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BRAXTON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: BENDER, Hon. John I.
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
September 24, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 267
Braxton County
HON. JOHN I. BENDER. Because of the leading part he
has taken in business, financial and public affairs and the
extent and importance of his connections Hon. John I.
Bender is justly accounted one of the leading citizens of
Braxton County, where he is representative of his district
in the Lower House of the State Legislature and president
of the Burnsville Exchange Bank. He was born at Chapel,
five miles from Gassaway, West Virginia, December 11,
1870, and is a son of Andrew and Eliza E. (Lloyd) Bender.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Bender, John Bender,
was born in Germany, where he was reared, educated and
learned the trade of tailor. In his native land he married
Mary C. Dabis, and following their union they immigrated
to the United States, first locating for a short time at
Baltimore, Maryland, and then coming to West Virginia
and settling on Steer Creek. Mr. Bender farmed here and
also followed his trade to some extent, but finally went to
the State of Iowa, where his death occurred. He was a man
of religious inclination and was straight-forward and hon-
orable m his dealings. He and his worthy wife were the
parents of the following children: Henry; Mary, who be-
came the wife of N. W. Lloyd; Andrew and John, who
were twins; W. K.; and Christina, who became the wife of
Azariah Bright. All these children are living in 1922 with
the exception of Mary.
Andrew Bender was born in the Chapel community, near
Gassaway, where he was educated in the public schools and
reared to the pursuits of farming, which he adopted on
reaching manhood. Following his marriage he settled on a
farm in his native community, where he has always carried
on his operations, and at the present time is engaged in the
successful cultivation of a valuable and modernly-equipped
tract of 350 acres. He is a republican in politics, and he
and Mrs. Bender are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Of their nine children six are living in 1922:
Tabitha, who is the widow of George C. Gerwig; John I.,
of this notice; Christina, the wife of W. A. Haymond, of
Florida; Iva, the widow of Rev. C. E. Hainrick; L. L., who
is engaged in farming in Braxton County; and Otis A.,
also an agriculturist of Braxton County.
John I. Bender was reared on the home farm in the
Gassaway community, and his early education was acquired
in the rural schools near his father's farm. Later he
received instruction in private schools, and with this prep-
aration entered upon a career as a teacher, but after two
years decided that the educator's profession was not his
forte, and accordingly turned his attention to merchandis-
ing. For several years he conducted a store, but in 1905
changed his scene of operations to Burnsville, where he
embarked in the lumber business, an enterprise with which
he continued to be identified and in which he has achieved
a very gratifying success. Mr. Bender was one of the
organizers of the Braxton County Bank, of which he was
president, and when this institution was taken over by the
Burnsville Exchange Bank he became the chief executive
of the combined institution. This position he still holds, his
fellow-officials in the institution being: W. C. Hefner, vice
president; H. B. Marshall, cashier; and Frank Amos,
assistant cashier, while the board of directors consists of
the following: John I. Bender, G. D. Marple, C. A. Wade,
H. B. Marshall, E. A. Stockert, W. C. Hefner, F. G.
Hoover, Prank Amos, John M. Marple, R. D. Dennison and
W. G. Wilson. Mr. Bender is also interested in the oil and
gas business, and is the owner of a handsome modern farm,
on which he maintains a productive orchard. In his various
business connections he has always shown himself thoroughly
capable, reliable and trustworthy, winning and holding the
deserved confidence of his associates, and through his energy
and. progressiveness contributing to the success of the
various enterprises with which he is identified.
Politically a republican, Mr. Bender has long been inter-
ested in public affairs and wields a strong influence in the
ranks of his party. He was the first republican ever
elected a member of the County Court of Braxton County,
serving on that body from 1900 to 1906, and has also been
a member of the Burnsville City Council and of the local
Board of Education, in all of which capacities he advocated
measures that would add to his community's growth and
elevate its standards of morality, education and good citi-
zenship. In 1914 he was first sent to the State Legislature
of West Virginia, as the representative of his district, and
served capably during the session of 1915 and 1916. Again,
in 1920, he was the successful candidate for the Legislature,
in which he served in the session of 1921 and 1922, to the
great benefit of his constituents. His public career has been
one in which his record is an open book and has been char-
acterized by numerous achievements in behalf of his com-
munity and his state.
On May 1, 1902, Mr. Bender was united in marriage
with Miss Inez Harbert, who was born in Harrison County,
West Virginia, and educated in the public schools and the
State Normal School at Fairmont. Five children have
been born to this union: Edgar A., a graduate of the
Burnsville High School; Earl L., who is attending that
school; and John R., William H. and James C., who are
students in the graded schools. Mr. and Mrs. Bender are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and active
in the work thereof. As a fraternalist Mr. Bender is a
past master of Burnsville Lodge No. 87, A. P. and A. M.;
a member of Sutton Commandery No. 16, K. T., and
Sutton Chapter No. 29, R. A. M.; a past noble grand of
the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows;
and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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