Adolph, Emilie, and Levy Bernd

Levy Bernd was born 21 April 1788 in Prussia. In the fall of 1835, he and wife Fredrica brought nine children to the United States, arriving in New York on 13 October.  Those children were Johanette, Bertha, Henrietta, Adolph, Ferdinand, Gustav, Lisette, Julius, and Emilie.

Less than a month later, Levy signed a Declaration of Intention to become a United States citizen.  By September 1850, Levy and family were residing in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He was occupied as a merchant.

After spending some time in St. Louis, Missouri, Levy's final settlement would be at Macon, Bibb County, Georgia.  He died there August 1868.  At the time, the local newspaper denoted Levy the "oldest German in Macon." His final resting place was in the old Hebrew Burial Ground at Rose Hill Cemetery.  [Image at right credit: Evening Blues (2004) via FindAGrave.  Permission for use granted in bio.]

Adolphus (Adolph) Bernd was born 7 December 1821, likely a son of Levy and Fredrica.  His tombstone provides a birthplace of Hohensolms, Germany.  My limited knowledge suggests this locale was more specifically part of the Kingdom of Prussia at the time of Adolph's birth.  [Later it would be part of the North German Confederation, then the German Empire, and finally the Federal Republic of Germany.]

Adolph signed a Declaration of Intention to become a United States citizen while at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 1848.  He was in Levy's household for the 1850 Federal census (same locale), also occupied as a merchant.

Directories for the city of St. Louis, Missouri show Adolph was there at least from 1864 to 1866.  He was partnered in business with his brother Ferdinand. The Bernd Brothers company was involved in "wholesale and retail wines and liquors," located at 26 Market street.

Since Levy died in Macon, Bibb County, Georgia the summer of 1868, I think it's likely Adolph was there by then, too.  He was definitely there for the taking of the July 1870 Federal census, as well as the 1871 Bibb County, Georgia Tax Digest.  During this time, Adolph was partnered with another brother, Gustav, in the business of saddle and harness manufacturing.

I have found no evidence to suggest Adolph ever married.  For the June 1880 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia Federal census, he was a single man living at 108 Plum Street.

Though I read in a report about the Jewish community history of Macon that the partners of A. & G. Bernd Co. parted ways some years later, it appears Adolph remained engaged in the same harness making business until his death at Macon the last of January 1891.

Mr. Adolph Bernd's funeral notice stated he was to be buried "in the Beth Israel cemetery." This was the old Hebrew Burial Ground at Rose Hill.

(Image by James Allen)

Emilie Dellevie Bernd was born 26 April 1832 in Germany / Prussia, possibly a daughter of Levy and Fredrica.  Emilie was just three years old when she arrived in New York in 1835.  She was in Levy's household for the 1850 Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Federal census, and Adolph's household for the 1870 Macon, Bibb County, Georgia Federal census.

According to her tombstone, Emilie died 28 June 1875.  Like Levy and Adolph, she was buried in the old Hebrew Burial Ground at Rose Hill Cemetery.  A portion of her epitaph follows:

Her great aim was the pursuit
of knowledge, in the possession
of which she made no ostentations
show.  Her delight was to make those
dear to her happy, not forgetting
the comforts of others, nursing
the sick and relieving the needy.
She walked in the way of righteousness
and truth, the reverse was repugnant
to her soul.

[Image at right credit: Evening Blues (2004) via FindAGrave.  Permission for use granted in bio.]

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