Berry, Don Lytton

BERRY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/17/2021 at 21:46:10

Source: History of Warren County, Iowa, by Gerard Schultz and Don L. Berry, The Record and Tribune Co., Indianola, Iowa, 1953, p.286

DON LYTTON BERRY
Don L. Berry, newspaper editor and publisher, was born in Indianola Oct. 8, 1880, son of William H. and Alice M. (Barker) Berry. His father was an attorney in Indianola from 1873 until his death in 1923. Both his father and mother were members of the third class to graduate from Simpson college, 1872.
Mr. Berry married Bertha M. Sloan of Des Moines Oct. 10, 1905. Mrs. Berry was born Oct. 20, 1880, in Dexter, where her father was a physician and where she lived until 1904. The children are Thomas Sloan, born Aug. 10, 1906; Martha Rachel (Reiter), May 11, 1908; Alice Loretta (Mitchell), Nov. 1, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Berry met while students in Simpson college, where Mrs. Berry, then Miss Sloan, had a considerable fame as a contralto. She taught voice for a year in Wolfe Hall girls' school in Denver and also in Simpson.
Don Berry was educated wholly by his mother until he entered the academy of Simpson College in 1898. He graduated from the college in 1903; was a reporter on the Des Moines Register and Leader 1903-04; farmed and raised Percheron horses and Shorthorn cattle north of Indianola 1905-1910; in public relations work with Harry E. Hopper, Indianola and Chicago, 1910-1914; farmed and raised Percherons northwest of Indianola 1914-1919; assistant superintendent horse department, Iowa State fair, 1907-1919; editor and co-publisher Indianola Record 192-1923; publisher and managing editor Indianola Record and Indianola Tribune 1923-1944; editor and publisher The Record-Herald and Indianola Tribune 1944 to present (See chapter on Warren County newspapers starting on page 233.)
Mr. Berry was secretary Iowa Newspapers, Inc., 1924-1932; has been member Iowa Press association since 1920 (president 1931-1932); received Master Editor-Publisher honorary award from I.P.A. 1943; delegate national Republican convention, Cleveland, 1936, on resolutions committee; executive assistant in farm division of national Republican headquarters in campaigns of 1936 and 1940; executive secretary Republican Congressional Farm Study committee, 1941; member Iowa Farm Tenancy committee, 1937-1938; chairman Iowa Postwar Rehabilitation commission, 1944; delegate jurisdictional conference Methodist church, Minneapolis, 1944 ; presently trustee Simpson college, Iowa Methodist hospital, Indianola public library; member Iowa and American Library associations; First Methodist church, Indianola, since 1896, except member First church, Des Moines, one year, 1903-1904; Prairie club, Des Moines (president 1945-46); Indianola Rotary club continuously since 1923 (president 1933-34); Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalistic fraternity; Y.M.C.A. Camera club, Des Moines, charter member; Sons of the American Revolution; Civil Liberties union; life member State Historical society of Iowa; National Geographic society since 1908; Warren County Farm Bureau, charter member; honorary member Q.C. club, Indianola; Soils Conservation society of America.
Rachel Cox, Mr. Berry's maternal grandmother, came from Indiana to Warren County with her parents in the spring of 1848 and settled in the northeast part of Otter township. His maternal grandfather, M. R. Barker, came from Ohio, via Fairfield, in the fall of 1849, erected a building on the west side of the square in Indianola, which was used as the first schoolhouse in the winter of 1849-1850, and then opened a general store in the spring of 1850. He continued in the merchandising business in Indianola until 1896. He died in 1903.
His father, W. H. Berry, came with his parents from Cass county, Ill., in 1867. His grandfather, B. C. Berry, was captain of Company D, 114th Illinois infantry, in the Civil war. Capt. Berry farmed north of Indianola 25 years. He died in 1894. Both of Mr. Berry's grandfathers and his father were trustees of Simpson college.
The Berrys live at 713 West Ashland avenue, Indianola, in a house erected by W. H. Berry in 1890, and occupied ever since by the builder, his widow or his son.[Social Security Death Index lists Don Berry born Oct 8, 1880, died Nov 1974, residence, Indianola]

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.545
DON L. BERRY
Don L. Berry, one of the practical and progressive farmers of Lincoln Township, lives on section 18 and farms property of one hundred and ninety acres. He is also meeting with success as a dealer in pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Percheron and French draft horses. He was born in Indianola, October 8, 1880, and is a son of Senator Berry, one of the prominent and honored residents of this county, who is mentioned on another page of this work.
Don L. Berry was reared in his native city and was primarily instructed in the common branches of English learning, by his mother. He afterward pursued a course of study, however, and was graduated at Simpson College as a member of the class of 1903. He became a reporter in Des Moines on the Register and Leader and in that manner spent more than a year. He after­ward returned to Indianola and about that time was married to Miss Bertha Sloan, the wedding being celebrated in Des Moines, October 10, 1905. The lady is a native of Dexter, Iowa, pursued her studies in the Dexter Academy and also in the Conservatory of Music, of Indianola, a department of Simp­son College, later becoming instructor in that institution.
In the spring of 1905, Mr. Berry located on his present farm, which was formerly owned by his paternal grandfather, who settled on the farm in 1867 and owned and cultivated it for a quarter of a century, after which he disposed of the property. He was one of the first stock-breeders and dealers of Warren County and engaged in raising registered shorthorn cat­tle. When Don L. Berry took up his abode on the farm, he purchased some registered shorthorn stock and began breeding, now having a herd of twenty-five pure-blooded cows and heifers, together with other high-grade stock. Mr. Berry also breeds Percheron and French draft horses and has some fine animals and has won a number of premiums at the Warren county Fair on his horses. He is becoming widely known as a breeder and dealer in pure­blooded stock, conducting an extensive and prosperous business in this line.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry have one son, Thomas Sloan, and a daughter, Martha Rachel. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Indianola, and are interested in its work and helpful in its support. Poli­tically, he is a staunch Republican, but is best known in connection with his business interests and is now serving as secretary of the Farmers Institute, having filled the position since its organization.