is also survived by 3 sisters: Mrs. Winifred Edwards of Linby, Iowa, Mrs. Lizzie Curtis of Hedrick, Iowa, Mrs. Jennie Dennis of Ottumwa, Iowa, and 3 brothers: Fred of Farson, Iowa, Ed of Truro, Charles of Compentine, Iowa, and 16 grandchildren. Text Box: WORST FLOOD ON RECORD IN SOUTHEAST IOWA Hedrick Journal 11 June 1947 front page ….Miss Pauline Williamson, an invalid, is said to have died from shock Friday morning while enroot to a hospital. Miss Williamson is a niece of Frank Doak of Hedrick. (and Granddaughter of G.W. Bender) Funeral services will be held this afternoon and burial will be made in the McCormick Cemetery at Highland Center, Iowa. Text Box: The surname Bender is considered to be of English and German origin. It is derived from the name Benden or Benbow in England. Whereas in Germany it is considered a form of the name cooper or Fassbinder. Both the origins of the name point towards its occupational nature.