My Genealogy Hound

BERNARD DANIEL has the largest bakery in Murphysboro, and is also engaged in general merchandising. He is enterprising and industrious, and these qualifications, which are essential to success, have brought him a well deserved prosperity. Numbered among the native sons of Illinois, he was born in Belleville, July 31, 1859. His father, Sebastian Daniel, was a native of Baden, Germany, and in his youth learned the baker’s trade. When a young man of seventeen, he came to the United States and followed that business in Belleville, Ill. During his residence there he married Clara Furstenberg, who was born in Freedom, Ill.

Later, Mr. Daniel established a bakery in Red Bud, where he continued business until enlisting in an Illinois regiment for service in the late war. He faithfully aided in the defense of the Union until its preservation was an assured fact, and then returned to his business in Red Bud, where he continued until coming to Murphysboro in 1869. At the corner of Union and Chestnut Streets he established a bakery, and in connection with his work in that line also engaged in the manufacture and sale of confectionery until his death, in 1872. His widow still survives him, and yet makes her home in Murphysboro. The children of the Daniel family are, William, who is engaged in the bakery and confectionery business; Bernard, of this sketch; Christine, wife of John Stoeltzle; and Lizzie, wife of Al Ozburn.

Bernard Daniel has lived in Murphysboro since the age of ten years, and is therefore well known to its citizens, among whom he is held in high regard. He was educated in its public and private schools, and with his father learned the baker’s trade. On the death of the latter, he aided his mother in carrying on the business, and subsequently worked as a baker until February, 1882, when he began business for himself in company with the Borger brothers, under the firm name of Borger & Daniel. He bought out his partners’ interests in 1884, and has since conducted the business alone. The store is located at the corner of Walnut and Union Streets, where he carries a large stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, queensware, provisions, etc. He also has the largest bakery in Murphysboro, and represents the Dozier Bakery of St. Louis, handling large quantities of the goods of that firm. The oven, located in the rear of the store, is 10x12 feet, and has a capacity of one thousand loaves of bread per day.

Mr. Daniel is a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, and is Financial Secretary of the Catholic Knights of Illinois. He also belongs to Jackson Camp No. 113, S. V., and is a member of the Camp Council. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party, but has neither sought nor desired public office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success.

In 1891 Mr. Daniel built a pleasant residence on Union Street. His wife was formerly Miss Lena Berger. She was born in Alabama, but her maidenhood days were passed in Murphysboro, and she is a daughter of Bartel Berger, of this place. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel was celebrated January 22, 1883, and has been blessed with three children, Gertie, William and Clara.