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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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David Bender, one of the oldest and most respected citizens now living in Little Rock, Ark., was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., in 1809. He remained in his native State until December, 1839, when he concluded to come to Arkansas, and locate land claims on soldiers’ patents he had obtained. In this enterprise he was successful, and while traveling over the State at that early day he found the people, the pioneers of Arkansas, as hospitable as any people he had ever met. Soon after getting his land business settled, he engaged as salesman in a dry-goods store in Little Rock, in which capacity he remained until 1843, when he concluded to go into business for himself. With this end in view he paid a visit to New York City, purchased a small stock of goods, and returning, engaged in general mercantile pursuits on his own responsibility. In this as in all his other business transactions he had for his motto the word “Honesty.” He purchased nothing but the best goods, and so well was he liked as a business man, and so rapidly did his business grow, that he soon found himself in possession of a trade, by order or otherwise, from all over the State. At that day a variety of first-class articles was hard to find, and Mr. Bender found himself in constant receipt of orders from professional men, whose trust he never betrayed in price or quality of goods. Many an aged couple, whose grandchildren are now occupying honorable places in Arkansas, will remember Mr. Bender kindly as having furnished them the wedding apparel through the mail when other modes of transportation were tedious and uncertain. Thus his trade grew until he became one of the most flourishing merchants in the State. He continued in business with unabated vigor until 1862, when the Civil War forced him to discontinue. He was a Union man in principle, and having traveled over the East and North, knew full well which way the list of arms would determine the cause. Over this question he was by no means silent, but remonstrated strongly with friends and acquaintances. He advocated that “secession would kill slavery,” the truth of which prophecy has been fully demonstrated. Mr. Bender enjoyed the perfect confidence of the Confederate soldiers and officers while in charge of Little Rock, and when this city fell into the hands of the Federals he was recommended to the authorities as a stanch Union man, and his advice and council was sought by the men in command. In this situation Mr. Bender was the instrument of many kind deeds to the needy on either side. During the war he lived on a farm close by Little Rock. After that eventful period, his fame as a merchant having reached them, he was induced to enter the wholesale business in Little Rock with Woodruff & Co., of Chicago. This alliance lasted a few years and subsequently Mr. Bender went in with a man by the name of Cole, the style of firm being Cole & Bender. This firm was closed by bankruptcy, and Mr. Bender lost many thousands of dollars. He has ever since been dealing in land, and although he sustained some very heavy losses he still owns several thousand acres. Mr. Bender was married in Pennsylvania, the first time to a Miss Elder, and the second time to a Miss Whipple, of Vermont. He has been a native of eastern States many years, and is a strong member of the Presbyterian Church.

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This family biography is one of 156 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Pulaski County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Pulaski County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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