Jacob A. Bender was probably born in Mt. Joy, Lancaster Co., PA, the son of Johan Jacob Bender (July 1748 - ca1803) and Mary Magdalena Stauffer (Jul 1748 - ca 11 Jun 1839 Uniontown, Lake Twp., Stark Co., OH at son John Bender's home). Jacob Bender and wife Mary had 10 children. To support the Revolutionary War effort, Jacob and family built Conestoga wagons in Mt.Joy, Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. Jacob was not paid for those wagons and Mary worried about bankrupcy.

On page 1 of the Cocalico tax list of 1779, Jacob Bender is a free man; he was a member of the Warwick Moravian Social Congregation. In adulthood, he was a member of the German Baptist Church. Like his father, Jacob A. Bender also built Conestoga wagons, raised sheep, and was a millwright. In 1803, Jacob married Catharine May (ca 1768-1832); they had 7 children before moving from Lancaster Co., PA to Springfield Twp., Summit Co., OH in 1821 (their 8th child Lucinda was born in Ohio on 6 Oct 1822).

After Catharine died in 1832, Jacob moved to Chamberlain (Twinsburg, Summit Co., OH) to work on creating a mill. Six years later Jake moved to East Liberty, Green Twp., Summit County when on 30 Aug 1838 he married Mary Margaret Traut (129808234). Margaret was the widow of Peter Kreighbaum (61687082) who had died on 18 Sept 1829 at the age of 36 and had left his wife Margaret and six children. On 21 Dec 1840, Jake and second wife Margaret had a son William Bender (207395600). On 17 Aug 1862, William Bender married Rebecca E Busard (207395674) and had 10 children.

Jacob Bender property - Range 10, Twp 1, 2, 4 SE corner - 116 acres; Range 10, Twp 10, 1, 2 - 2 acres; see Estate of Jacob Bender of Summit County, Ohio, 1847 Estate 295 Docket A Page 293. "State of Ohio, Stark County ss before me a Justice of the Peace in and for said county personally appeared J.B. Buchtel and made solomn oath that the above amount against the estate of Jacob Bender is just and true and that there is no ---- against it to the best of his knowledge and belief. J,B. Buchtel. Sworn and subscribed before me the 12th day of June A.D. 1848. [Ira D. Hunsberger]"