Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
Cornelius Bernard, deceased, a worthy pioneer of Iowa, of 1837, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Westminster, July 5, 1804, and was the eldest of a family of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Betsy, wife of Horace Hastings, of Haverhill, Mass.; Franklin, of Wilmington, Vt.; and Josiah, of Chicago, Ill. The parents, Jonathan and Lucy (Miller) Bernard, were also natives of Massachusetts and removed to Wilmington, Windham Co,., Vt., during the childhood of our subject. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and spent the remainder of their days in that county, the father dying at the age of seventy-two years, the mother at seventy-eight.
Our subject was reared at Wilmington, Vt., receiving only a district school education, and at the age of eighteen taught his first school, an occupation which he followed several years. Having attained his majority, Mr. Bernard went to Northern New York, locating in Chautauqua County, where he spent some ten years in the lumber business. He sustained a loss of $1,500 in early life by means of a loan to a supposed friend, and that sum representing the saving of several years, its loss impressed Mr. Bernard so forcibly that he was afterward always remarkably prudent and cautious in financial matters. Going from New York to Ohio, he there taught school at Massillon, Akron and Mermill, and then removed to Indiana, again engaging in that profession at Vincennes, LaFayette and other points. As was the custom of the early pioneers, Mr. Bernard crossed the plains with teams, reaching Iowa in 1837. After spending some time at the then little hamlet of Mt. Pleasant, he visited Ft. Madison and other points in the Territory, purchasing land in various localities and made his home for three years on a farm near Burlington, owned by Oliver and Royal Cottle. Removing to Warren, Ill., at that time, and there remaining for two years, he subsequently returned to Burlington, permanently establishing himself on a farm which has since been the family homestead.
Mr. Bernard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Root, a native of New York, their union being celebrated at Warren, Ill., Nov. 27, 1848. Two children were born of this marriage, a daughter who died in infancy, and a son, John, now a member of the firm of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble at Burlington, Iowa. The mother died Sept. 29, 1856, and Mr. Bernard was again married, at Grafton, Vt., Nov. 5, 1857, his wife being Miss Martha M. White, who was born at Grafton, Jan. 17, 1832, and is a daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Conant) White. Her father was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and her mother of Harvard, Mass. Mrs. Bernard is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years. Those now living are: Eliza, widow of Henry Ober, resides on the old home farm near Grafton, Vt.; Lewis lives in Windham County, Vt.; Willard and Charles reside at Grafton, and Henry at Chester, in that State. The parents were honored members of the Baptist Church, and both died on the old farm near Grafton, where they spent so many happy years, and which is still in possession of the family. The father died aged seventy-five years and ten months, the mother at the age of seventy-six years. They celebrated their golden wedding three years previous to the father's death, and the homestead farm where the son Charles now lives has been the property of the family for seventy years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, four sons and three daughters: Jennie is the wife of J. M. Mercer, a practicing attorney of Burlington, Iowa; Charles died in childhood; Bessie resides with her mother in Burlington; Lewis died in infancy; Edward L. is a member of Bernard Bros. & Mercer; Martha resides with her mother; and Willie, the youngest, died at the age of three years. Mr. Bernard continued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred July 15, 1887. He was of that peculiar and now rare nature, that always rather shunned than courted public favor, hence did not receive that credit for public spirit and charity to which his acts justly entitled him. He was a stockholder in the German-American Savings Bank, the North Hill Street Railway Company, Burlington Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, and other public enterprises. His neighbors and intimate acquaintances can testify to his many acts of charity. His strongest sympathy was always with the laboring classes, and to the honest laboring man his heart and hand were always open in deeds of kindness. His first employment in Burlington was on the old Zion Church building, then in process of construction. He soon returned to his former occupation, however, that of teaching school, and a number of those who are now successful business men were then his pupils. Among the number we may mention William Garrett, J. M. Sherfey and Isaac N. Ripley. Mr. Bernard was built of that stern true metal of which those patriots who secured our independence were made, and none could talk more earnestly of "the times that tried men's souls" than he. His life was a perfect example of what application, economy and strict honesty can accomplish, and his death left a void in the ranks of the best citizens of Des Moines County, among whom he was justly numbered.
A fine portrait of Mr. Bernard is given upon a preceding page.
