History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, 
from U. S. Gov't Survey to Present Time, with Biographical Sketches
Dessureau. Antigo, WI: Berner Brothers, 1922, p 316-319, 342-343 
[portrait of Fred L. p 316; portrait of his brother, Henry, p 343]
Submitted by Cathy Kubly

Biography of Henry BERNER, Sr. - pp 318-319 (father of Fred L. & Henry, Jr.)

Henry BERNER, Sr., one of the pioneer residents of the city of Antigo [Langlade County, Wisconsin], was born in Germany, 29 February 1829.  He left Germany at the time of the exodus of the "forty-niners," but went to Canada, where he spent a year and then came to the United States, settling in the town of Gibson, Manitowoc County [Wisconsin], where he conducted a shoe shop.  It was while living there that he married Miss Caroline ZANDER.  To Henry and Caroline (ZANDER) BERNER, Sr. seven children were born:  Louis, William, Mrs. Otto KLESSIG, Miss Mary, Henry, Ford, and Otto.

In the spring of 1884 the family moved to Antigo [Langlade County], where Mr. BOERNER purchased a general store.  The building has since been removed, it being located just south of the city hall.  Shortly after becoming located here, Mr. BERNER also purchased a tract of land, which was then a wild wilderness and considered far from the city.  It is now the southeast portion of the city of Antigo, and is mostly covered with homes.

Mr. BERNER was also the pioneer German newspaper [p 319] publisher of the city, having started "Die Pioneer" in 1885, with a Mr. GROSER as editor.  It was published here for less than two years, and then moved to Shawano [Shawano County, Wisconsin], as the town [Antigo] was too small to support the publication.  It is still being published, although the name has been changed several times since then.

About 1893 he sold out his store and spent the remaining years of his life on the farm, which shortly after became a part of the city.  Henry BERNER, Sr. died on 25 December 1893.

Biography of Fred L. BERNER - pp 316-317 (son of Henry, Sr.)

Identified with the highest and best interests of the community, Fred L. BERNER, secretary-treasurer of the Berner Brothers Publishing Company [Antigo, Langlade County, Wisconsin; publisher of the source from which these biographies were taken], is also editor of the "Antigo Daily Journal," Langlade County's first and only daily publication.  [The first publication in Langlade County, not a daily, started by George RADCLIFFE, the "Langlade County Republican," was published under various names from 03 January 1880 to 14 September 1911.]  In this capacity as an editor, Fred L. BERNER has given the best that in him to the publication of a wholesome and capable newspaper, one of the most efficient journals of northern Wisconsin.

Fred L. BERNER was born in the town of Gibson, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, 27 November 1880, the son of Henry and Caroline BERNER.  He moved with his parents to Antigo in the spring of 1884, one year before the incorporation of Antigo as a city, and he has made this city his home ever since.  He attended the city schools and graduated from Antigo High School with the class of 1898, following which he taught a rural school in the county for one year.

Mr. [Fred L.] BERNER moved to Columbus [Columbia County], Wisconsin, in the fall of 1898, where he was associated with his brother, Henry BERNER, in the publication of the "Columbus Democrat," a weekly paper.  He [Fred L.] was the editor of that [p 317] paper and at that time was the youngest editor in the state, having been only nineteen years of age when he entered upon that work.

In the fall of 1901 he returned to Antigo, having disposed of the "Columbus Democrat," and purchased the "Antigo Journal," then a weekly publication.  He has had editorial charge of that paper since, during which time it has developed into a twice-a-week paper, and in 1904 it was launched as a daily paper.  [The "Antigo Journal" was published from 18 September 1898 to 03 December 1923, and the "Antigo Daily Journal" has been published since 01 September 1904.]

Mr. BERNER has always taken a keen interest in all public affairs and is a leader in all civic enterprises that tend to benefit the city and county.  He was the first Secretary of the old Commercial Club, and became Vice President of the Association of Commerce, when the latter Antigo organization was perfected.  During the [First] World War he was Secretary of the Antigo Militia League, a member of the Langlade County Council of Defense, a member of the Executive Committee of the Red Cross, was Secretary of the Langlade County Liberty Loan Association, and had complete charge of all publicity in that regard.

