Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
WILLIAM H. BENDER is a prosperous
farmer residing eight miles south from Harrington. He is a native
of Stark county, Ohio, born September 27, 1839, and was the son of John
and Rachel (Young) Bender. The father who was of German ancestry,
was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Indiana in the year 1884, aged eighty-three
years. The mother was born in Dublin, Ireland, and died in Stark
county, Ohio.
William H. Bender is
the eldest of a family originally comprising eight children, seven of whom
are still living, all with the exception of himself, east of the Mississippi
river. He grew to manhood on a farm and received a medium common
school education. On October 5, 1860, he was married in Canton, Ohio,
to Rebecca Helsel, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and daughter
of Samuel and Lena (Barnhart) Helsel. The father was born in Pennsylvania
and the mother in Maryland. Mrs. Bender is a member of a family of
thirteen children, only five of whom are now living. She, too, has
no relative west of the Mississippi river.
In 1862 Mr. and Mrs.
Bender removed to Michigan, but soon returned to Ohio, remained a short
time, when they again went to Michigan and spent one year, after which
they went to Indiana. In 1879 they started for Spokane but stopped
in Jasper county, Missouri, where they lived eight years, and in 1887 they
came to Gilliam, King county, Washington, where they remained one year,
then removed to Lewis county and engaged in farming. Mr. Bender sold
his interests in Lewis county in 1901 and came to his present home.
Here he has one hundred and sixty acres all of good quality and under cultivation,
good improvements, live stock in plenty and a thriving young orchard.
In all respects he is a well-to-do and contented farmer.
For the past twenty-four
years Mr. Bender has been a member of the I. O. O. F., holding at the present
time, membership in the lodge at Winlock, Washington. He is also
a member of the Encampment, and has passed through all the chairs of both
lodges.
Mr. and Mrs. Bender
have been parents of four children, Elmer E., Cora, Ella, and Harry.
Elmer E. is a resident of Lincoln county, the others being deceased.