Bio: John BENDER,1843, Lancaster County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL ANNUALS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, VOL. III, Page 1035

JOHN BENDER, the genial proprietor of the “Eden Hotel”, is a representative of an old 
settled family in Lancaster County.

David Bender, the great-grandfather of John, was born in Upper Leacock Township, July 
26, 1741, and died April 20, 1824. His wife, Margaret, was born October 1, 1755, and 
died September 21, 1809. Mr. Bender was one of the founders of that branch of the 
German Reformed Church, which is known as the Heller’s Church. He was a successful 
farmer, and when he died left his two sons, John and George, each a farm. He also was 
the father of five daughters: Catherine, the wife of Joseph Heller; Susan and Sarah, 
who died unmarried; one who married a Mr. Weidler; and another who married a Mr. 
Shreiner.

John Bender, son of David and grandfather of John, was born in Upper Leacock Township, 
where he followed farming until his death. Elizabeth Kinzer, his wife, became the 
mother of eleven children: One that died in infancy; David; Michael; Mariah; George; 
William; John; Adam; Diller; Joseph, and Weidler.

George Bender, the father of John, was born in Upper Leacock Township in 1819, and was 
a lifelong farmer. He was married February 10, 1842 to Miss Harriet Johnson, of 
Maytown, by whom he became the father of the following children: John, whose name 
introduces this article; Mary C., the wife of Daniel R. Donor; Diller, deceased; Anna 
E., widow of Samuel Patterson; Carpenter W., of Newhall; George J., of East Dubuque, 
Iowa; Alice, wife of Milton Groff and Frances L., wife of David Myers.

John Bender was born March 3, 1843, in Upper Leacock Township, where the family had 
long been established, and where he was reared on the farm. He was educated in the 
public schools, and when he was about twenty-eight years of age, he began farming for 
himself in Earl Township, where he remained some five years. He was in West Earl 
Township one year, and in 1880 removed to Manheim Township, to take charge of a farm 
for Mr. B. J. McGrann, following farming and teaming for two years. At the end of that 
time he sold his stock and bought the hotel at Eden, which he conducted for four years. 
After selling it, he bought it back again in 1889, and continues as its landlord to the 
present date. A genial and pleasant man he has proved peculiarly successful in his 
hotel work, which has proved very profitable to him. As a farmer he excelled, and at a 
plowing contest in the county won a prize of $500 offered for the straightest furrow 
and the most even plowing. Mr. Bender is a broadgauge man, and is deeply interested in 
the public welfare. He bears one of the old and honored names in Lancaster County, and 
his life has been such as to add to its luster.

Mr. Bender was married February 27, 1882, to Miss Serena B., a daughter of Jacob and 
Selma (Bodderf) Longenecker; she was born near Lincoln, Lancaster County, August 19, 
1849. They are pleasant and affable people and are among the most worthy and respected 
citizens of the community. Mr. Bender takes much pride in the memory of his ability as 
a teamster in the days when he was on the road. He won the ”bells” given as a token of 
being the best driver on the road.