Laura (Rhoads/Rhoades) Berry (1838-1908)

RHOADS, RHOADES, BERRY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/11/2017 at 23:02:05

From Nevada Representative July 17, 1908

OBITUARY

DEATH OF MRS. LAURA BERRY

There has come to hand a copy of the Denver Republican announcing the death in that city of Mrs. Laura A. Berry who was year ago for a long time a most highly esteemed member of this community, and whose death will be most profoundly regretted by very numerous old-time friends, in and about Nevada. The Denver Republican publishes the notice under the heading, "Zealous Prohibition Worker Dies After Four Years' Illness" and its report in full is as follows:

"At the age of 70 and after a life of unusual activity and worth, Mrs. Laura A. Berry died yesterday at 3039 Perry street from the effects of illness which she has been suffering for the past four years. Although one of the earliest pioneers Mrs. Berry was perhaps most prominent as a worker in the cause of prohibition as she was twice a candidate on the ticket of that party for the state legislature. For several years Mrs. Berry edited the Challenge, a paper devoted solely to the abolition of intemperance and in Chicago she held a similar position on one of the leading prohibition papers there. She was always an energetic member of the W. C. T. U.

"Born in Pierpont, Ohio in 1838, Mrs. Berry there received her education and married Charles D. Berry in 1859 when the couple came to Colorado. Her husband died in 1860 in Central City where they located in the early days. Mrs. Berry was the first woman in Buckskin Joe, a mining camp near Leadville, which was then famous. She enjoyed many experiences which only those who first settled this state can appreciate. She entered the temperance work in Denver with a knowledge and power acquired by the variety of scenes through which she had passed.

"Her death makes the third in the family within two years as her eldest brother, A. G. Rhoads, died in Denver in September, 1906, and another, J. M. Rhoads, in February of the following year. She leaves a son, Charles D. Berry of Denver, besides two sisters and two brothers. Of the latter Halsey M. Rhoads is well known as a newspaper man and is now connected with the federal agriculture department.

"The funeral will be held from the residence, 3039 Perry street, Wednesday afternoon at 2 p. m. The body will be cremated at Riverside according to the wishes of the deceased."

The foregoing report does not refer to Mrs. Berry's residence in Nevada; but it was here that she lived as a young lady, and it was here likewise that she spent the earlier years of her widowhood. She and one of her brothers were the first of the family in this county, whither they came in the middle '50s, locating first at Story City, but the whole family removing soon to Nevada. Here Laura Rhoades was courted by Charlie Berry, who after a time joined the gold-seekers on their way to Pike's Peak. A year or so later she followed, and they were married out there. After a couple of years of their married life Mr. Berry died and she returned to her people in Nevada, her son being born here after her return home. This was also before the civil war or during the early stages thereof. Then she taught in numerous places about Story county, was employed quite a little at the court house, removed in the early '70s to Des Moines, and after a time from there to Chicago where she was living in 1890. Not long after this date, however, she removed once more to Colorado, and she has since had her home at Denver. It is all of thirty-five years since Mrs. Berry removed permanently from Nevada; but she always had a vital interest in matters here and always kept in touch with her old home and its people.

Mrs. Berry was a woman of very great energy and ability and was interested in every good work. She was, however, especially interest in temperance work, and her efforts in this line constituted a very considerable part of her life's achievement. She had high ideals and earnest ambition; she made a brave and successful fight in the years of her young widowhood for herself and her boy, and all her life she as woman to be esteemed and admired.