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Below is a family biography included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published by Mills & Company in 1883.  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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JOHN M. BERRY, farmer, post-office Avilla. He is a native of Indiana, born in Grant county, March 30, 1834. When a child of four years of age his parents came to Jasper county, Mo., locating near where Burch’s mill now stands, where his father, Thomas Berry, died in 1842 or 1843. In 1848 the family returned to Indiana, Our subject, then in his fourteenth year, engaged at farming. He was married March 14, 1856, to Miss Sarah Olliver, a native of Indiana. During the war of the Rebellion Mr. Berry was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, attached to the army of the Cumberland. He was mustered out in July, 1865, and the same year came to Missouri, staid one winter in Livingston county and came to Avilla in the spring of 1866. The country at that time was in a sad state of demoralization occasioned by the war. Mr. Berry, in company with Benj. Binney, engaged at merchandising, and continued in the business two years. He then bought an improved farm in section 12, McDonald township. He moved to Lawrence county in 1870 and purchased a farm on which he lived three years. Returning to Avilla he entered in the drug business two years. He bought a farm in Lincoln township which he worked four years; returning to Avilla he sold goods in the store of Stemmons and Whitsett two and one-half years. He then engaged at merchandising under the firm name of Tanehill & Berry; sold out his business in 1881. Mr. Berry is known as an energetic, thorough-going business man, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He was postmaster at Avilla in 1866, and has also held the office of tax collector; he has been a staunch Republican until the organization of the Liberal party in 1872, when he became identified with that movement. He is now a well-known Greenbacker. His wife died Nov. 27, 1876, at Tom Thumb Springs, Ark., whither she had gone for treatment, leaving six children: Albert L., Angeline, Mrs. Chas. Myers; Laura J., Mrs. Geo. Longe; Ann, Clara, and Fred. He was married at Zanesville, Ohio, Oct. 17, 1878, to Miss Rose Wallard. They have one child, Lee. Mr. B. is a member of the I. O. O. F. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in The History of Jasper County, Missouri published in 1883.  For the complete description, click here: Jasper County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jasper County, Missouri family biographies here: Jasper County, Missouri Biographies

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