Julian Bernstein, Winn Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Julian Bernstein, of Winnfield, Winn Parish, was a popular representative of a sterling family whose name has been closely and worthily identified with civic and business affairs in this section of Louisiana, and he was one of the liberal and progressive citizens of the fine little city that is the judicial center of Winn Parish. Mr. Bernstein was born at Montgomery, Grant Parish, this state, and was a son of Philip and Rosalia Marks Bernstein. Philip Bernstein was born in Posen, Germany, and was there reared to the age of fifteen years, when his youthful ambition and self-reliance were shown in his immigration to the United States, where he felt assured of broader opportunities of gaining independence through his own efforts. Within a short time after his arrival in this country he worked his way to Louisiana. he traveled widely through this state in the selling of merchandise from a pack which he bore on his back. He later became associated with his brother Morris in conducting a mercantile enterprise, and finally he opened a general store at Montgomery, Grant Parish. These two brothers, honest, industrious, and known for their fair and equitable business dealings, were truly pioneer merchants in this section of Louisiana, and both gained secure place in popular respect and confidence. Each of the brothers began by doing business from a pack, and they learned all the highways and byways of this district, gained the good will and support of all classes of citizens, and eventually won substantial and well merited prosperity. For some time Philip Bernstein lived a semi-retired life on his fine little plantation on Red River, just across the river from Montgomery, in Natchitoches Parish. He had been one of the successful merchants of Winnfield, and about 1904 he returned to this place where he passed the remainder of his life and where he died in 1908, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1852. His brother Morris established the first store at Winnfield, in 1852, and his modest little place of business was at the crossroads, before the town had passed beyond the hamlet stage of development. The store was known for many years as "Uncle Morris' Corner," an dit did a business that caused it to become widely known from Mississippi to Texas. As late as 1900 Morris Bernstein continued to transport merchandise by medium of steamboats on the Red River, and in his buying and selling of merchandise, produce, etc., he built up a large and prosperous business that was extended over a wide area of country. He remained a bachelor until his death, which occurred in 1914, when he was eighty years of age. Philip Bernstein was at the time of his death the only charter member of Eastern Star Lodge No. 151, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Winnfield. Both he and his brother were staunch supporters of the cause of the democratic party and both were liberal and public-spirited citizens. The marriage of Philip Bernstein and Rosalia Marks was solemnized at Montgomery, Grant Parish, and their devoted companionship was severed only when the husband and father passed to the life eternal, in the fullness of years and well earned honors. Mrs. Bernstein was fifteen years of age when she accompanied one of her aunts from Germany to the United States, and though she had at the time no knowledge of the English language, her alert and receptive mind enabled her soon to extend her familiarity with English, with the result that she spoke the language fluently and with no semblance of foreign accent. In her widowhood she was sustained and comforted by the devoted filial solicitude of her children. Of the children, Albert became a successful physician and surgeon and was engaged in the practice of his profession at Winnfield at the time of his death. Henry was a representative member of the bar of Monroe, Ouachita Parish, where he is was a member of the law firm of Hudson, Potts, Bernstein, & Sholars, and where he also served as legal representative for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Gussie, was the next younger of the children, and died prior to 1925. These three children were born at Winnfield, and Julian was born at Montgomery, the year of his nativity having been 1868. All the other children likewise were born at Montgomery. Rudolph resided at Monroe and was assistant claim agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Miss Nettie resided at Winnfield. Arnold was in 1924, serving his second term as Mayor of the City of Monroe. Bertha, who was formerly a popular teacher in the public schools of Monroe, married M. Kaliski, a leading jeweler in Monroe. Morris Bernstein was one of the organizers and original of the Winnfield State Bank, and was for many years treasurer of Eastern Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M. His brother Philip was affiliated with the B'nai B'rith Jewish Fraternity, and though ever true to the religious faith of their ancestors, the two brothers were known for their liberality in the support of general church work, as well as of enterprises and measures tending to advance the civic and material welfare of the community. Julian Bernstein was afforded the advantages of the public schools of the city of New Orleans, and thereafter he was associated with the business of his Uncle Morris until the latter retired, in 1900. He then gave attention to the management of his mother's estate, and is engaged successfully in the general real estate business. (Source: Chambers' "A History of Louisiana", 1925. Many of the references above made concerning Montgomery, Grant Parish, could easily have been during a time that Montgomery was in fact part of Winn Parish, La. Submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, Winn Parish, La.)