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
Cornelius Bernard, deceased, a worthy pioneer of Iowa, of 1837, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Westminster, July 5, 1804, and was the eldest of a family of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Betsy, wife of Horace Hastings, of Haverhill, Mass.; Franklin, of Wilmington, Vt.; and Josiah, of Chicago, Ill. The parents, Jonathan and Lucy (Miller) Bernard, were also natives of Massachusetts and removed to Wilmington, Windham Co,., Vt., during the childhood of our subject. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and spent the remainder of their days in that county, the father dying at the age of seventy-two years, the mother at seventy-eight.
Our subject was reared at Wilmington, Vt., receiving only a district school education, and at the age of eighteen taught his first school, an occupation which he followed several years. Having attained his majority, Mr. Bernard went to Northern New York, locating in Chautauqua County, where he spent some ten years in the lumber business. He sustained a loss of $1,500 in early life by means of a loan to a supposed friend, and that sum representing the saving of several years, its loss impressed Mr. Bernard so forcibly that he was afterward always remarkably prudent and cautious in financial matters. Going from New York to Ohio, he there taught school at Massillon, Akron and Mermill, and then removed to Indiana, again engaging in that profession at Vincennes, LaFayette and other points. As was the custom of the early pioneers, Mr. Bernard crossed the plains with teams, reaching Iowa in 1837. After spending some time at the then little hamlet of Mt. Pleasant, he visited Ft. Madison and other points in the Territory, purchasing land in various localities and made his home for three years on a farm near Burlington, owned by Oliver and Royal Cottle. Removing to Warren, Ill., at that time, and there remaining for two years, he subsequently returned to Burlington, permanently establishing himself on a farm which has since been the family homestead.
Mr. Bernard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Root, a native of New York, their union being celebrated at Warren, Ill., Nov. 27, 1848. Two children were born of this marriage, a daughter who died in infancy, and a son, John, now a member of the firm of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble at Burlington, Iowa. The mother died Sept. 29, 1856, and Mr. Bernard was again married, at Grafton, Vt., Nov. 5, 1857, his wife being Miss Martha M. White, who was born at Grafton, Jan. 17, 1832, and is a daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Conant) White. Her father was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and her mother of Harvard, Mass. Mrs. Bernard is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years. Those now living are: Eliza, widow of Henry Ober, resides on the old home farm near Grafton, Vt.; Lewis lives in Windham County, Vt.; Willard and Charles reside at Grafton, and Henry at Chester, in that State. The parents were honored members of the Baptist Church, and both died on the old farm near Grafton, where they spent so many happy years, and which is still in possession of the family. The father died aged seventy-five years and ten months, the mother at the age of seventy-six years. They celebrated their golden wedding three years previous to the father's death, and the homestead farm where the son Charles now lives has been the property of the family for seventy years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, four sons and three daughters: Jennie is the wife of J. M. Mercer, a practicing attorney of Burlington, Iowa; Charles died in childhood; Bessie resides with her mother in Burlington; Lewis died in infancy; Edward L. is a member of Bernard Bros. & Mercer; Martha resides with her mother; and Willie, the youngest, died at the age of three years. Mr. Bernard continued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred July 15, 1887. He was of that peculiar and now rare nature, that always rather shunned than courted public favor, hence did not receive that credit for public spirit and charity to which his acts justly entitled him. He was a stockholder in the German-American Savings Bank, the North Hill Street Railway Company, Burlington Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, and other public enterprises. His neighbors and intimate acquaintances can testify to his many acts of charity. His strongest sympathy was always with the laboring classes, and to the honest laboring man his heart and hand were always open in deeds of kindness. His first employment in Burlington was on the old Zion Church building, then in process of construction. He soon returned to his former occupation, however, that of teaching school, and a number of those who are now successful business men were then his pupils. Among the number we may mention William Garrett, J. M. Sherfey and Isaac N. Ripley. Mr. Bernard was built of that stern true metal of which those patriots who secured our independence were made, and none could talk more earnestly of "the times that tried men's souls" than he. His life was a perfect example of what application, economy and strict honesty can accomplish, and his death left a void in the ranks of the best citizens of Des Moines County, among whom he was justly numbered.
