From: "Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and
Brown Counties, Illinois 1892", by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; pages 139-140, a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Frederick E. Berry, one of the managers of the National Union
store at Rushville, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, December 23,
1841, a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Crow) Berry, natives of Washington
county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Berry, the paternal grandfather, was also
a resident of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Daniel Berry was reared
to the occupation of a farmer; he emigrated to Schuyler county,
Illinois, in an early day, and settled in Rushville township, where he
purchased eighty acres of land, partially improved; his widow still
resides on the home farm. They had a family of nine children, all of
whom grew to mature years: William C. died in Rushville, leaving a
family; Daniel died in California; George G. died at Tombstone,
Arizona; Sarah is the wife of Morris Hobart; Elizabeth married C. L.
Easley; Mary A. is the wife of W. R. Milby; Frederick E. is the subject
of this sketch; Martha M. is the wife of A. V. Quinn; John S. died in
New York city; Frederick E. was brought up amid rural scenes and
attended the common schools.
When the great Civil war arose between the North and South, he
was not slow to espouse the cause of the Union, and May 10, 1861, he
enlisted in the service of the State Government; and May 24, 1861,
enlisted for three years in Company G, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and spent the summer and fall of 1861 in Missouri; in
January, 1862, he went to Cairo and afterward joined Pope's army in the
siege of New Madrid; he participated in the capture of Island No. 10,
the siege of Corinth, and was afterward stationed at Big Spring,
Mississippi; next at Tuscumbia, Alabama, and took part in the retreat
of Negley's and Palmer's brigades; next they were at Decatur and
Nashville, Tennessee, remaining at the latter place during the two
months of the siege; he was at Stone river, at Nashville, and during
the siege of Chattanooga was at Kelly's Ferry. January 1, 1864, he was
transferred to the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and took part
in the battles of Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost Gap; he was transferred
March 1st to the Sixteenth Regiment, which he joined in the beginning
of the war, and served until May 2d, when he began the Atlanta
campaign; he went as far as Burnt Hickory, and there was ordered back,
and June 13th at Chattanooga, was discharged. He returned to his home,
and resumed the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture.
Mr. Berry was married January 3, 1867, to Miss Maggie Milby, a
daughter of Benjamin and Mary Milby, a native of Delaware, born January
30, 1845. He then took charge of his father's farm, which he managed
until the fall of 1891. In October of that year the branch store of the
National Union Company was organized; he was made manager at Rushville;
this company does a general mercantile business, carries a well
selected stock, and is worthy of the generous patronage received. Mr.
Berry owns the old homestead left by his father, which consists of 178
acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry have had born to them a family of five
children. Katie is the wife of Miles Van Horn; Anna, Elizabeth, Grace
and Fred E. In politics Mr. Berry is independent, although he formerly
affiliated with the Republican party. He has been Tax Collector and
served as a member of the School Board. He belongs to the Grand Army of
the Republic, and has been Commander of colonel Harney Post, No. 131;
he is also a member of the A.O.U.W., and is Secretary of the County
Alliance. He has also been interested in public movements, and has been
a loyal supporter of home industries. He is a man of superior business
qualifications, and through strictly honorable methods he has
accumulated considerable property.
