The Bernard Family of Clinton County, Ohio

GEORGE W. BERNARD, farmer, P. Q. New Vienna, was born in Goochland County, Va., September 13, 1799; is a son of Thomas and Mary Bernard, natives of Virginia. The grandfather, William Bernard, was a native of England, and married Mary Fleming. They became early settlers of Virginia, where he became owner of 3,000 acres of land; also became a large wholesale merchant of Richmond, and during the war of the Revolution his store was robbed of nearly all of his goods. They resided in Virginia till their death. Thomas was born in March, 1756, and grew to manhood in Virginia, and served as a soldier through the war of the Revolution; was engaged in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point and others. He married Mary Hicks, and in 1807 removed from Virginia to Ohio, and settled in Highland County, near Clinton County line, and there opened out right in the woods. Wolves and deer were in abundance, and one morning he heard a loud beating near his cabin, which he thought was one of his calves in the merciless clutches of a wolf; hurrying to his cabin door, he beheld a wolf fast hold of a deer; the wolf at once looked his prey and fled, and the deer escaped in an opposite direction. In 1832, they removed to Leesburg, where he died June 11, 1833. His wife survived till May 22, 1847, when she died, then a resident of Clinton County. They had three sons and five daughters; two now survive — George W. and Nancy, wife of Thomas Riley. Our subject was about eight years of age when brought to the wilderness of Ohio, and here grew to manhood fully accustomed to pioneer life. On March 28, 1831, he married Harriet McConnell, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, October 12, 1810, a daughter of James and Sallie (Downing) McConnell, natives of Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Brown County, and removed to Clinton County about 1821. They had four sons and five daughters, four now living — Thomas, Betsey (wife of Isaac Wilson, and residing in Illinois), Harriet and Joseph M., the latter resides in Oregon. Mr. B. and wife have had eleven children, nine now living — Thomas F., James K., Mary E. (wife of Joshua Wilson), John W., Matilda Jane (wife of Edmund West), George W., Charles B., Martha H. (wife ofEdward McVey), and Elijah M. In 1832, Mr. Bernard located on the farm where he now lives and here has made a continued residence of half a century. This place had twenty acres cleared, and the balance of his large farm he and his sons have cleared from the woods. He is now probably the oldest man in Greene Township; has lived to see all his children married and settled in life, all doing well and generally becoming wealthy. In early life Mr. Bernard obtained but little education, as there were but few advantages of schools in those days. But by energy, industry and economy, he has acquired a large property. He and his sons now own over 1,300 acres of land; and now in his advanced years he can enjoy the fruits of his many labors, and rejoice with his children in their prosperity and the advantages they now enjoy.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES K. BERNARD.

vived until May 22, 1847, when she died. At that time, she was a resident of Clinton county. They were the parents of three sons and five daughters, of whom two were living tig late as 1882 — George W. and Nancy, who married Thomas Riley.

George W." Bernard, son of Thomas and Mary (Hicks) Bernard and father of James K. Bernard, the subject of this biographical sketch, was about eight years of age when his parents removed to the Ohio wilderness. Here he grew to manhood and became fully Inured to the hardships of pioneer life. Ou March 28. 1831, he was married to Harriet McCoiinell, who was born In Browu county. Ohio, October 12. 1810, the daughter of James and Salllc (Downing) McConnell. natives of Pennsylvania, who were early settlers in Brown county, this state, and who removed to Cllntou county about 1821. They were the parents of four sons and five daughters, four of whom were living as late as 1882, as follows: Thomas. Betsey, who married Isaac Wilson of Illinois. Harriet and Joseph M.. the last named of whom resided in Oregon.

To George W. and Harriet (McConnell) Bernard eleven children were born, nine of whom lived to full maturity, as follow: Thomas F., James K., Mary E., who married Joshua Wilson; John W.. Matilda Jane, who married Edmund West. George W., Charles B., Martha H., who married Edward McVey, and Elijah M. In 1852. George W. Bernard located on the farm in this county where he spent practically the rest of his life, living to be the oldest man in Greene township, end to see all of his children married and settled in life. Although lie had In his youth little opportunity for an education, he had supplemented his limited opportunities by special study and In later years was known as an unusually well-informed man. By energy, industry and economy, he acquired a large estate, amounting to something over thirteen hundred acres. He died at his home in Greene township In 1804. at the age of ninety-five years.

