The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-01
Death of e. w. Bernhard.

Death of G. w. Bernhard.
lie vii awake RIO more oh, never morr-Shsiioy.
There happens occasionally Il Visitation OF the
angel of death that fills the community with awe.
OF such character was the death OF {. ". Den
hard early on last MOnday-So quick was the vic
tim cut down and cast into eternity. 70 be sure
Mr.. Bernhard had been in poor health for some
time past. While on the Atlantic last summer
going to Europe he caught severe cold, which
never left him and which brought him back to
America sooner, perhaps, than he had intended
to come; but that his condition was in any wise
alarming, neither he nor hi, friends could believe.
Spasmodc asthma, he thought, was his com
plant: and with due care for ms health and the
resumption of his official duties and his regular
habits it was believed he would eventually en-
tircly recover But the change did not come
Occasionally would come periods when his breath
ing would be so difficult as to confinc him to his
bed, but not for long time. On Saturday last
nc suffered with one Of these spasms Of difficult
breathing, but so far recovered a. to be able on
Sunday to perform his duties (as he had done
some 10 or Is years before at st. Columbia Catho-
lie church rs organiSt and choirstcr; but ut about
"a. NJ. on Monday his family physician, DR. c.
Hard was called who found onC-half Of his body
paray2cd; and about / o'clock, in spite OF all eff
forts 10 save his life, he died On Monday Dr.
Hard assisted by Dr,, Macarthur, Rybum, Petit
and Bascom, made post-mortem examination
by which 1t was found that the heart had become
unusually large, producing paralysis of that or
gan The human heart in state of health should
weigh from TO II ounces. Mr.. Denhard's
weighed - ounces, after some 81 ounces Of water
had been extracted from it! rs has been said
"thc wonder is, not that he died so soon, but that
he lived so long"
Nr. Bernhard was born in Schucchtcrn Hes
sen Nassau, Germany, on August -, 1899, max
ing him nearly 80 years old at the time of his
death. In lS49 he arrived in York, and after some
years spent in the cast and in Ohio and Indiana
lin which latter state he married), he settled in
Ottawa, where lie followed his profession of mu-
stefan. On January list, 1869, he made his d,6W
in public life, an editor, the first number Of the
Ccntrdt Illinois WochcRJldtt, by Bernhard and C..
g. Lutz, appearing on that day German jour
nalsm in this county had up to that time suffered
all the ills outrageous fortune could heap upon
it. Years before Mr. Cramer cssayed to pub
lish German paper in Mendoza, and failed. The
attempt was renewed some time after by Lutz Il
1OOh, Ill oltuWd' lHcy idlcu AllcI'I eHoTt III
terva Mr. Gcilhausen started another in La
Sale he failed. The Ccatrdl Illinois H'ochciJlnH
was first published by Mr.. Hagenbach; he failed
and from the creditors Mcssrs. Bernhard X Lutz
purchased the materials and rcbcgan the publ
cation of the paper. Mr. Bernhard was very lOath
10 90 into project so fruitful Of failure; but Mr..
Lutz convinced him of the probability of its ulti-
mate success. The aim Of the publishers WAS to
make good paper and 10 enable the German
population to yet better acquainted with public
affairs. II was necessity demanded by the in
creasng German population Of La Sale county
through which a knowledge Of state and county
affairs was given them. Through the energy and
intelligence of the management, the paper was
firmly established 1t was strictly Independent
in politics until October 1869 the date of Mr..
Lutz's retirement, when it became republican
organ, Mr. j. J. Wittc the present publisher
succeeding Mr.. Lutz. In 1872 Mr.. Bernhard was
elected county recorder the first recorder of the
county as Il special officer, at which time he re
tired from the editorial chair of the FocheRbl1tt,
though he retained his financial interest in the
paper till his DEATH In 1876 he was reelected
recorder for the term ending Dec. l. 1870 At
both elections he ran ahead of his ticket.
Mr. Bernhard was in every sense Of the word
man (rirl, Intelligent, well educated big heart.
I'd, emincntly social in his nature, industrious
and energetic, whatever his occupation. In his
official position he was the hardest worked man
in the Office. He was seldom the last al his desk
generally the first and the last to leave the office
rev men make more warm personal friends than
he had. To all men he was the same making
friends of all his pupils teacher, Of all with
whom he did business, and among those even
who saw and knew but little Of him. he was
never sycophantic to the rich but was ever ready
10 assist the poor or deserving with words of
counsel or with his means
He was 4 member Of the Masonic, odd Eel
lows and Ancient order of United Workmen fra
ternitieS, the Turner Society. and several German
Benevolent Societies.
The funeral took place on Wednesday after.
noon from the house. At the house the only cx-
ercise was singing by the Singer Section Of the
Turner Society. Though the day was intensely
cold, the body was escorted TO the grave by some
20 or more representatives frCm the above or
was buried by the Masons, the ritual being read
in German Mr. Geo. W Ravens made m ad-
dress also at the grave.
He leaves wife and six children, who are suf-
ficiently provided for. And TO them is extended
in this their hour of trial the sympathy Of all who
knew him and his worth.