My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published by Donnelley, Gassette & Loyd in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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BERNTHISTLE I. W. retired farmer, residence East Bridgeport street, White Hall. The subject of our notice was born in Pennsylvania, Perry County, Nov. 9, 1827. He was but four years of age when his parents, Jacob and Jane Bernthistle, moved to Wood County, Ohio, where farm property was purchased, and here were spent upon the farm homestead the earlier years of I. W. Bernthistle. In 1849 he crossed the plains for the golden shores of the Pacific coast, where, on his arrival, he turned his attention to mining, and unlike many he succeeded in securing a goodly share of the shining metal. After two years of hardships among the mines of California, Mr. B. concluded to again return to his old home in Ohio, where he was shortly after united in marriage to Ann E. Burkhardt, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Burkhardt. Four years later he crossed the Ohio for southern Illinois, settling near the Illinois River, on the property now owned by him, and consisting of 532 acres. Here, however, he first worked as a farm hand, and subsequently achieved the success met with in after life through no ordinary energy. In 1868 he moved to White Hall, where he purchased the buildings and ground owned by David Potter, and for some years conducted a successful business as a contractor in meats, supplying the south branch of the C. & A. R. R. Although now retired from life, energy is still a distinguishing trait in the character of our subject.

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This family biography is one of 744 biographies included in The History of Greene County, Illinois published in 1879.  View the complete description here: The History of Greene County, Illinois

View additional Greene County, Illinois family biographies here: Greene County, Illinois Biographies

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