John Bernard Mulhern was born on August 27th, 1843 in Dromod, Kiltoghert Parish, Leitrim, Ireland to John Mulhern and Jane Stafford. He was born into a family of bakers and confectioners.
John was raised in Carrick-on-Shannon, Lietrim, Ireland not far from Dromod. His travels led him from Carrick-on-Shannon, to Dublin, to County Cork where he was a stow away on the ship, Lord Elgin. The ship had been transporting rain to Holy Head, Wales before going to County Cork, then went from County Cork, Ireland to Liverpool, England to pick up some timber. In Liverpool, young John Bernard Mulhern was caught as a stow away 
and paid his passage by becoming a cabin boy on the voyage to America. The Lord Elgin left Liverpool, England on December 10, 1862 and arrived in New York Harbor on December 26, 1862. The ship was commanded by Captain Chapman.
In Ireland, John left behind his father, John Mulhern and his mother, Jane Stafford Mulhern and siblings, William, Jason, Thomas, Patrick, and twin sisters, Ellen and Beatrice. In America, John already had two aunts, Ann and Catherine. He also had two uncles in Canada, one of them lived in Toronto.
John stayed for a brief time in New York City before boarding a ship heading to Quebec, Canada. After landing in Quebec, John traveled to Toronto. He saw a lot of Yankee "skeedaddlers", people avoiding the draft from the civil war. In Toronto he worked as a baker on the night shift, making 5.00 per week and board.
It was around this time that John married a woman by the last name of Blount. They are said to have had two sons together. What became of John Bernard Mulhern's first wife and sons is unknown.
In the Fall of 1869 John took the last boat of the season down the Missouri and hired out as a cook at Grand River Agency [Note: Grand River Agency was established in 1869 in Dakota Territory. Located on the banks of the Missouri River, periodic flooding eventually forced it to be relocated 50 miles upstream in 1873. In 1874 it was renamed Standing Rock Agency and served bands of both upper and Lower Yanktonai, Cutheads, Hunkpapa, and Blackfeet. The old site of the Grand River Agency is now underwater beneath Lake Oahe].
In 1871 John married for a second time. His wife was a Santee Sioux from Minnesota Territory named Winyan Waditaka (Brave Woman). John was given the Sioux name, Aguyapi (Bread).
By the early 1900's John had set up a trading post at the Standing Rock Agency and had established himself as an Indian Trader. From 1898 to 1911 he was also a mail carrier and contractor for the U. S. Postal service. One route was from Cannon Ball across the Missouri River to Gayton.
Some records have him as John B. He was born in Ireland in 1843. He immigrated about 1862 and enlisted in the U. S. Navy in March 1865 at Cincinnati, Ohio. He enlisted after the Civil War in the U. S. Army. In 1910 he was an Indian trader on the Standing Rock Reservation. His wife, Mary Louise (Maggie) (1850 - 1 March 1937) was American Indian and for children they had at least William F. (13 Sep 1881 - 10 Aug 1911), Nellie Mulhern Huff (1884/6 - 23 Jan 1958), Bernard John Jr. (30 May 1896 - 15 May 1931), William F., Lizzie, Catherine, and Emma. Bernard died 3 February 1932 in Sioux County and is buried at Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Cemetery in Cannon Ball.
In 1909 John became the father-in-law of Charles Henry Bailey (AKA Herman Charles Heiden) [see below] when Charles married John's daughter Lizzie.
John Bernard Mulhern Passed away Feburary 3, 1932 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota.
The above article and picture provided by Misty Heiden.
Some historical records have his name as Bernard, some as John, and some as J. B. As John B. he enlisted in the U. S. Navy on 16 March 1865 at Cincinnati, Ohio. There is no record of a discharge but there is an assumption it was in the summer months of the war ending in 1865. In 1866 he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served in Company G of both 13th and 31st U. S. Infantry; fought in Indian Wars in the area territories and then was discharged in 1869. For this service he received a pension in March 1917 and his wife Mary started receiving a widow's pension in June 1932.
He was married to Mary Louise (Maggie) (1850 - 1 March 1937). In various census records she is Brave Woman, Ohitiwin, and Tipigiwin. She was an American Indian born in Minnesota and died in Sioux County. No burial could be found for her. She indicated to the 1910 census taker that she had twelve children and seven were living. This writer could find these children:
Maggie (1872),
Henry (1880-after 1888),
William F. (13 September 1881-10 August 1911, buried St. Elizabeths Cemetery),
Nellie/Eleanor (1886, married Joseph Huff (1882) they had at least Amos/Patrick (1907)),
Sarah/Lizzie. See below.
Emma Beatrice (22 January 1894, married Arthur Greybull in 1914; children William, Ethel, Gladys, Valerie then in 1940 married John Little Crow),
John B., Jr. (see below),
Catherine (see below)
In 1910 John was an Indian trader on the Standing Rock Reservation and in 1920 in Sioux County he was a retail merchant.
Burial.
Misty Heiden has a lot of information on Lizzie and her family at a FindAGrave Memorial along with Lizzie's husband
Charles Henry Bailey (AKA Herman Charles Heiden). Lizzie and Herman were the parents of eight children.
Catherine first married James Edward Partain. At least six children are from that marriage, Minnie (1911-1951), Florence (1911-1996), Margaret (1912-1995), Hazel (1914-1963), Francis (1916-1980), and Eleanore (1919-1999). She then married Warren Charles Wayman and from that marriage there was one known child; Warren (1925-1994).
Burial.
BERNARD "BARNEY" JOHN MULHERN, JR.
From the Roster of the Men and Women Who Served in the Army or Naval Service: "MULHERN, BARNEY. Army number 2,858,765; registrant. Sioux county; born, Cannon Ball, N. Dak., May 30, 1896, of American parents; occupation, farmer; inducted at Fort Yates on April 30, 1918; sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa; served in Company F, 350th Infantry, to May 16, 1918; Company K, 358th Infantry, to discharge; overseas from June 20, 1918, to Nov. 20, 1918; wounded, severely, Sept. 12, 1918. Engagements: Offensive: St. Mihiel. Defensive Sector: Villers-en-Haye (Lorraine). Discharged at Fort Sheridan, Ill., on Feb. 11, 1920, as a Private, surgeon's Certificate of Disability, 15%. Died
at Cannon Ball, N. Dak. May 15, 1931. buried Cannon Ball, N. Dak." In 2008 the government recognized the service of the World War Code Talkers of which Barney was one of them.
Barney was married to Imelda Menz at Cannon Ball on 21 November 1921. They had, at least, these children: Aurelia Margaret (1923), William Francis (1924), and Hildegarde Bernice (1928).
Burial.
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