His obituary in the Davenport, Iowa paper spells his name Bernhardt and states that he was born in Gross Bodenigen, Prussia. He died of cancer of the stomach. His wife (Sarah (Spring) Eseke preceded him in death by two years. Bernard came to the United States around 1849 or 1850 and settled in Pittsfield, IL where he married 16-year-old Sarah Spring on 12 Nov 1851. Children born to this union were Robert H., Elizabeth B., Ellen E., Adelia R., Harry B. and Alexander.
Bernard enlisted in the Army to join the fight of the ongoing Civil War. He was in Company G, 20th Infantry as a Corporal 7th Class on 15 Aug 1862. As a Sergeant 4th Class, he received a disability discharge on 21 May 1865 in Mobile, AL, after which, he returned to Iowa to become Street Commissioner for seven years, of Walcott by 1880. It is assumed he was wounded (degree unknown) at the battle of Fort Blakely, which was the last battle of the civil war.
To be be continued...
Thanks goes out to Linda Weaver for sending me so much information on the Eseke/Iseke family.
His obituary in the Davenport, Iowa paper spells his name Bernhardt and states that he was born in Gross Bodenigen, Prussia. He died of cancer of the stomach. His wife (Sarah (Spring) Eseke preceded him in death by two years. Bernard came to the United States around 1849 or 1850 and settled in Pittsfield, IL where he married 16-year-old Sarah Spring on 12 Nov 1851. Children born to this union were Robert H., Elizabeth B., Ellen E., Adelia R., Harry B. and Alexander.
Bernard enlisted in the Army to join the fight of the ongoing Civil War. He was in Company G, 20th Infantry as a Corporal 7th Class on 15 Aug 1862. As a Sergeant 4th Class, he received a disability discharge on 21 May 1865 in Mobile, AL, after which, he returned to Iowa to become Street Commissioner for seven years, of Walcott by 1880. It is assumed he was wounded (degree unknown) at the battle of Fort Blakely, which was the last battle of the civil war.
To be be continued...
Thanks goes out to Linda Weaver for sending me so much information on the Eseke/Iseke family.