A fine portrait of Mr. Bernard is given upon a preceding page.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
Cornelius Bernard, deceased, a worthy pioneer of Iowa, of 1837, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Westminster, July 5, 1804, and was the eldest of a family of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Betsy, wife of Horace Hastings, of Haverhill, Mass.; Franklin, of Wilmington, Vt.; and Josiah, of Chicago, Ill. The parents, Jonathan and Lucy (Miller) Bernard, were also natives of Massachusetts and removed to Wilmington, Windham Co,., Vt., during the childhood of our subject. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and spent the remainder of their days in that county, the father dying at the age of seventy-two years, the mother at seventy-eight.
Our subject was reared at Wilmington, Vt., receiving only a district school education, and at the age of eighteen taught his first school, an occupation which he followed several years. Having attained his majority, Mr. Bernard went to Northern New York, locating in Chautauqua County, where he spent some ten years in the lumber business. He sustained a loss of $1,500 in early life by means of a loan to a supposed friend, and that sum representing the saving of several years, its loss impressed Mr. Bernard so forcibly that he was afterward always remarkably prudent and cautious in financial matters. Going from New York to Ohio, he there taught school at Massillon, Akron and Mermill, and then removed to Indiana, again engaging in that profession at Vincennes, LaFayette and other points. As was the custom of the early pioneers, Mr. Bernard crossed the plains with teams, reaching Iowa in 1837. After spending some time at the then little hamlet of Mt. Pleasant, he visited Ft. Madison and other points in the Territory, purchasing land in various localities and made his home for three years on a farm near Burlington, owned by Oliver and Royal Cottle. Removing to Warren, Ill., at that time, and there remaining for two years, he subsequently returned to Burlington, permanently establishing himself on a farm which has since been the family homestead.
Mr. Bernard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Root, a native of New York, their union being celebrated at Warren, Ill., Nov. 27, 1848. Two children were born of this marriage, a daughter who died in infancy, and a son, John, now a member of the firm of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble at Burlington, Iowa. The mother died Sept. 29, 1856, and Mr. Bernard was again married, at Grafton, Vt., Nov. 5, 1857, his wife being Miss Martha M. White, who was born at Grafton, Jan. 17, 1832, and is a daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Conant) White. Her father was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and her mother of Harvard, Mass. Mrs. Bernard is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years. Those now living are: Eliza, widow of Henry Ober, resides on the old home farm near Grafton, Vt.; Lewis lives in Windham County, Vt.; Willard and Charles reside at Grafton, and Henry at Chester, in that State. The parents were honored members of the Baptist Church, and both died on the old farm near Grafton, where they spent so many happy years, and which is still in possession of the family. The father died aged seventy-five years and ten months, the mother at the age of seventy-six years. They celebrated their golden wedding three years previous to the father's death, and the homestead farm where the son Charles now lives has been the property of the family for seventy years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, four sons and three daughters: Jennie is the wife of J. M. Mercer, a practicing attorney of Burlington, Iowa; Charles died in childhood; Bessie resides with her mother in Burlington; Lewis died in infancy; Edward L. is a member of Bernard Bros. & Mercer; Martha resides with her mother; and Willie, the youngest, died at the age of three years. Mr. Bernard continued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred July 15, 1887. He was of that peculiar and now rare nature, that always rather shunned than courted public favor, hence did not receive that credit for public spirit and charity to which his acts justly entitled him. He was a stockholder in the German-American Savings Bank, the North Hill Street Railway Company, Burlington Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, and other public enterprises. His neighbors and intimate acquaintances can testify to his many acts of charity. His strongest sympathy was always with the laboring classes, and to the honest laboring man his heart and hand were always open in deeds of kindness. His first employment in Burlington was on the old Zion Church building, then in process of construction. He soon returned to his former occupation, however, that of teaching school, and a number of those who are now successful business men were then his pupils. Among the number we may mention William Garrett, J. M. Sherfey and Isaac N. Ripley. Mr. Bernard was built of that stern true metal of which those patriots who secured our independence were made, and none could talk more earnestly of "the times that tried men's souls" than he. His life was a perfect example of what application, economy and strict honesty can accomplish, and his death left a void in the ranks of the best citizens of Des Moines County, among whom he was justly numbered.
A fine portrait of Mr. Bernard is given upon a preceding page.
