STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1903, page 1, column 6

RHODA (WITHINGTON) BENDER, 11 Aug 1814 - 19 Mar 1903

   Rhoda Withington, daughter of Wm. and Abigail Withington, was 
born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, Aug. 11, 1814, and died 
March 19, 1903, at the home of her son, Alfred, in Richland 
township, aged 88 years, 7 months and 8 days.
   Early in life she moved with her parents to Jefferson county, 
N.Y.  At the age of 18 years, she came with her parents to Calhoun 
county, Mich., afterwards moving to Branch county, Mich., where she 
was married to Andress Bender.  Eight children were born to them, 
four of whom are living, two sons and two daughters, all of this 
county.  She was the last one living of a family of twelve 
children.  Her husband died for his country, at Nashville, Tenn., 
Aug. 6, 1864.  She has lived with her son, Alfred, for the last 25 
years, and was well and tenderly cared for in her old age.  She was 
a true and loving mother, faithful friend and a willing helper.  
She has been a christian for many years, and gave her family the 
assurance that she was ready and willing to pass over to the 
evergreen shore.
   Her funeral was held at the North Otsego church, Saturday 
afternoon, March 21, Elder C. S. Medbury, officiating.  She was 
laid to rest in the Mundy cemetery, five miles northwest of 
Fremont.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   Rhoda (Withington) Bender, 11 Aug 1814 - 19 Mar 1903, married 
Andress Bender who died 06 Aug 1864 in Nashville, TN, a casualty of 
the Civil War.

Son:  Alfred H. Bender, 1847 - 1926, married Catherine (______) 
Bender, 1856 - 1931, buried at the Hamilton Cemetery, Steuben 
County, Indiana.
Son:  Elmer Bender, 1855 - 1929, buried at the Jamestown Cemetery, 
Steuben County, Indiana.

1880 U. S. Federal Census lists:
  Alfred Bender, self, married, Male, white, age 33, farmer.
  Catharine Bender, wife, married, female, white, age 23, keeping 
house.
  Rhoda Bender, mother, widowed, female, white, age 66, too old to 
work.
  Elmer Bender, brother, single, male, white, age 15, laborer.

"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990" by Audree Siebel 
Lewis, Vol. I, pages 128, 129.
1880 U. S. Federal Census, Otsego Township, Steuben County, 
Indiana, Family History Library Film #1254312, NA Film #T9-0312, 
page #389A, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Submitted by:  Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net