My great-grandfather, Friedrich "Fred" Bender, came to America around 1880. The earliest record that I have been able to find of him is his 1890 marriage record in Allegheny County. The birthdate (August 16, 1864) matches the birth date that his widow, Augusta (Bendig) Bender listed on Fred's 1936 death certificate from the State of Pennsylvania (she listed August 16, 1863). Fred and Augusta and their 13 children appear extensively in records in Etna, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from the 1890s through Augusta's death in 1941.

Fred's death record also states that his parents were John Bender (likely Johann Bender) and Sophia Fifer (likely Sophia Pfeiffer). This corresponds with the notes that Fred's daughter, Bertha, wrote down in the late-1980s - which claim that Fred was SwoBe (Swabian?) and that the family lived 100 miles from Berlin (Aunt Bertha never traveled to Germany, so I have tried not to put too much faith in the 100 miles measure).

Aunt Bertha's notes also list an Uncle John (or George) Pfeiffer, a farmer who lived who lived in Somerset, PA or Maryland (I have looked through several men in these areas) and state that Fred had a sister, Klara and a sister, Helene. Fred named 2 of his first children Clara and Helen.

I have never been able to find Fred's naturalization record (although he is listed as having been naturalized - as early as the 1900 Census) in Pennsylvania or Maryland. The passenger records from the early 1880s also have several young men named Friedrich Bender. But - the World War I Draft Card for Fred's son, Charles, lists father's birthplace as "Wurtenberg"

So - just in case there is someone who has put together a database of Benders from Wurtemmberg. Please let me know if you come across a Friedrich Bender, born around August 16 in 1863 or 1864. Or, let me know if you see a Johann Bender married to a Sophia Pfeiffer in the 1850s (particularly if they have any children named Friedrich, Klara or Helene).

Thanks!