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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
WILLIAM BERRY, deceased, was one of the pioneers of 1848. He was born in Washington County, Va., May 30, 1814. At the age of fifteen years he removed with his parents to Ohio and settled in Marion County. Here all that portion of his life until manhood was passed upon the farm. On Dec. 31, 1840, he was united in marriage with Nancy Johnson, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1822. Of this union were born eight children, four of whom died in childhood. Of those who reached man and womanhood James M. enlisted in Co. C, 33d Iowa Vol. Inf., in 1864, and died at Little Rock, Ark., of disease contracted while in service; John H., Lauren B. and Charles G. reside in Richland Township. In 1848 Mr. Berry removed with his family to this county, making the entire journey by team. Arriving in the month of October he immediately purchased land, located on sections 10 and 11 of Richland Township, and created a home for himself and his family, in which he resided during the remainder of his life. His death occurred Aug. 27, 1885, when seventy-one years of age. He had always enjoyed excellent health, and his death, occurred after a sickness of only one week, which was as sudden as it was saddening. His remains are buried in Baldwin's Cemetery, and the extraordinarily large number of people who attended the funeral was evidence of the great esteem in which he was held by those who knew him. Mr. Berry was in early life a member of the Christian Church, but as societies of that denomination were scarce in Iowa at that early day, be formed no connection with any denomination after his settlement in this county. He was a liberal supporter of all churches, a man of strict integrity, upright and honorable in all the affairs of life. His means were exceedingly limited when he came to this county, and he experienced all the hardship and struggles incident to pioneer life, working bravely and untiringly that those who followed after him might enjoy the fruits of his labor. In this he was successful, and left his family in good circumstances. His estate consisted of 240 acres of very fine land, which he had brought to a high state of cultivation with improvements of the better grade. His widow still survives, and resides with her children.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy