Brother of Ana Christine Henriksen (1866-1940).

OBITUARY Iron River Reporter June 30 1942 "Service For Chris Bernhardt At Farm Home" with photo
Funeral services for Christian Bernhardt, 81, Iron River township's venerable clerk for many years, will be held from the farm home Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in the charge of the Rev. Carl I. Fant, pastor, with burial in Resthaven [Beechwood Rosehill] cemetery.
Mr. Bernhardt died Saturday evening at 8 o'clock at his farm home in the township of the infirmities of old age.
Beloved by his neighbors and a wide circle of friends, he was revered for his integrity and friendliness and the quality of his citizenship.
His last public appearance was on April 29 when he was the guest of honor at a testimonial supper at the Iron River township hall arranged by his former associates and friends. His life as a public servant and citizen was reviewed by William J. Collins, president of the village of Mineral Hills and former supervisor, and the aged guest received the compliments of a multitude of friends. Persons in all walks of life attended and added their tribute.
BORN IN DENMARK Mr. Bernhardt was born in Denmark Jan. 21, 1861, the first year of the Civil War. Opportunity in America beckoned to young men of European countries in those days, and when 21, Christian came to the United States, secured employment on the railroad and helped push the rails from Stager to Stambaugh in 1881-1882.
In 1889, the young man was made section foreman with headquarters at the Stambaugh yards. Shortly after he entered into a partnership with Peter Andreasen and opened a store where the Perfecto Tire & Battery shop is now located on Adams street. The Cleveland panic of 1891 compelled the two men to close their doors, and Bernhardt hiked through the wilderness to Beechwood and carved himself a farm. The forest then extended westward from Fourth avenue and only hardy souls were able to endure the ordeals of pioneering farms in the thick woods.
MARRIED AT 46 Not until he was 46 did the young Dane marry. He won the hand of Miss Christina Christensen over the bid of other suitors. To them were born eight children on their farm in the Nash district.
Mr. Bernhardt worked hard in the development of his property and found time to serve his township neighbors in public office. Iron county was Ely township, a part of Marquette county, when he had arrived in this region, but a few years later the separate county was established.
He served as highway commissioner for one term, as member of the board of review 24 years, as township clerk for over a decade and for 25 consecutive years he conducted the annual school census in the city and township and came to know most people by name.
During the time he ran the store, Mr. Bernhardt became acquainted with Chief Edwards of the Chicagoan lake Indian tribe who came to trade at his store. Big John and White Bird were other well known Indians who made his friendship. Bernhardt kept a picture of Chief Edwards and his squaw Pentoga, probably the only one of the chief now in existence.
The body was moved to the family home Sunday by the Johns Funeral home.
He leaves his wife Christine; four sons, Carl of Lexington, Ky., Sgt. Fred of Fort Flag, S.C., Pvt. Harold of Ft. Sheridan, Vernon of Iron River; also four daughters, Mamie, Mrs. Olaf Vicklund, Agnes and Dorothy.

FUNERAL NOTICE Iron River Reporter July 3 1942 "Services Are Held For Christian Bernhardt"
Last rites for Christian Bernhardt, patriarchal citizen of Iron River township, were held from the family home Wednesday with a large representation of his neighbors and friends. The services were conducted by the Rev. Carl I. Fant, pastor of the First Lutheran church, with interment in Resthaven cemetery.
Mr. Bernhardt, 81, served the township in several official capacities during his more than 50 years here, and established many warm friendships with persons throughout the county.

