Martin A. Bender, a leading attorney of Holton, Kans., is a native Kansan, born in Brown county, January 10, 1871, of pioneer parents. He is a son of David and Sarah (Hinds) Bender, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. The family removed to Iowa at an early day, and in 1869 came to Kansas, locating in Brown county where the father engaged in farming and stock raising. Martin A. Bender began his educational career in the district schools of Brown county, and later attended the Whiting high school, where he was graduated in the class of 1890. He then read law in the office of A. J. Wilhelm of Akron, Ohio, after which he entered the Cincinnati Law School at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated in the class of 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Law. He then accepted a position with the National Republican Committee at Washington, D. C., and about the time the Spanish-American war broke out, he received an appointment in the War Department at Washington, and in the meantime had taken a post graduate course in the National University at Washington, D. C., receiving the degree of Master of Laws. In 1899, he resigned his position in the War department, and returned to Kansas, engaging in the practice of law. He was associated with R. B. Welsh, Esq., until the death of Mr. Welsh when the partnership of Bender & Hopkins was formed but was later dissolved. Mr. Bender has been city attorney of Holton, and in 1906 was elected prosecuting attorney of Jackson county, and re-elected in 1908. He has taken an active part in politics, and has attended a number of county and State conventions. He was the first chairman of the Progressive party of Jackson county. In addition to his extensive law practice, and activity in political affairs, Mr. Bender is interested in a number of commercial enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Mayetta Elevator Company, of which he is now a director. He was also one of the organizers of the Mayetta Exchange Bank, of which he was president for a time, and is now a member of the board of directors. He was also interested in the organization of the Kansas State Bank of Holton of which he is a director. Mr. Bender was married September 28, 1899 to Mrs. Mary A. Anderson, a daughter of George McDonald of Washington, Ontario, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Bender are members of the Presbyterian church of which he is an elder. His fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of The Maccabees, of which order he served a four-year term as State Representative.