History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

366 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. and Mrs. Ewald have become parents of two children:
Adrian J., who was born June 29, 1902, and died in 1903, and
Ilia M., born June 24, 1905. Tlie parents attend the Evangelical
church. Mr. Ewald votes with the republican party, but has no
aspiration for public office. He tinds that his business affairs
make ample claim upon his time and energies, and he has two
excellent farms in the count}'', the neat and thrifty appearance of
which indicate his careful supervision and practical, progressive
methods.
HENRY A. BERNARDIN.
Henry A. Bernardin, a dealer in lumber, lime, cement, stone,
etc., at West Brooklyn, was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, September
1, 18G8, and comes of French ancestry. His grandparents, Peter
and Mary (Boff'y) Bernardin, Avere natives of France and with
a family of seven children crossed the Atlantic, settling in Scioto
county, Ohio. A subsequent removal made them residents of liCe
county and their remains now lie interred in the family lot in the
West Brooklyn cemetery. Joseph C. Bernardin, father of Henry
A. Bernardin, was born in France, came to America in 1855 and
remained a resident of the state of Ohio until 1870, when he removed
to Lee county, Illinois, taking up his abode upon a farm in
Viola township, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits
for a number of years. At length he retired from farm life and
removed to Amboy in 1898. there ]iassing away October 13, 1911,
when he was seventy-two years of age. His wife, who bore the
maiden name of Palmere Ranger, was also a native of France and
died in the year 1874, at the age of thirty years. Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph C. Bernardin were the parents of two sons and a daughter,
the brother of our subject being Charles J. Bernardin, who
occupies a farm in Viola townshi]), and the sister is Mrs. John
Ai'nold, of the same township.
Henry A. Bernardin was only two years of age when his parents
left Ohio and brought theii' family to Lee county. He became
a pupil in the country schools near the old home bxit after reach-
ing the age of fifteen years was able to attend only through the
winter months, the smnmer seasons being devoted to farm work.
He continued to assist in the development of the home farm imtil
twenty-four yeai's of age, when he purchased a tract of land in