Whiteside Co IL Biographies

Daniel S. Berry

Daniel S. Berry, City Attorney of Savanna is regarded as one of the most talented men of the bar in this part of the State of Illinois, and his legal ability has already won him an enviable reputation in the front rank of his profession in Carroll County. He was born in Sterling, Whiteside Co. IL May 13, 1858. His father Timothy Berry was born in County Limerick, Ireland and was there reared and married. After the death of his wife he came to the US, bringing with him his tow children, William and Catherine; the latter now Mrs. William Winters. He subsequently married in this State, Mrs. Margaret (Kelly) Brearton, a native of County Silgo, Ireland. She came to America when ayoung lady, and resided for awhile in Kingston, Canada and was there married. She accompanied her husband to Sterling, this State in 1852, and there he died, leaving her with one son William, now a citizen of Morrison. After his arrival in this county in 1844, Mr. Berry made his way to Dixon, in Lee County, and there found employment at various kinds of work. He removed to Sterling in 1856, and resided there until 1860 and then went to Morrison and from thence to Chicago. A year later he returned to Morrison and bought a farm a mile and a half south of that place, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, continuing his residence there until 1885, when he removed to Fulton and bought a home in which, he closed his eyes to the scenes of earh, Jan. 29, 1887, thus ending a life of uprightness and strict integrity. There were two children born of his second marriage; our subject and his sister who died in infancy. The mother now makes her home with her children, surrounded with all teh comforts that filial love can provide.

The subject of this sketch received his early education in the district schools of IL and when not in school he assisted his father in the labors of the farm until he was 14 years old. He then became self-supporting, being a manly, independent lad, and worked on a farm at $15 a month during eight months of the year, and in the winter attended school at morrison. The following year he was employed as a farm-laborer for $18 a month for five months; and when his employer paid him the $90 due, he was so pleased with the efficiency and fidelity that the lad had displayed in performing his duties, that he added $10 to the sum, making $100 in cash, which our subject determined to use to advance his education; he having an honorable ambition to make a name and place for himself in the professional world. He became an earnest student in the Morrison High School, and was graduated from there in the class of 1877. He then began teaching at Galt Station and taught there two years at $60 a month. At the end of his first term he employed the two months' vacation in studying law in the office of Henry & Johnson in Sterling. In 1879 he resumed his legal studies in the law office of W.J. McCoy at Morrison and subsequently taught four months at Prairie Centre district. After that he studied law with Mr. McCoy until September, 1880, when he again took up the profession of teacher and taught nine months in the McEliath district. He then entered the law office of O.F. Woodruff of Morrison and studied diligently until the fall of 1882, when he was admitted to the bar of the Appellate Court at Chicago, Jude Bailey, now of the Supreme Court, presiding; and our subject was also admitted to teh supreme Court.

He then married and established himself in Morrison, whence he came to Savanna, May 1, 1883. His progress in his profession has been very rapid, and he is already considered one of the best lawyers in the county. He holds the responsible office of City Attorney and of Attorney for the C.B. & N.Railroad. He takes an active part in the management of civil affairs, especially with regad to educaional matters and he is President of the City School Board.

Mr. Berry was married to Miss Mattie L. Tucker in October 1882 and their pleasant household circle is completed by the two children, Ethel and Ivy, who have been born to them. Mrs. Berry is, like her husband, a native of Illinois, having been born in Mt. Pleasant Twp. Whiteside County. She is a daughter of Henry and Jane (Hiddlesen) Tucker, a native of the Stae of NY.

Mr. Berry, notwithstanding that his brilliant success has brought him a large practice, still finds time to devote to legal studies, and but few men of his age are so well read in law as he. His keen, analytical mind quickly grasps the most difficult points of a case, and in clean-cut, vigorous languard he makes them clear ot his hearers. He possesses in a marked degree the personal magnetism and the eloquent tongue of the true-born orator, so characteristic of his Celtic origin, and also the warm, generous nature, always open to appeals for sympathy and help; and socially he and his wife move in the highest social circles of the city. Mr. Berry is identified with the A.F. & A.M. and with the K. of P.

Portrait & Biographical Carroll Co IL Pg 995

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