U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Berry, William (1778-1847) ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Braxton County and Central West Virginia by John Davison Sutton Sutton, West Virginia, January, 1919 Pages 350-351 William Berry was the only son of William and Mary (Hagan) Berry — English extraction. William Berry was born in Virginia, near tide- water in 1778. A sister, dying in childhood, being the only other child. The children were left fatherless early in life. William was educated for a sea captain, but did not like it, and on returning from a second voyage across the water, at the age of nineteen, deserted the ship on which his mother had placed him. Early in life, he married Miss Agnes Kitchen, sweetheart of his boyhood. Five sons, William, Fielding, James, Lewis and Benjamin, and two daughters, Mary and Emza, were born. All, save the last one named, married and reared large families. The wife of his youth having died, he married Miss Cynthia Triplett. Four sons, Thornton, Joel, Craven, Allen S. and Washington H. and three daughters, Agnes, Elizabeth and Lucinda S., were born. All married and had families. In the spring of 1818, William Berry emigrated from Loudon county, Va., to what is now Braxton county, and settled on the O'Briens fork of Salt Lick creek, a veritable wilderness. He was the first school "master" in Braxton county. Felix Sutton, Mrs. Anna Sutton Baxter, Christian Hyer, William Gibson and William Betts being among his pupils. He died at the age of 69 years, and his remains rest on an eminence on the farm of the late Col. Asa Squires, overlooking the valley of Salt Lick. "We cannot say too much in praise of this old nobleman of the forest and the school room. His numerous progeny attest his character and virtues — he imparted to his race that energy, frugality and honesty which have marked their generations down to the present time. He came to a wilderness country where young men and women were growing up without any educational advantages, and he gathered many of them around him and gave them the rudiments of an education which enabled them to transact business, fill important stations in life, and become useful as teachers to others. The influence of such a life will go on and on until the humble slab at his grave will have moldered into dust. Joel, second son of William and Synthia Triplet Berry, was born in Louden county, Virginia, November 9th, 1812, and married Elizabeth Cummings who was born December 18th, 1812. To this union were born Wm. H., Ephriam A., Thornton J., Manervia A., James W., Mariah A., Sarah E., Granville M., and Joel T. Mr. Berry owned a farm and lived on Obrien's Fork of Salt Lick creek where his son Thadeous now lives. Mr. Berry died August 1st, 1896, and his wife died December 26th, 1896; they were honored and respected citizens. Allen S. Berry, fourth son of William and Synthia Triplet Berry, was born in Lewis county, now Braxton county, August 28, 1821. He married Rebecca Alkire in 1840 and their children were William, Charles W., Homer, Emery A., David A., Joel M., John C, Racheal, Malissa, Synthia and Margaret. Mr. Berry was a farmer and owned a good farm on Obrien's Fork of Salt Lick creek, where his son John C. now resides. He was for several years a justice of the peace, and had other important positions; was a member of the M. E. Church, South, and died in the year 1893. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Braxton County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/braxton/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------