Bernatz, George 1847 - 1934
BERNATZ, SHOOK, GISEN, DIELY
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/17/2014 at 10:49:01
George Bernatz, a well-known and influential resident of Decorah, is successfully engaged in the grocery business at the corner of Mill and Water streets and enjoys a most gratifying patronage in this connection. His birth occurred in Rochester, New York, in March, 1847, his parents being Michael and Martha Bernatz, the former born in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the river Rhine, on the 4th of October, 1815. Michael Bernatz learned the baker's trade in that country and in 1846 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Rochester, New York, where he worked at his trade until 1849. In that year he went to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and there conducted a bakery until 1854, when his wife died. He then moved across the Mississippi river to McGregor, Iowa, where he built the fifth house in the town and opened a bakery which he conducted until 1857. In that year he erected the White Springs Brewery but did not find the business congenial and disposed of his interests in 1859. He then started for Texas but yellow fever then raging in that state, he turned back after journeying as far as New Orleans. In i860 he purchased the Smith-field flouring mills at Smithfield, Iowa, and in 1865 bought the Eagle flouring mills in Winneshiek county, Iowa, east of Decorah, operating them for three years. On the expiration of that period they sold out and purchased the Riceford flour mill at Riceford, Houston County, Minnesota, which Michael Bernatz operated in association with his two sons, George and Anthony. Anthony Bernatz now operates a flour mill in Decorah, Iowa. In 1868 Michael Bernatz built a mill at Newburg, Minnesota, and two years later went to Chaska, that state, erecting a water power mill near Minneapolis. He operated his three mills until 1874 and in that year returned to Iowa because of impaired health, purchasing the Evergreen flour mill at Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, in partnership with his two sons. At the end of about fifteen years he retired and sold out to his sons, who continued the operation of the mill for about four years longer or until it was destroyed by fire. His demise occurred at Fort Atkinson, in 1886, and thus the community lost one of its most substantial and respected citizens.
George Bernatz obtained his education largely at McGregor, Iowa. After putting aside his text-books he began working for his father and remained his associate until the latter retired and turned over his interests to him and his brother Anthony. When their mill at Fort Atkinson had burned the two brothers purchased the Ames flour mill at that place and operated the same for two years. At the end of that time George Bernatz sold out and came to Decorah, Iowa, here purchasing the Ice Cave and Hivly flour and feed mills, which he operated for about three years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of the same to his brother, who is still operating the mills in association with his sons. George Bernatz then embarked in the grocery business at the corner of Mill and Water streets and has been engaged therein to the present time, enjoying an extensive and well merited patronage. He owns the store building and carries a large and well selected line of staple and fancy groceries. He is also an engineer by profession and formerly made a specialty of dam building, constructing dams all over the country, including two at Decorah, which were built in an early day and are still in use. His dams have been very effective in checking floods and have proved far superior to others, which incurred damage to the amount of one or two thousand dollars annually. In 1863, when a youth of but fifteen, Mr. Bernatz enlisted in the Union army and served in the commissary department for five months. At the end of that time he contracted smallpox and was obliged to return home.
In June, 1873, Mr. Bernatz was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Shook, her parents being Jacob and Mary Shook, natives of Germany. They immigrated to the United States in an early day and located at Brownsville, Minnesota, where Mr. Shook conducted a hotel for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he-also conducted a hotel for some years and then removed to Riceford, Minnesota, purchasing a farm and hotel. Several years later he went to Hokah, Minnesota, and was there engaged in the hotel business during the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in 1881, while his wife passed away in South Dakota, in 1886. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bernatz were born eight children, as follows: Nellie, who is the wife of Henry Gisen and resides at Calmar, Iowa; George, who is engaged in the milling business at Eldorado, Iowa; Bert, a railroad man who makes his home at Calmar; Frank, who is associated in business with his father; Mabel, the wife of Dr. Henry Diely, of Emery, South Dakota; Albert, at home; and two, who died in infancy. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on January 14, 1888, and since that time Mr. Bernatz has lived above his store, having sold his residence.
Politically Mr. Bernatz is a republican. He served as a member of the city council for three terms and also acted as a school director at Fort Atkinson, proving an able public servant in both connections. He was reared in the Catholic faith but is not connected with any church. His acquaintance is wide and all who know him speak of him in warm terms of praise and admiration by reason of his business ability and his attractive personal qualities.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
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