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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Millard Berry, real estate agent and mayor of Springdale, Ark., was born in Daviess County, Ind., and is a son and only child of Walter E. and Angeline (Cross) Berry, who were born, respectively, in Kentucky and Indiana in 1832 and 1836. The father was a farmer, and was reared, educated and married in Indiana. In 1879 he immigrated to Texas, and at the end of four years came to Springdale, Ark., where he is now living a comparatively retired life, and, so far as it is possible for one of his energy and habits of industry to do, is enjoying a well deserved rest. His son, Millard, was reared in Daviess County, Ind., and was educated in the common schools of Washington, the county seat. He studied law for four years after leaving school, and then formed a law partnership with James W. Ogdon, the firm being known as Ogdon & Berry. Two years later Mr. Berry dissolved the partnership with Mr. Ogdon, preparatory to going west, and immediately went to Dallas County, Tex., coming to Springdale, Ark., four years later. During the greater portion of his residence in the “Lone Star State” he served as Justice of the peace, which in his precinct was quite a lucrative position. After coming to Springdale, Ark., in November, l883, he was engaged for a year and a half in selling machinery and farming implements and during the next two years he traveled through Arkansas and Texas as general agent for the Kansas Manufacturing Company, of Leavenworth, Kan., but being of a domestic nature he abandoned the road to remain more at home with his family, and is now engaged in the real estate business, and also practices law to some extent in addition to his duties as mayor. While a resident of Indiana he was married to Miss Mary I. McHolland, and by her is the father of three children: Thaddeus, Ethelyn and Walter. Mayor Berry is a stanch Democrat in his political views, and whether he has given his constituents a Democratic administration or not, it is conceded that the town of which he has been mayor for two consecutive terms is in excellent condition, there being no indebtedness, but, what is better, a gradually increasing fund in the treasury, while all public improvements have been carefully looked after and kept up. Mr. Berry also is interested in, and personally connected with, the business of the Springdale Canning Company, which is one of the most important manufacturing concerns in the county and does a very extensive business.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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