FRAMES FOR THE FUTURE Iron River area Michigan centennial book 1981 "Nash: Christian and Christine Christensen Bernhardt Family" page 114 with photos (excerpt)
Carl, Christian, Christine and Peter were the children of Ludwig and Karen Bernhardt of Biltris, Denmark. All four came to the United States to live. Carl, Christian, and Christine settled in Beechwood, but Peter traveled west and little was heard from him. Carl remained a bachelor, Christine married Hemming Henriksen, and Christian married Christine Christensen.
Christian Andreas Bernhardt was born on January 21, 1861. He first came to the United States in 1879 but returned to Denmark later for a brief visit with his parents. His early employment was on the railroads in the Chicago area. In the year 1881-1882 he helped build the railroad from Stager to Stambaugh, and in 1889 he was made section foreman with headquarters at the Stambaugh yards.
He then went into partnership with Peter Andreasen and opened a store in Iron River. The Cleveland panic of 1893 compelled them to close the store so Christian then headed for Beechwood where he started a farm in the wilderness.
After his marriage to Christine on November 26, 1907, he purchased 80 acres of land from Dan Coffin. Later he sold 20 acres of this to John Hakala and two acres to Albert Christensen. Christian worked as a timber estimator for the Wakefield Land Company of Milwaukee for many years. Since the Wakefield property was scattered over large areas of the western Upper Peninsula, Christian would often be gone for days. He would take the train as near to the area as he could and then hike in with his pack upon his back. He also handled many timber sales for the Wakefield's Vernon and Dorr.
For twenty five years Christian took the school census. He trudged many miles carrying the heavy census books, but when he traveled to distant places like Paint Lake and Gibbs City, he hired a horse and rig from the Moss Livery Stable. In the later years of census taking he hired a car to drive him to these areas.
Christian entered politics in Iron River Township. He served for one year as Highway Commissioner and for twenty four years on the Board of Review. He was Township Clerk for ten years, and during this time the waterline in the township was installed. He served as clerk until the year of his death in 1942.
To Christine and Christian were born eight children. Carl (died 1979) who married Frieda Ziemendorf of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Mamie (died 1939) who married Walter Tarnowski of Iron River; Ruth who married Olaf Vicklund of Ironwood; Fred (died 1968) who married Sofia Ojala; Vernon who married Marquerite Andre Hautamaki of Iron River; Agnes who married Charles Gerner, Jr. of Phelps, Wisconsin; Harold who married Marcia Webster of Williamston; and Dorothy who married Eldred Kneebone, Jr. of Iron River.

NEWS ARTICLE Iron County Reporter Dec 26 2012 "Iron County's Grange History" (excerpt)
The Historic Outreach committee of the Iron County Historical and Museum Society has identified a historic site on the farm of the late Christian and Christine Bernhardt in Nash District, Iron River Township.
The Grange was and still is an organization that farmers join, their philosophy being that agriculture is "the first and noblest of occupations and the only one directly instituted by our creator." Its general purpose was to educate and elevate the American farmer.
A group of 29 people met after a Sunday church service at the Nash School in December 1905 to charter the organization.
Records show the building of the hall on land set aside on the [Bernhardt] Centennial Farm.
Of early importance was support for the state placing a county Extension agent in Iron County, the first and only one in the Upper Peninsula in 1912.
Research reveals the Iron Grange 1271 became the community center of the area, and that necessitated enlarging the building and adding a stage in the early 1920s.
Charter members of the Iron Grange 1271 included the Andreasen, Anderson, Bernhardt, Burns, Christensen, Coffin, Gartland, Greig, Hendriksen, Nash, Moses, Petersen, Vassar, Woempner and Westphal families. Nearly half were Danish.

NEWS ARTICLE Iron County Reporter March 30 2011 "Two Iron County Farms Join Centennial Farm List" (excerpt)
CASPIAN-The Iron County Museum has announced that two Centennial Farms have been added to the list of those located in Iron County.
The new "old" farms are those settled by Jacob Wurzer and Christian and Christine Bernhardt.
Christian Bernhardt came to the United States in 1878 from Denmark and worked on the railroad from Chicago to Stager and then on to Iron River in 1882.
He purchased land in the Beechwood area in the 1890s and not only logged for himself but worked as a timber cruiser.
He was an early road commissioner, took census and served as Iron River Township clerk. He was recognized for his public service of over 40 years just before his death in 1942.
Because of his community service, his family of eight children assisted with much of the farm work.
He married Christine in 1906 and purchased the 60 acres in Nash District. Buildings already on the farm at the time were the barn at the foot of the hill and the house and woodshed at the top.
They raised cows, pigs, chickens and other poultry, and hay and grain as feed.
They also boarded houses for town businesses. They sold milk and cream, eggs, and vegetables, and were especially known for their rutabagas.
During World War II, a son and daughter ran the farm and also tore down the first barn and built a new one behind the home so it would be more convenient to care for the animals.
The family continued farming into the late 1940s and then in the late '50s, a son expanded the farm by purchasing adjacent lands.
Since that time grain and hay have been the main products, with some acreage devoted to managed timber.

NEWS ARTICLE Green Bay Gazette Oct 22 1972 "Stager Station Move Triggers Many Memories" (excerpt)
IRON RIVER-The old Stager Railroad Station, which had been located at what was known until 1882 as Iron River Junction, has been moved 20 miles to the Iron County Museum grounds in Caspian.
It evokes memories from several old timers of the area, some with intimate experiences related to the old depot.
Saved from the fate of destruction, the station will now undergo renovation and restoration according to Harold Bernhardt, Historical Society president. Bernhardt, too, has a personal interest in the building as his father was a section foreman in the Stager sector when the North Western tracks were extended from Stager to Iron River in 1882.

