Ferdinand Bernard, dealer in lumber and farming implements, of Brighton, established business in that place in May, 1884, as the successor of G. H. Aylworth. He carries all kinds of plain and dressed lumber and other building materials and also has a complete line of agricultural implements. He was born in Nassau, Germany, where his father, William Bernard, was also born and reared and spent his entire life as a teacher. He died in his native land when little past the prime of life. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Schmidt, was born and reared in Nassau, Germany, and in the city of her nativity at length passed away, after having survived her husband over twenty years. In their family were six children, four sons and two daughters.
The subject of this sketch is the only one who ever crossed the water. He received liberal educational advantages and under the direction of his father and other noted musical professors, he acquired an excellent knowledge of that art. He determined to make America the scene of his career and embarked upon the steamer “Herman,” which sailed from Bremen to the harbor of New York. Mr. Bernard did not linger long in the East bat came at once to the West. Here, however, he stopped at, many of the principal cities and finally made a location in St. Louis, where he was engaged as a teacher of instrumental music. His next place of residence was in Springfield, Ill., where for seven years he was engaged as a German professor and also in teaching music.
A marriage ceremony, performed in St. Louis, united the destinies of Mr Bernard and Miss Margaret Palmer, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and while yet a young maiden, crossed the Atlantic with her parents. For some time the family made their home in New York City, removing thence to St. Louis, where the father, Jacob Paltzer, died of cholera, in 1865. At the time of his death he was engaged in business at that place. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1889, at the age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Bernard received a liberal education and is a lady of intelligence and culture. The union of Mr. Bernard and his wife has been blessed with six children, all of them seem to have inherited musical taste and ability. In his business life Mr. Bernard is meeting with excellent success.
Source: Chapman bros. Portrait and biographical record of Macoupin county, Illinois. Chicago: Biographical publishing company, 1891.