John M. Bernhisel
(1846-1920)

2nd District Representative

Democrat

Yes

58

December 21, 1846

Winter Quarters, Douglas, Nebraska Territory, United States

January 13, 1920

Henrietta Harris (1854-1909) Married January 3, 1876

Farmer

John Milton Bernhisel was born at the Winter Quarters settlement in Nebraska. As a young child, his family traveled to Utah in an ox-drawn wagon, arriving in 1848. His father, Dr. John M. Bernhisel, Utah’s first delegate to the United States Congress, heavily supervised his education. In 1867, Bernhisel served a short time in the Utah Territorial Militia during the Black Hawk War. Following this, he was involved in railroading, mining, and freighting. Allegedly, he witnessed the driving of the last spike at Promontory Point in 1869. He married Henrietta Harris (1854-1909) in 1876 and moved to Lewiston, Utah, the town he helped stakeout for settlement in 1870. Here, Bernhisel took up farming. Along with other public positions, Bernhisel served four terms as justice of the peace for Lewiston. Due to ill health, Bernhisel led a quiet life following his time as state representative.

Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7.

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/KWCT-DFG

Image of John M. Bernhisel by courtesy of HathiTrust Cropped from page 56 of Drumm, Mark. "The Bee Hive State." Drumm's Manual of Utah, and Souvenir of the First State Legislature, 1896. Hathi Trust Digital Library. Salt Lake City, Utah: M. Drumm, 1896. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hx4jb7?urlappend=%3Bseq=62