James David Berry b. 27 Sep 1820 Morgan, Alabama, USA d. 3 Jun 1905 Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA: acw

1820 - 1905 (84 years)

Name	James David Berry [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Birth	27 Sep 1820	Morgan, Alabama, USA [2, 3, 4, 5]
Gender	Male
Race	White [4]
Residence	1850	Marion, Drew, Arkansas, USA [2]
Residence	1870	Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA [3]
Residence	1880	Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA [4]
Residence	Age: 59; Marital status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Self
Residence	1900	Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA [5]
Death	3 Jun 1905	Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA
Burial	West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA [6]
Person ID	I25448	tng Genealogy

Family Mary Elizabeth Wilks, b. 15 Feb 1823, Alabama, USA d. 2 Feb 1900, Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA (Age 76 years)

Marriage 10 Jul 1841 Marion, Mississippi, USA [1]

Children

+	1. Mary Eliza Berry, b. 12 Nov 1841, Lawrence, Mississippi, USA d. 30 Jun 1862, Washington, Mississippi, USA (Age 20 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
+	2. Henry Wilks Berry, b. 27 Sep 1846, De Soto, Mississippi, USA d. 16 Jan 1896, Antlers, Pushmataha, Oklahoma, USA (Age 49 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
+	3. Serena Berry, b. 15 Oct 1848, Drew, Arkansas, USA d. 10 Jun 1885, Erath, Texas, USA (Age 36 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
+	4. Stephen Oliver Berry, b. Aug 1854, Arkansas, USA [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
+	5. Charles Pinckney Berry, b. 1858, Arkansas, USA d. 30 Apr 1906, San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, USA (Age 48 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	6. Living
	7. Living
	8. Living
	9. Living

Family ID F8460 Group Sheet | Family Chart

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	Marriage - 10 Jul 1841 - Marion, Mississippi, USA
	Residence - 1870 - Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA
	Residence - Age: 59; Marital status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Self - 1880 - Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA
	Residence - 1900 - Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA
	Death - 3 Jun 1905 - Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA
	Burial - - West End Cemetery, Stephenville, Erath, Texas, USA

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Photos
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James David Berry photo large

Notes

From the History of Texas, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Co, 1896, Vol. I:

J.D. Berry, is classed among the most distinguished adopted sons of central Texas, and for twenty-eight years he has been an important factor in the business life of this locality. The majority of lives are unmarked by events of exciting nature and the reader who is fond of startling incidents is therefore seldom a student of biography; but the record of a man who faithfully performs the duties that devolve upon him and makes the best of his opportunities leaves behind him a record which is worthy of perpetuation. It is to this class that the country owes its stability and of this class our subject is a worthy representative.

Mr. Berry comes of a family of English origin. His father, Henry Berry, was a native of North Carolina, and J. D. was born in Morgan county, Alabama, on the 27th of September, 1820. He spent his childhood days on the old homestead, aiding in the labors of the farm and attending the subscription schools. At the age of sixteen he started out in life for himself and has been the architect of his own fortune. He was first employed as a salesman in a mercantile establishment in New Orleans, where he remained for some years, and in 1839 went to Mississippi.

Mr. Berry was married in Marion county, of the latter state, on the 10th of January, 1844, the lady of his choice being Miss M.E. Wilks, daughter of S.H. Wilks and a native of Alabama. They now have two living children, - S.O., of Ardmore, Indian Territory; and C.P., who is in the employ of the state as a convict guard.

In Mississippi Mr. Berry engaged in farming for five years and then removed to Arkansas, locating at Gaines' Landing, where he carried on merchandising. He also followed the same pursuit in Monticello and Lake Valley for several years, enjoying a very extensive and lucrative trade. At length he disposed of his mercantile interests, took up the study of law in Monticelllo, Arkansas, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. Immediately he entered upon the practice of his profession and continued a member of the legal fraternity of Monticello until after the beginning of the civil war, when he enlisted and was assigned to the quartermaster's department at Camden, Arkansas, where he remained until the fall of 1863. He was then detailed for service in the cotton department at Lamartown, where he remained until the close of the war.

When hostilities had ceased Mr. Berry removed to Waco, Texas, where he resumed merchandising, conducting his store until the fall of 1868, when he took up his residence in Stephenvill and became identified with the bar of this place. After ten years' successful practice he opened a private bank, which he successfully conducted until he went to Cisco, where in partnership with Judge J. R. Fleming, he conducted a bank. His next place of residence was Dublin. He established the first bank at that place, and on selling out there returned to Stephenville, where he has since been engaged in the insurance business. He has the agency for several well known and reliable companies, and in the new undertaking ahs met with a well deserved success. His career is a most creditable one, for he started out in life empty-handed and depending entirely upon his own exertions, by the exercise of his abilities, both natural and acquired, he has risen to a position of affluence. He is regarded as one of the leading business men of central Texas and a valued citizen of Erath county.

In his political views, Mr. Berry is a "silver democrat," and socially he is connected with Stephenville Lodge, No. 267, AF&AM. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church and their many friends throughout the community testify to their sterling worth.

Sources

[S318] Ivan Ernest Bass, Wilkes Family History and Genealogy: Thomas Wilkes (ca. 1735-1809) and His Descendants, (Name: 1965;), Page 100.
[S360] Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census, (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;).
Year: 1850; Census Place: Marion, Drew, Arkansas; Roll M432_26; Page: 76B; Image: 158.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850usfedcenancestry&h=9494436&indiv=try
[ View Federal Census Document]
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1850usfedcenancestry&h=9494436&indiv=try
[S352] Ancestry.com, 1870 United States Federal Census, (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2003;).
Year: 1870; Census Place: Stephenville, Erath, Texas; Roll M593_1583; Page: 457A; Image: 319; Family History Library Film: 553082.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1870usfedcen&h=14476427&indiv=try
[ View Federal Census Document]
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1870usfedcen&h=14476427&indiv=try
[S353] Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1880 United States Federal Census, (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2005;).
Year: 1880; Census Place: Stephenville, Erath, Texas; Roll: 1302; Family History Film: 1255302; Page: 23A; Enumeration District: 149
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1880usfedcen&h=10668899&indiv=try
[ View Federal Census Document]
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1880usfedcen&h=10668899&indiv=try
[S340] Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census, (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2004;).
Year: 1900; Census Place: Stephenville, Erath, Texas; Roll: T623_1631; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 66.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1900usfedcen&h=43381577&indiv=try
[ View Federal Census Document]
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1900usfedcen&h=43381577&indiv=try
[S122] FindaGrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43354703
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43354703.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=43354703