CORAL F. LENDER, who is now engaged in general farming and in fruit-growing on section 34, Centralia Township, Marion County, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, May 25, 1845, and is a son of Charles F. and Sophia (Burke) Lender, the former a native of Baltimore, Md., and the latter of Lorain County, Ohio.
The father was a carpenter and ship builder, and followed that business in Cleveland when it was a mere trading post.
The grandfather of our subject, Ferdinand Lender, emigrated from Prussia to America in 1792, and sold his time for one year to pay his passage across the ocean. John Jacob Astor was sold at the same time, on the same block. The grandfather settled in Baltimore in the year 1794, and in the year 1802 was married, after which he removed to Lorain County, Ohio. His two sons were Charles F. and George. The latter removed to Minnesota, where with his family he was murdered by the Sioux Indians. Ferdinand Lender was appointed Postmaster at Copopa, Ohio, July 27, 1827, and was a well known citizen of that region. During his youth Charles Lender served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade.
He was married November 20, 1828, to Sophia Burke, and the year following removed to Cleveland. He soon became prominent in politics, and was a leader in the Democratic party. For some years he was a Colonel in the State Militia, and was frequently a delegate to state and national conventions. He continued to support tin Democracy until 1856, when he joined the new Republican party, with which he continued his affiliations until death. In 1860 he emigrated to Walnut Hill, ILL., and made his home upon a farm until 1879, when he went to live with his son, C. F., in whose home he died March 12, 1887, at the age of eightyfour.
Our subject was a lad of about fourteen years when with his parents he came to Illinois. For a short time he worked upon the home farm and then became a clerK in the village store in Walnut Hill, where he remained during 1862 and 1863. He then resigned that position to accept a situation in the postofflce of Centralia, where he remained for a year. Later he spent some time in Kinmundy.
On the 24th of December, 1866, Mr. Lender was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Smith, youngest daughter of Isaac Smith, and the following year he worked upon a farm.
In April, 1868, he formed a partnership with D. B. Kell, under the firm name of Kell & Lender, dealers in general merchandise. This connection was continued for four years, on the expiration of which period our subject sold out to his partner, and in the autumn of 1873 went to Centralia, where he was employed as a salesman for sixteen years. In 1879, he bought a farm of eighty acres and set out a large peach orchard.
In the spring of 1882, Mr. Lender, whose health was much impaired, went on a trip to Missouri and northwestern Arkansas in the hope of being benefited thereby, and during his absence he was nominated as a candidate for County Clerk on both the Republican and Greenback tickets. Winning the election, he served for four years in that office, retiring in 1886. His arduous duties and the close confinement to the office had again greatly impaired his health and he resolved to move to the country. He purchased a farm four miles southeast of Centralia, comprising one hundred and eighteen acres, and to this he has added until he has two hundred a res of rich land, forty of which are comprised within an apple orchard. His home is a comfortable dwelling, and he has a very large barn, and in all of its appointments the farm is complete.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lender were born five children,
The family is one of prominence in the community and its members rank high in social circles. Mr. Lender belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He has always taken an active interest in political affairs, both local and national, always keeps well informed on the issues of the day, and frequently serves as delegate to the county and state Republican conventions.
He has a wide acquaintance in this community, and his sterling worth and strict integrity have gained for him the confidence and esteem of all.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 275 - 276
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer