Berry, Albert D.

BERRY, CONNOR, CLEMMENTS, VASEY, DEXTER, GILBERT, DETER, WILEY, MARTIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 09:00:25

Berry, Albert D.

Conspicuous among the representative businessmen and public-spirited citizens of Jasper County is the well-known gentleman whose name forms the caption or this biographical review. He has made his influence felt for good in Independence Township, which has long been honored by his citizenship, being a man of sterling worth whose life has been closely interwoven with the history of the community of which this volume treats and whose efforts have always been for the material advancement of the same, as well as for the social and moral welfare of his fellow men, and the well regulated life Mr. Berry has led, thereby gaining the respect and admiration of his fellow citizens, entitle him to conspicuous mention in a work of the scope of the present history.

Albert D. Berry, banker, stock man and leading agriculturist of this section of Iowa, whose residence is in Independence Township, Jasper County, was born in Poweshiek Township, this County, on July 10, 1861, and here he has been contented to spend his life, wisely deciding in his youth that as good, if not better opportunities existed for him here than anywhere else, and so his labors have been confined to his home country, which he has seen transformed from a wild prairie to one of the richest sections in the middle west, in which development he has played no inconspicuous part.

Mr. Berry is the son of Solomon C. and Ellen (Connor) Berry. The father, born in Illinois, is now living in New Mexico, the mother having passed away in this County in August 1869. Their family consisted of five children, all living, namely: Albert D., of this sketch; Charles W., who was born in October 1862, is living near Clyde; George died in early life; Mrs. Emma Clemments is living in Clear Creek Township; Mrs. Charlotte Vasey is also a resident of that Township. These children were all born and reared in Jasper County.

Albert D. Berry grew to manhood and attended school in his native community, and on September 7, 1887, he was united in marriage with Delilah Deter, who was born in Jasper, County, Iowa, August 22, 1858, the daughter of Aaron and Henrietta (Gilbert) Deter, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew up and were married, and from there they came to Iowa and both died in Boone County. Their family consisted of eight children, namely: Julia Wiley and Thomas, both deceased; Mrs. Almeda Wiley; a daughter died in infancy; Mrs. Zellette Martin lives in South Dakota; Norman is living in Spokane, Washington; Delilah, wife of Mr. Berry, of this review; Grace lives in Spokane, Washington; William lives at Bussey, Marion County, Iowa; Sadie died when twenty-eight years of age. The three oldest of these children were born in Ohio and the younger children were born in Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, Iowa.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Berry, namely: Ethel May, born July 4, 1888, is living at home; David H., born October 20, 1890, is also a member of the family circle; Daniel Curtis, born December 15, 1892, died July 29, 1898; Gladys F., born December 10, 1894; Cleo, born December 10, 1896, died July 19, 1898; Joseph Charles, born April 10, 1900. They were all born in Jasper County.

Mr. Berry has been very successful in a business way in whatever he has turned his attention to and he is today one of the substantial men of his County, enjoying a position of independence, having by perseverance, indomitable courage and unswerving industry mounted the ladder from its lowest rung. His life has been devoted for the most part to agricultural pursuits, stock raising, buying and shipping. He is the owner of three hundred and forty-two acres of as valuable and productive land as Independence Township can boast. This he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation. In addition to his general operations in farming he conducts a meat market in Baxter, which has a large patronage, and he is the able and popular president of the People's State Savings Bank of Baxter, a sound and safe institution, which, under Mr. Berry's judicious management has rapidly increased in importance and volume of business. He has a beautiful and modern home, tastily and well furnished. He is, a liberal, enterprising man and enjoys the fruits of his labors. He is always ready to aid in-every way possible the upbuilding of his community. Politically, he is a Democrat and he is a member of the local school board. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1093.