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Christopher McVey was the son of James and Kezia McVey. both of whom were natives of Ireland ami pioneer settlers in Clinton county, where both died. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters, William. Edmund. Christopher, Hubert, John. Catharine. Josephine, Jane and Kczia. To Christopher and Catharine (West) McVey eight children were Iwrn. Henrietta. James, Kczia, Unbelt. Benson, Edmund. Eliza Jane end Elkena. Christopher McVey was a farmer and owned about one hundred and eighty acres of land in Greene township. He was a Republican and a member of the Christian church. He died In ls0* Ids wife having preceded him to the grave In 1S.V5. C.Jtharine West was the daughter of Robert and Henrietta West, who came from Pennsylvania to Clinton county in pioneer days and here they spent the rest of their lives. They had eight children. Nancy. Mary. Harrison, Benson, Ely, Catharine and Xaltle.

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James K. Bernard located In Wayne township shortly before his marriage, and shortly after his marriage, on March 10, 1802, moved to his farm in Greene township, where he had a flue home and was extensively engaged In farming. He owned at one

time about sixteen hundred acres of land, which he divided among his children, leaving his widow one hundred and eighty acres near Now Vienna. Altogether, he had received from his father about twenty-live hundred dollars hut aside from this help, accumulated the money with which the sixteen hundred acres were purchased, by his own effort and his was regarded as one of the most remarkable examples of success from small beginning ever witnessed among the farmers of Clinton county.

In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Bernard removed to New Vienna, where they lived retired until Mr. Bernard's death in 11)07. The late James K. Bernard was more than a successful farmer. He was a man of extraordinary vision, of ludefallgable industry and possessed a unique ability to concentrate Ids attention on a given focus or a given end. His mind, once settled ou the accomplishment of a definite goal, nothing could divert him from this purpose. Loved by his large family, honored by his neighbors and resieeted by the people of Clinton county, he died as only the man who has lived to good pun. use can die, full of the honors of noble and useful service.

Edgar Crosley Is a prosperous young farmer of Marlon township, this county, who was born in the county where he lives in 1884. He is the son of William and Carrie (Wood) Crosley, the former born in Warren county, Ohio, on November 24, 1841. and the latter in Cincinnati In 1850.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES EDWARD BERNARD.

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Jnmk>8 Edward Bernard is a Democrat in politics, but owing to his extensive farming "and business interests, has not taken an active part in political affairs. The Bernard family are nil members of the Christian church. Fraternally, Mr. Bernard is a member <Af (he Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

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As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHRISTOPHER C. BERNARD.

Christopher C. Bernard Is a well-known farmer of Snhlna. this county, whose great-grandfather. Thomas Bernard, wus a prominent Virginia planter and wholesale dealer of Richmond, Virginia, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War, who fought at Bnnidywiue. Gerninntown, Monmouth. Stony Point and other places.

Christopher C. Bernard was born on July 2, 1872, In Green township, this county, son of James K. and Keslah (MeVey) Bernard, both natives of Clinton county, the former of whom, born on June IS). 1835, In Green township, died on September 5, 1007. and the latter, born on January 19, 1838. in Wayne township, was the daughter of Christopher and Catherine (West) McVey. Mrs. James K. Bernard was one of eight children born to her parents and was the third in order of birth, the others being James. Henrietta. Robert. Kdmnn, Benson, Eliza Jane and Alkann,

The paternal grandparents of Christopher C. Bernard were George W. and Harriet (McConnell) Bernard, the former of whom was born on September IS, 1790. in Goochland county, Virginia, and the latter, October 12, 1810. in Brown county, Ohio. George W. Bernard emigrated from Virginia to Highland county, this state, in 1807, with Ills parents and In IS32. located on the farm in Green township, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. He owned over four hundred acres of laud and was engaged in general farming. George W. and Harriet (McConnell) Bernard were the parents of nine children. Thomas P., James K., Mary E.. John W., Matilda J., George W.. Charles B.. Martha H. and Elijah M. Harriet (McConnell) Bernard was the daughter of James and Sallie (Downing) McConnell. native* of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Brown county, Ohio, later, in 1821. coming to Clinton county. George W. Bernard was the sou of Thomas and Mary (Hicks) Bernard.

