Genealogy Page
History of the surname
The first written use of the surname Bender occured in Baden, Germany (Southwestern area). This part of Germany has always been influenced by the French Alsace-Loraine region. In my line the family began with the name Bindner but were using the Binder spelling before they came to the US and while living in Delhi Twp. Cincinnati, Ohio. As the city of Cincinnati and some of the sons moved down into the city many began using the Bender spelling. Its a pretty good guess that it was to get the city people to pronounce the name correctly and not confuse the name with the office supply. Since then the families that stayed away from the city longer use the Binder spelling and those who did move to the city used the Bender spelling.
Soundex Number for both (B536)
I have been working on broadening the Cincinnati tree in hopes of making more connections and possibly getting the information I need to connect the family and host another Family Reunion.
These are the related names so far:
Emge, Willig, Geppert, Walthes, Fritz, Martini, Strassell, Holbrock, Ohmer, Westerkamp, Bross, Rennekamp, Windholtz, Eibeck, Roth, Sanders, Stenger, Leicht, Kirchner, Dietzel... more?
Kayser, Koch, Dornacher, Huber, Sticksel, Becker, Gosney, Griffin, Henderson, Schneider, Purcell, Goodling, Scharf, Mendel, Stetter, Thul, Theising, Roth
I'd love to have contacts for all of these!!
2002 Reunion
I've been working with several other Binder - Bender researchers since July of 2001. These partnerships unfolded into the first family reunion which went very well despite the weather. We had over 100 people with someone representing each of the three brothers lines. We unvailed a 42 foot family tree covering 8 generations along with a collage of family photos of equal length. It was very impressive if I do say so my self. I'd really like to thank several people who made a great team in coordinating the event. Dan and Bob Bender and their wives. Al Fritz, Roger Windholtz, and Eileen Ohmer Merkl helped with gathering names and a huge thank you to Carol Miller who worked on the 42' display and created the display of three generations of French family dating back into the early 1700's. It will be great to see everyone again.Family Reunion 2 Planned For Aug. 2007
email benderbinder@yahoo.com for more information.
My Family Research
My family, from Dettwiller, Bas-Rhin, France, settled in Cincinnati, Delhi Township by 1832. Early census records list France as their birth Country. A little checking into the history of the area shows that Dettwiller was part of France during the period in question but was later part of Germany. The history of this area is a match with the stories I've been told about the migration of Jacob and Catherine Binder's family. I've found some more specific history of this region that I still have to post.
Jacob born abt 1794 and his wife Catherine born abt 1795 pictured above
came to the US with their three children; Catherine(abt 1825), Simon (1824), and John (1828)
all born in Dettwiller, France. Their fourth child Henry was born in 1838 on their Delhi Township farm.
Most of the information I started with were from the Book-
The New Pioneers: The people of Delhi Township 1830-1900
By Shirley Althoff and Peg Schmidt available through the Delhi Township Historical Society.
I'm currently working with several second and third cousins. Several of my cousins decided to put a page at Binder Bender Family Page
I started out thinking all I'd have to do is link the book's information with my great great grandparents. But it was more complicated than that several people had researched the family and had collected lots of information that wasn't all completly accurate. Some of this faulty information made it into the pages of the book. I set out to see what I could prove and what I couldn't. My sources of information include census, cemetery records, newspaper obituaries and indexed sources for Hamilton County Ohio. I began with my direct line.
Henry and Barbara had 10 children with eight living to adulthood.
Their middle child was John Bender my great grandfather.
He was born in 1869.
This photo is of John Bender and Theresia Westerkamp's wedding circa 1905.
Henry is one of six children born to John and Theresia.
Return to the History Page .Or check out my Query GuestbookIf you think you might be related to this Bender or Binder family be sure to e-mail 
I've been very lucky with local census information and occational walks in the local cemeteries. There are several people, descendants of both Simon and John that I either can't find or the records I do find I can't prove for certain are them. First in Simon's line-
his daughter Mariann or Mary Ann married a man named Ferdinand Stenger. They had seven children: Louisa who married August Lacally, Leo, Josephina, Clara, Joseph, Cecelia, and Michael. I may need to search local cemetery information.
Also in Simon's line his daughter Anna married John Sanders and had a son Aloysius or Alois for short he was a Musician and moved to Chicago, I think he marred Edna but I'm not sure if that was in Cincinnati or Chicago.
Second, in John's line his son Michael John Binder disappears after 1880 in the census where he is listed as a blacksmith apprentice and in the 1890 city directory there is listed a Michael J. Binder as a black smith then nothing...
What next?? Follow all leads!!
Copyright © 1997 Mary E. Hartman. All rights reserved.
Last modified: 8-27-2005
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