Bernard, F. S.

BERNARD, WICK JOHNSON, GILLILAND JONTY, SWANEY, STOAKS, HELM, PORTER, BOOKNEAU

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/30/2012 at 07:04:39

F. S. Bernard has the distinction of being the oldest business man, in point of years of residence, in Malcom, and his record has therefore been closely identified with the growth and development of the town from the earliest chapters of its history.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Highland county, May 26, 1849, a son of Richard and Eunice (Wick) Bernard, who were born in Virginia and Kentucky respectively. They were reared and married in Ohio, however, and came to Poweshiek county, settling in Montezuma in the fall of 1860. In 1895 they arrived in Malcom, where their remaining days were spent, the father passing away in 1901, at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother in 1899, when eighty-two years of age. The former had devoted his entire lifetime to agricultural pursuits. Their family consisted of the following children: Mary Ann, who married Ivins Johnson and is now deceased; Louisa, who passed away in infancy; W. H., of Montezuma, who served in the Third Iowa and Twenty-eighth Iowa at the time of the Civil war; Christopher C., who enlisted from Poweshiek county as a member of Company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek; Eliza, the widow of Andrew Gilliland, of Hartford, Michigan; F. S., of this review; H. R. of Portland, Oregon; Joseph Edgar, residing in Pasadena, California; Ella, who married D. H. Jonty, of Hartford; and Flora, the wife of Charles Swaney, of Montezuma.
F. S. Bernard was a lad of eleven years of age when the came to Poweshiek county with his parents in 1860, and through the intervening years since that period has continued to make his home within its limits. On the home farm, about three and a half miles southeast of Montezuma, he was reared to rural life, and remained with his parents until, believing that he might find other pursuits more congenial and profitable than farming, he went to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for about three years during which period he thoroughly mastered all branches of the business. In March, 1875, he came to Malcom, which has since continued to remain the scene of his business activity. Malcom at that time was but a town in embryo, consisting of little more than a group of buildings near the depot and bearing little resemblance to the flourishing village of today. He at once sought work and for nine years he was employed in the blacksmith shop of T. S. Cartwright. At the expiration of that period he joined his brother in purchasing the business of Mr. Cartwright, and they continued in its operation until the election of the latter, in 1902, to the office of county recorder. Mr. Bernard then entered into partnership relations with R. A. Wiley, under the firm style of Bernard & Wiley, engaging in general blacksmithing and all kinds of repairing and wood work. They also conduct an agricultural implement business, dealing in buggies, wagons, pumps, windmills, etc., and in this direction they have built up an extensive trade, drawing their patronage from all parts of the county. While connected with his brother Mr. Bernard erected the present shops, consisting of a two-story frame building, one hundred and five by twenty-five feet, with an ell extension of fifty feet. The enterprise, which has had a continuous and substantial growth since its inception, has developed into one of the important business interests of the town and its success is due, in large measure, to the keen business ability, expert workmanship and reliable methods of the partners.
In the year 1881 Mr. Bernard was united in marriage to Miss Priscilla Stoaks, who was born in Donahue, Scott, county, Iowa, on the 18th of August, 1862, but was reared and married in Poweshiek county. Her parents, Peter and Nancy (Helm) Stoaks, are both deceased, the mother passing away on the 4th of July 1891, and the father on the 1st of March, 1908, while residing with his daughter, Mrs. Bernard. The latter by her marriage to Mr. Bernard became the mother of five children, namely: Blanche, the wife of Worth Porter, of Grinnell township; Fred, who passed away at the age of nine years; Hazel who married Harley Bookneau, of Grinnell; and Frank and James, both at home.
Mr. Bernard is well known in Masonic circles as a Master Mason, belonging to Lily Lodge, No. 254, A.F.& A.M., of Malcom; Hysop Chapter, No. 50, R.A.M. of Malcom; and Oriental Commandery, No. 22, K.T., of Newton. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and at one time served on the city counsel. He is justice of the peace at present and for eighteen years has served on the board of education, of which he is now president. He has ever been a stanch champion of the cause of education, standing as he does for the highest and best in intellectual training, and other interests as well have felt the stimulus of his influence, for he is public-spirited in his citizenship, advocating all those measures which tend to promote the welfare of the community. He has been identified with the business interests of Malcom longer than any other resident, his connection therewith extending over a period of thirty-six years, and in the meantime he has witnessed its development from a small hamlet to the progressive little town of the present, his own record typifying in a certain degree the progress and advancement which has been continuously carried forward within its limits. He is widely known throughout the community and the consensus of public opinion accords him a prominent place among Malcom's representative and respected citizens.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 191-193