Fraternally he is affiliated with the Antigo Lodge, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, Antigo Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Antigo Council, Royal & Select Masons; Elks; Knights of Pythias; Moose, Beavers, and F. R. A.

On 27 August 1906, Mr. Fred L. BERNER was united in marriage to Margaret M. EDWARDS, of Oconto [Oconto County, Wisconsin], and their home is located at 1012 Superior Street, Antigo.

Biography of Henry BERNER, Jr. - pp 342-343 (brother of Fred L.)

[Note:  "Henry Jr." is referred to in the following biography as "Henry," and his son, more correctly Henry III, is referred to as "Henry Jr."]  Henry BERNER , the President of Berner Brothers Publishing Company, was born in the town of Gibson, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, 10 June 1878, the son of Henry [Sr.] and Caroline BERNER.  When five years of age he moved with his parents to Antigo [Langlade County, Wisconsin], where he attended the public schools and the Antigo High School.  Leaving school he began his [p 342] career as an employee of the "Weekly News Item" and was with that publication for three years.  It was then located where Mrs. A. R. WINTERS now has her grocery store.  Mr. BERNER then secured employment on the "Antigo Republican," [where he served an apprenticeship with the owners, brothers, Arthur J. and Paul J. MILLARD] and was with that paper from 1895 until 1899, when he went to Columbus [Columbia County], Wisconsin, where, with his brother Fred L. BERNER, he took over the "Columbus Democrat."  He returned to Antigo in 1901 and with his brother took over the "Antigo Journal," then a weekly paper, purchasing the same form George W. HILL.  The Journal has grown to be one of the best news and advertising mediums of this section of the state through the business principles that the brothers followed during the span of twenty years they have had charge of the Journal.  Mr. [Henry] BERNER is now the general manager of the large printing plant at 533 Superior Street, Antigo, Wisconsin.  ["Weekly News Item" was published from 26 August 1882 to 07 November 1935, "Antigo Republican" from 03 January 1880 to 14 September 1911, and "Antigo Journal" from 18 September 1898 to 28 December 1923.]    

On 19 December 1899 Henry BERNER was united in marriage to Elizabeth YEAGER, of Marshfield [Wood County], Wisconsin.  To this union six children were born:  Dorothy, now a teacher in the Menasha public schools [Menasha, Winnebago County, Wisconsin]; Henry Jr. [more correctly, Henry III], a student at the University of Wisconsin; Artemus [Artemas F. who was born in Langlade County 01 March 1904? Pre-1907 Wisconsin Birth Index], of Antigo; Thelma, a student; Lynn, who passed away on 04 October 1922 following fatal injuries received in an automobile accident; and Leland, who died on 05 October 1908.  Both Lynn and Leland are buried in the Antigo Cemetery.

Fraternally Mr. BERNER is affiliated with the Beavers Reserve Fund Fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Sons of Veterans.  He is the secretary of the Langlade County Fair Association, and for twelve years (1910-1922) was oil inspector for this district.  He is also a member of the Antigo Association of Commerce.  The BERNER residence is at 423 Tenth Avenue, Antigo.

[Two BERNER births are listed in the pre-1907 Birth Index for Wisconsin for Langlade County:  BERNER (no first name given), born 09 July 1906; and BERNER, Elder, born 14 April 1895.  [Langlade County Marriage Index:  "Otto F. BERNER" wed Lena Laura STAHL, 28 September 1904; "Wilhelm BERNER" wed Helene W. B. RASCH, 22 August 1890.  Delayed Birth Index for Wisconsin:  "Henry Lewis BERNER," born 23 August 1902 in Langlade County, Wisconsin.  Index of Pre-1907 Wisconsin Deaths:  "John BERNER," died 22 June 1898.  Submitter is not researching the BERNER surname; no vital records were checked by submitter to verify the names, dates and places of events given in this biography.]