My Genealogy Hound

PROF. CHARLES T. BENDER, Principal of the West Bethlehem Schools, was born at Grimville, Berks County, Pa., February 27, 1856. His father, Peter Bender, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, came to this country when a young man and attended school at Bethlehem, Pa. He also took private lessons in music and English, thus preparing himself to teach. He taught school in this state for a number of years, and was an organist in the churches of Whitehall, Grimville, Lowhill and in Howertown. The last twelve years of his life were spent as a Tax Collector in Bethlehem, where he died in 1890, when seventy-one years of age. He was a zealous member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics was a stanch Democrat.

Eliza (Bacher) Bender, the mother of our subject, was born at Whitehall, Lehigh County, Pa., and died at Weaversville in 1871. There were four childien born to her, of whom we make the following mention: Rev. F. P. Bender is pastor of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at Philadelphia; Phaon is a merchant in Bethlehem; William is a farmer at Coopersburg; and Prof. Charles T. is the gentleman of whom we write. There was one child by the father’s second marriage, Elmer J., who is now in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Railroad.

The subject of this biography was reared in Bethlehem, and was educated mainly at the public schools in this place. He then entered the Weaversville Academy, remaining there for three years, when he commenced teaching school in Hanover Township, Northampton County, although at the time he was but sixteen years old. He afterward taught for nine years in Bethlehem. In the year 1887 he went to Millersville and attended school there for one year, and then returned to Bethlehem, where he again taught for a short period. Subsequently he removed to Philadelphia, intending to engage in business, but circumstances prevented, and he returned to Bethlehem and taught for two years in Professor Uhlrich’s preparatory school.

In 1886 Mr. Bender became Principal of the West Bethlehem Schools, and has since held that position. On first accepting the post, school was held in an old building, and the attendance numbered but two hundred and thirty-three students. The town now has a fine new high school building, and an enrollment of over five hundred pupils. Professor Bender teaches the advanced branches, and has a staff of ten subordinate teachers. As to how he has acquitted himself in this most responsible position, there is but one opinion, and that the most favorable. He is a pleasing and logical speaker, and his influence is manifested in various ways. In taking charge of the school he has shown his great executive ability, for by his liberal and trustworthy management he has not only won the respect, but the hearty obedience and cooperation, of every student. His scholarship has benefited all who have come in contact with him, and his Christian character, as manifested in his daily life, is worthy of emulation.

Mr. Bender is an earnest member of the Salem Lutheran Church, and has been its organist for nine vears. He was married in December, 1890, to Miss Mary Beitel, of Catasauqua. She is the daughter of James C. Beitel, a jeweler at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Bender have one son, James Peter Bender. The father belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and politically he is a supporter of the Democratic party.