The father of Thomas Bernard and the great-great-grandfather of Christopher C. the subject of this sketch, was William Bernard, a native of England, who married Mary Flemings. They were early settlers In Virginia and he owned three thousand acres of land. He was a wholesale dealer in Richmond. Virginia, and lost most of his property during the Revolutionary War. His son, Thomas, was a Revolutionary soldier, who fought In various Important battles of that war.

The late James K. Rerua nl was educated in the common schools of Green township and when a young man began farming in that township and farmer there practically all his life, having been the owner of about two thousand acres of choice land in Green and Wayne townships. In 1903 he retired and removed to New Vienna, where he spent the remaining four years of his life, passing away in 1907. His widow,, the mother of Christopher C. still lives in New Vienna. They were the parents of nine children, ns follow: John R.. who was born on July 23. 1802: George W.. August 14. is(. Harriett C August 10, 1804; Charles O., October 30. 1805: Martha. February 23, 1807: James E.. April 3. lSW; Christopher C. July 2. 1872: Cornetta. February 7. 1870. and Oscar. September 13. 1878. The late James K. Bernard was a Democrat.

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On December 19, 1894, Christopher C. Bernard was married to Edith Pierce, who was lion on April 28, 1873, daughter of Hugh and Mary (McKay) Fierce, and to this union has been born one child. Trimble Pierce, born ou December 12. 11)02.

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As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM P. BERNARD, proprietor of hotel, New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 10, 1824, is a son of Thomas J. and Mary Bernard. He was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio when but a child of about four years, and hero grew to manhood and married Mary McConncl, who was probably born in Kentucky. Flo located on Cowen’s Creek, and spent tho greater part of his lib* in Clinton County, devoted to farming. Ho lived a few years in Grown County, thence moved to near Lynchburg, where he died in February, 1868, aged sixty-seven years; his wife died in 1838, aged thirty-two years. They had five children, four now living — William P., Sarah (wife of William Elliott), Nancy and Thomas J. Mr. Bernard was twice married; his second wife was Mrs. Eliza Atkinson, by whom he had six children who grow to maturity, four now living — Mary, wife of Henry Brown; Caroline, now married; Serelda and Grafton W. The subject of this sketch was the eldest qjiild of his father; was raised to farm labor, and, on August 19, 1845, was married to Asenath Johnson, who was born July 16, 1821, in Highland County, near New Vienna, daughter of James and Elizabeth Johnson, natives of Maryland. The grandparents were Smith and Sabra Johnson, natives of Maryland, but became early settlers of Kentucky about 1810; he served in the war of 1812. About 1816, they came to Ohio and < * tied in Highland County, where they died. James Johnson was raised in Maryk- ' and married in Kentucky; thence moved to Ohio about one year after his father cvto this State. They resided in Highland County about twelve years; thence tnov, into Clinton, where they lived till their death. Mr. Johnson was a farmer by occur * tion, a man of great integrity, honest and upright in all his dealings, and one of orcounty’s best citizens.. He died February 18, 1876, in his eighty-seventh year; ]r\ wife died September 9, 1878, aged eighty-six years. They had ten children; sew - grew to maturity — Amanda S., now Widow Roush; Asenath, Elizabeth, Sabra ar * Salina (twins); the former is the wife of Allen Dennis; James F.vand Selby H. >h Bernard and wife have had four children — Thomas J., born July 1, 1846; Mary Kiln beth and Benjamin Franklin (twins), born June 8, 1848, the former wife of Wiiliat* P. Elliott; and John William, born May 26, 1851. The three cldestarenow resident, of Illinois. Mr. Bernard has spent nearly all of his life as a farmer, and mostly in Clinton County. In March, 1877, they moved to New Vienna, where they have sineresided engaged in keeping a boarding house and a hotel. In April, 1880, Mr. Bernaro took charge of the Miller House, which he has successfully conducted to the preseir time. 1 lore the traveler and the stranger find a welcome, a table spread with tho comforts of life, and a landlord and landlady always courteous and kind, who never fail to make their guests feel satisfied and at home.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.