Berry, John Weir (1835-1926)

BERRY, BELL, PETERSON, RUTLEDGE, PULLUM, PULLIAM, BURKEY

Posted By: Carl Malone (email)
Date: 5/21/2016 at 09:02:18

The Atlantic News Telegraph
Atlantic, Iowa
October 30, 1926

JOHN W. BERRY WAS RESIDENT OF CASS COUNTY 60 YEARS

Well Known Man, Who Died at 91, Had Long and Useful Life. Died Yesterday.

John Weir Berry, who died yesterday at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Peterson, at Anita, lived in Cass county sixty years and saw its development from raw prairie. He was born in Petersburg, Menard county, Ill., March 29, 1835, and died at the age of 91 years 6 months and 29 days, death resulting from complications incident in advanced age. But for the death of Ann Rutledge he would have been a nephew of Abraham Lincoln.

He was the son of James Berry, a native of Tennessee, and Jane O. (Rutledge) Berry, a native of Virginia, who were pioneers of Menard county. His mother was a sister of Ann Rutledge, who was betrothed to Abraham Lincoln and she knew this distinguished man well, before his fame became nationwide.

On January 8, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Bell, also a native of Menard county, Ill., whose parents were Jacob and Polly (Pullum) [Pulliam] Bell, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia, who lived for many years in Illinois and died in that state.

Had Ten Children

To this union were born the children, five of whom survive: Mrs. J. D. Peterson of Anita, W. B. and R. A. Berry of Atlantic, Mrs. J. B. Burkey of Walnut and Mrs. R. M. Durham of Burbank, Calf. Other surviving near relatives are thirteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. The beloved wife and mother passed away a number of years ago at the family home in Marne, since which time Mr. Berry has made his home with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Peterson in Anita.

Was Farmer.

Mr. Berry followed the vocation of farming in his native state until February 1867, when he came to Cass county, Ia., making the journey from Des Moines to Atlantic by team. Arriving here, he purchased a 200-acre tract of prairie land in Brighton township, the only improvements being a little log cabin and a slough-grassed-roofed stable, situated on the banks of Indian creek. During the first two years of his residence in this county Mr. Berry lived in a log cabin, situated on what is now Sunnyside park, and which also included the baseball park grounds in west Atlantic.

Settling down to work among these uninviting surroundings and scant comforts, he broke up the wild land, bringing it to a high state of cultivation and productiveness; and as the years passed on, by assidious [assiduous] and well-applied industry, he developed one of the best farms in this part of the state. As he prospered he purchased additional land until his holdings reached 500 acres, equipped with the best possible improvements.

Mr. Berry was among the promoters of Cass county’s first fair association, giving it encouragement and support, financially and otherwise, at all times throughout the years, and has attended every fair held in this county since its organization.

Funeral services are to be at the home in Anita at 12:30 tomorrow (Sunday), followed by a service at 2:30 at the Marne Methodist Protestant church, and interment in the Marne cemetery.

NOTE: John Weir Berry's biography has previously been transcribed to the Biography Board from the 1884 History of Cass County by Carl Malone and will be found by the site-wide search engine.

Click to view John Weir Berry newspaper obit image
 

Cass Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen