William A. Bernard ranks as one of America’s leading toolmakers, designers and inventors. His name, appearing on many valuable mechanical tools and devices, is known not only throughout this country but in Europe as well and he is now actively engaged in the extensive manufacture of over one hundred of his own inventions and he has patents pending on various other inventions. He has been spoken of as standing to the tool making world in the relative position that Edison occupies to the electrical world. His official designation is that of vice president of the William Schollhorn Manufacturing Company. Mr. Bernard was born at Lynchburg, Virginia, April 2, 1848, a son of William and Ann Bernard, who were also natives of the Old Dominion and spent their entire lives in that state, where the father was well known as a prominent tobacco manufacturer. To him and his wife were born eight children.

     William A. Bernard, the fifth of the family, attended public school in Virginia and early displayed an aptitude for mechanics and notable skill as a machinist. He completed an apprenticeship to the machinist’s trade and took up tool making, which he followed in various places in West Virginia, in Baltimore, Maryland, and in New York city, going eventually to New Haven in 1890. Here he purchased a controlling interest in the William Schollhorn Company and began its development along lines that have made it the institution that it is today. The continuous growth of the business has from time to time necessitated the execution of new buildings until this is today one of the largest and most representative manufacturing enterprises of the city, employing two hundred skilled workmen. The development of the business has been made possible through  Mr. Bernard’s genius as an inventor, combined with his executive force. He never undertakes any task or the solution of any problem that he does not bring to a successful issue and the public records at Washington show many inventions to his credit. He is continually studying along lines of improvement for the devices already on the market or along entirely new lines. He has perfected many tools, the value of which is attested by their world-wide use.

     Mr. Bernard holds membership in the Episcopal church. In politics he is independent, nor does he seek or desire public office, preferring to concentrate his undivided attention and activity upon his chosen life work. He is among those who have aided in pushing forward the wheels of progress and his ability has received world-wide recognition.