FRAMES FOR THE FUTURE Iron River area Michigan centennial book 1981 "Beechwood: The Post Office" page 71 with photos (excerpt)
One of the earliest official records of Beechwood is the Record and Postal Account Book which has written "Office just opened January 1, 1890."
The earliest register of money orders issued begins with January 10, 1899. The first money order was sold to Christ Bernhardt and sent to R.L. Hunter in West Superior, Wisconsin in the amount of $1.38.

NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter Feb 25 1938 "Bernhardt Settled Here Before Township Existed"

NEWS ARTICLE Iron River Reporter May 13 1930 “Meet Today-Christian Bernhardt” with photo (not shown)
Today the railroad brings the traveler to Iron River, but in 1883 Christian Bernhardt helped bring the railroad to Iron River. In 1882 the Northwestern road reached as far as Stager and it was at this time that Mr. Bernhardt entered the employ of the company. He was sent from Chicago to Stager and the following year the rails were laid as far as Iron River, connecting this city with the steel which was slowly conquering a new empire in the north.
Mr. Bernhardt continued in his employment with the railroad until 1899, during which time he lived at various times in Norway, Florence, Quinnesec, Vulcan and Waucedah. In 1888 he was given charge of the Stambaugh yards as section foreman.
A year later he left the employment of the company, having decided to go into business for himself. With Peter Andreasen as his partner, he started a grocery store in a building where the Perfecto Tire shop now stands. The partners maintained a profitable business for two years.
In ’91 the Cleveland panic struck the country. The mines closed down and economic conditions assumed a serious aspect. The firm of Bernhardt and Andreasen closed its doors.
LOCATES AT BEECHWOOD After leaving the store Mr. Bernhardt purchased land in Beechwood, and built a home there. In the summer he worked as a carpenter and in the winter was active in logging in the woods. During the 16 years which he resided at Beechwood, he was employed in the woods 12 winters.
In 1907 he married Miss Christine Christensen of Iron River, and the same year purchased the farm where he now resides. The farm, as originally purchased, consisted of 80 acres, 22 of which he later sold.
Mr. Bernhardt, who is now employed in taking the school census of Iron River township, will tell one with a great deal of pride in his voice that he has taken the census for the past 21 years. In township politics he has been particularly active. For 22 years he held the office of member of board of review, acted as highway commissioner for one year, was justice of peace for two years, and township clerk for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Bernhardt are the parents of eight children, Carl of Lexington, Ky., Mamie, a graduate of the Menominee County Agricultural school, Ruth, a graduate of Iron River class of ’29, Frederick, a junior in high school, and Vernon, Agnes, Harold, and Dorothy.
BORN IN DENMARK Mr. Bernhardt was born in Denmark January 21, 1861. In 1882 he came to the United States and was sent with a railroad gang from Chicago to Iron River.
In 1883 the track was finally laid to Iron River. At that time there was no station.
Ore had recently been discovered in the district and some shipping was done, although there was no machinery or power. The ore was dug by open pit method and hauled by mules to the station.
In 1883 everything west of Fourth avenue was solid woods and only a few houses stood in the little pioneer outpost of Iron River. A good deal of pine logging was carried on.
During the time he ran the store here Mr. Bernhardt became acquainted with Chief Edwards, of the Indians at Chicagoan lake, who came to trade at the store. Big John and White Bird were also other well known Indians with whom he became acquainted. He now owns a picture of Chief Edwards, his squaw Pentoga, and their children. It is probably the only picture of the old chief now in existence.
During his life here Mr. Bernhardt met Dr. Bond and his wife Carrie Jacobs Bond, the authoress of “The End of a Perfect Day.”

OBITUARY of Vernon Bernhardt 2002 (no known burial) says Christian Bernhardt was his father.

OBITUARY of Christine Henriksen 1940 says Christian Bernhardt of the Nash District is her brother.

OBITUARY of Mamie Tarnowski 1939 says her father Christian Bernhardt is Iron River Township clerk.

INFORMATION FROM WAYNE OHLSSON at www.rootsweb.com says born Biltris, Sæby, Roskilde, Denmark. Married Nov 26 1907.