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
Cornelius Bernard, deceased, a worthy pioneer of Iowa, of 1837, was a native of Massachusetts, born at Westminster, July 5, 1804, and was the eldest of a family of twelve children, of whom only three are living: Betsy, wife of Horace Hastings, of Haverhill, Mass.; Franklin, of Wilmington, Vt.; and Josiah, of Chicago, Ill. The parents, Jonathan and Lucy (Miller) Bernard, were also natives of Massachusetts and removed to Wilmington, Windham Co,., Vt., during the childhood of our subject. They were consistent members of the Baptist Church, and spent the remainder of their days in that county, the father dying at the age of seventy-two years, the mother at seventy-eight.
Our subject was reared at Wilmington, Vt., receiving only a district school education, and at the age of eighteen taught his first school, an occupation which he followed several years. Having attained his majority, Mr. Bernard went to Northern New York, locating in Chautauqua County, where he spent some ten years in the lumber business. He sustained a loss of $1,500 in early life by means of a loan to a supposed friend, and that sum representing the saving of several years, its loss impressed Mr. Bernard so forcibly that he was afterward always remarkably prudent and cautious in financial matters. Going from New York to Ohio, he there taught school at Massillon, Akron and Mermill, and then removed to Indiana, again engaging in that profession at Vincennes, LaFayette and other points. As was the custom of the early pioneers, Mr. Bernard crossed the plains with teams, reaching Iowa in 1837. After spending some time at the then little hamlet of Mt. Pleasant, he visited Ft. Madison and other points in the Territory, purchasing land in various localities and made his home for three years on a farm near Burlington, owned by Oliver and Royal Cottle. Removing to Warren, Ill., at that time, and there remaining for two years, he subsequently returned to Burlington, permanently establishing himself on a farm which has since been the family homestead.
Mr. Bernard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Sarah Root, a native of New York, their union being celebrated at Warren, Ill., Nov. 27, 1848. Two children were born of this marriage, a daughter who died in infancy, and a son, John, now a member of the firm of Bernard Bros. & Mercer, wholesale and retail dealers in marble at Burlington, Iowa. The mother died Sept. 29, 1856, and Mr. Bernard was again married, at Grafton, Vt., Nov. 5, 1857, his wife being Miss Martha M. White, who was born at Grafton, Jan. 17, 1832, and is a daughter of Stephen and Betsy (Conant) White. Her father was a native of Gilsum, N. H., and her mother of Harvard, Mass. Mrs. Bernard is one of a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years. Those now living are: Eliza, widow of Henry Ober, resides on the old home farm near Grafton, Vt.; Lewis lives in Windham County, Vt.; Willard and Charles reside at Grafton, and Henry at Chester, in that State. The parents were honored members of the Baptist Church, and both died on the old farm near Grafton, where they spent so many happy years, and which is still in possession of the family. The father died aged seventy-five years and ten months, the mother at the age of seventy-six years. They celebrated their golden wedding three years previous to the father's death, and the homestead farm where the son Charles now lives has been the property of the family for seventy years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, four sons and three daughters: Jennie is the wife of J. M. Mercer, a practicing attorney of Burlington, Iowa; Charles died in childhood; Bessie resides with her mother in Burlington; Lewis died in infancy; Edward L. is a member of Bernard Bros. & Mercer; Martha resides with her mother; and Willie, the youngest, died at the age of three years. Mr. Bernard continued to reside on his farm until his death, which occurred July 15, 1887. He was of that peculiar and now rare nature, that always rather shunned than courted public favor, hence did not receive that credit for public spirit and charity to which his acts justly entitled him. He was a stockholder in the German-American Savings Bank, the North Hill Street Railway Company, Burlington Narrow Gauge Railroad Company, and other public enterprises. His neighbors and intimate acquaintances can testify to his many acts of charity. His strongest sympathy was always with the laboring classes, and to the honest laboring man his heart and hand were always open in deeds of kindness. His first employment in Burlington was on the old Zion Church building, then in process of construction. He soon returned to his former occupation, however, that of teaching school, and a number of those who are now successful business men were then his pupils. Among the number we may mention William Garrett, J. M. Sherfey and Isaac N. Ripley. Mr. Bernard was built of that stern true metal of which those patriots who secured our independence were made, and none could talk more earnestly of "the times that tried men's souls" than he. His life was a perfect example of what application, economy and strict honesty can accomplish, and his death left a void in the ranks of the best citizens of Des Moines County, among whom he was justly numbered.
A fine portrait of Mr. Bernard is given upon a preceding page.
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