BIO:  Edmund C. Bender, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 5

EDMUND C. BENDER, son of Christian and Sarah (Carl) Bender, was born in 
Dillsburg, York County, January 22, 1831, and at an early age moved with his 
parents to York.  Here he attended school until the age of sixteen, when he 
entered the dry goods house of Rex, Brooke & Brown, of Philadelphia, and from 
there went to Baltimore as bookkeeper for the commission house of Lewis 
Frysinger & Co. of that city.  While there, the firm of P. A. & S. Small, 
knowing him as a young man of great integrity and excellent business qualities, 
offered him the position of manager of their large grain depot and warehouse at 
York; accepting this he returned to his former home.  He subsequently became 
manager of the lumber-yard of the same firm, and eventually, on account of his 
superior business tact, became a partner, under the firm name of Smalls, Bender 
& Co.  This copartnership existed for several years, enjoying a large trade, 
when the firm changed to Bender & Weiser, with Gates J. Weiser as partner.  In 
1875 he sold his business interests in York to Weiser Bros., and together with 
Messrs. J. F. Steiner and Charles S. Weiser, leased a large tract of valuable, 
fine timber land, near Phillipsburg, Center Co., Penn., and removed with his 
family to that town.  At this place he remained for nine years, a part of which 
time Gates J. Weiser was a partner with him.  They cut down and had sawed into 
building material vast quantities of lumber.  While in Phillipsburg his son, 
Edmund, showing a desire to engage in the art of printing, he purchased the 
Journal of that town, and conducted it until he removed to York.  Under his 
proprietorship it was a live, well-edited paper.  After returning to York, he 
engaged in the grain business with his brother Martin, under the firm name of 
Bender Bros., and also in the grocery business with his son, as Bender & Son.  
On May 15, 1856, he was married to Margaret M. Weiser, daughter of Daniel B. And 
Matilda Weiser, of York.  They had two children:  Sarah M. and Edmund C. Bender.  
The death of this estimable gentleman and model business man occurred on August 
29, 1883.  By his strict adherence to every enterprise in which he engaged, and 
correct habits, he accumulated a large estate.  Mr. Bender early in life became 
a member of the Lutheran Church, and at the time of his death was secretary of 
the Lutheran Church Extension Society, a director of the York National Bank, a 
director of the York & Peach Bottom Railraod, and a manager of the Farmers' 
Market.  As a citizen of York, he was universally esteemed and respected.  His 
son, Edmund D. Bender, Jr., succeeds his father in the excellent stand, on the 
corner of West Market and Penn Streets, opposite the Farmers' Market, where he 
has one of the largest and most attractive grocery stores in York.  He is a 
young man of excellent business qualities.