Saturday, January 30, 2010

Fruit in the Pantry

In 1912 when J. C. Bernhardt passed away, his second wife Martha Jane, and his youngest son, my grandfather, Ira Leo were living at the homeplace. JC left no will, so the court distributed his property. An inventory of the house and property were made including many interesting items of the time such as a sythe, spinning wheel, wash pot and surveying tools. When all accounting was finished, most of the property went to the widow. This was due to the value placed on items in the inventory and the state ordered widow's portion.

The other brothers and sisters felt that the valuation of the inventory was way too low (and by looking at the inventory, which I have included, I would tend to agree.) The older brothers and sisters thinking that they were due more than the settlement said; went to the house and took what they thought was their fair share.

A law suit was filed by the children of JC and Laura Davis against the estate, stating the settlement was unfair because the property was undervalued. The case was heard and the ruling was that the inventory was a fair valuation of the property. The judge ordered the children of Laura Davis to return all property removed from the homeplace including the fruit taken from the pantry!

Apparently it was a pretty shameful incident in the family, because I have talked to no one of the next generation who had heard of the dispute. I discovered the story in the Estate Settlement papers. The family was able to put the dispute behind them, probably through the good will and good humor that runs in the family; because we are all still speaking to each other!

My grandfather Leo inherited the property from his mother Martha Jane. I have a number of the items included in the inventory still at the house today; except, I have looked and the fruit is all gone.

In honor of this momentous event in the family history I propose that this year at the reunion all the Leo family descendants bring fruit or vegetables to even up the distribution of property; and perhaps the rest of the family with their 'good will and good humor' could donate the food to Crisis Assistance.

Perhaps this will appease our ancestors and might become an annual tradition for the family!

Inventory of JC Bernhardt upon his death in 1912

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Family Scandal of the Fruit in the Pantry

Does anyone know the contraversy of the fruit in the pantry? It was quite a family scandal! Has anyone ever heard this story? If not I'll publish the full details in a few days.

Friday, January 22, 2010

JC Bernhardt Children at first Reunion

Click on the comment button below the picture and name all the brothers and sisters.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010


From the Bible of John Crawford Bernhardt
Marriage License of JC Bernhardt and Laura Elizabeth Davis
20 September 1875
In the possession of Karen Miller McConnell

Addition to the Bernhardt Clan

Alex and John Ketner are expecting another child in July. They have little Christain who will be 2 in July.

Addie Ketner

Monday, January 18, 2010

Copies of Old Bernhardt Books

I still have some copies of the reprint of "The Bernhardt Family, 1575 to 1980." I will be happy to mail copies to anyone who sends me $10 per copy - includes postage - and there's a lot of good historical information here which many cousins do not have. It will be a good companion piece to the new history which the committee is currently preparing.


Send $10 to:
Carolyn K. Penny
4105 Pickett Road
Durham, NC 27705

Chains for surveying used by JC. Owed by Bill Klutts.

JC Bernhardt's Surveying Tools



This equipment was used by John Crawford when he was County Surveyor for
Rowan County. I bought them from his son Earnest about 1948.
 
Bill Kluttz

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Bernhardt Family about 1930


The Bernhardts gathered again about 1930 at the family home in Salisbury, NC. Can you identify these people?

Bernhardt Family 1912


J C Bernhardt Family in 1912 at family home in Salisbury, NC. Who can you identify?