Documents of Benjamin Franklin Berry Family

A Work in Progress: It's like putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle, fitting in one piece at a time and wondering at the lovely picture of our kin when they finally reveal themselves.

Benjamin Franklin BERRY (1841-1904) + Elizabeth MCCLOUD (1846-1902) =  10 known children
son of possibly a Samuel Berry. 
daughter of  George Washington & Eunice (Bray) McCloud, granddaughter of John & Elizabeth Polly (Page) McCloud,

granddaughter of Henry & Sarah (Sparks) Bray,

great-granddaughter of Peter & Unknown Page. 
Findagrave #153858541




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Quaker Record
Berry, Benjamin. b. 1841-4-28
& w: Elizabeth b. 1846-7-6
& ch:
Tacy E. b. 1868-7-30
Levitt L. b. 1871-7-14
Mary E. b. (?)
William W. b. (?)
Source: Pleasant Plain Monthly Meeting (A-B), Iowa. US, Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940. PPI, p. 26. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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1880 US Census
Berry, Benjamin, white, male, 39 yrs., occupation-farmer, birthplace-IN
----- Elizabeth white, female, 33 yrs., occupation-housekeeping, birthplace-IN, father's birthplace-KY
----- Tacy, white, female, 12 yrs., occupation-at home, birthplace-IN; father's birthplace-IN; mother's birthplace-IN
----- Leavitt, white, male, 10 yrs., occupation-at home, birthplace-IN, father's birthplace-IN, mother's birthplace-IN
----- Marietta, white, female, 6 yrs.,  birthplace-KS,
----- Henry, white, male, 5 yrs., birthplace-KS,
----- Wm., white, male, 2 yrs. birthplace-KS,
Source: 1880 US Federal Census for 324, Strawberry Twp., Washington Co, Kansas. June 28, 1880. Line # 1. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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1885 KS State Census
Frank Berry, 44 yrs head, married,  occupation - farming
Lizzie ", 37 yrs, female, married,
Tacy ", 16 yrs, female, single,
Levett ", 14 yrs. male, "
Etta ", 12 yrs, female, "
Henry ", 9 yrs, male, "
Wm. ", 7 yrs, male, "
George ", 4 yrs, male, "
Anna ", 1 yr. female, "
Source: 1885 Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 for Coleman Twp., Washington Co, KS. Line #6. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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1900 US Census
Berry, Benjamin F., head, white, male, birth mo. Apr., birth year-1834, 66 yrs, married - 32yrs, birthplace-IN, father's birthplace-NC; mother's birthplace-NC, occupation-farmer
-------, Elizabeth, wife, white, female, birth month-Jul. birthyear - 1846, 54 yrs. married-32 yrs, 8 children-7 living, birthplace-IN, father's birthplace-VA, mother's birthplace-VA
-------, William, son, white, male, birth month-Dec, birth year-1877, 22 yrs, single, birthplace-KS, father's birthplace-IN, mother's birthplace-IN, occupation-farmer
-------, George E., son, white, male, birth month-Dec., birth year-1881, 19 yrs, single, birthplace-KS, occupation-farmer 
-------, Anna D. daughter, white, female, birth month-Dec, birth place-1883, 13 yrs, single, birthplace-KS, occupation - housework
-------, Nora M., dau., white, female, birth month-April, birth year - 1892, 8 yrs, single, birthplace-KS
Ray, Walter, grandson, white, male, birth month-Mar, birthplace-1889, 11 yrs, single, birthplace-KS, father's birthplace-KS, mother's birthplace-IN, occupation-farmer
Source: 1900 US Federal Census. District 0009, Township 29, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. 16 July, 1900. Line #75. Retrieved from Ancestry.com
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Obituary
Coffeyville Journal 
March 8 - 9, 1904

An old soldier by the name of Berry, living east of Parker, died Tuesday afternoon.

B. F. Berry, the old soldier who died at his home near Parker Tuesday, was buried Wednesday afternoon in Elmwood cemetery. Mr. Berry was 63 years of age and his death was caused by pneumonia.
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According to William G. Cutler's "History of the State of Kansas," Parker, Montgomery Co, KS. was about a mile and a half south of Westralia, on the east side of the Verdigris River. It was begun about 1869 by D. T. Parker, after whom it was named, assisted by H. W. Martin and others.
For awhile, the town enjoyed a marvelous growth, having within a single year grown to a city of more than 1,000 inhabitants. However, the railroad decided to bypass Parker in favor of Coffeyville which was on the west bank of the Verdigris in 1871. Of the once flourishing city, only two or three buildings are left to mark the place where it once stood.
Source: "History of the State of Kansas." By William G. Cutler. Retrieved from website: http://www.kancoll.org/books/cutler/

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1. Ray BERRY

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2. Tacy Emmaline BERRY ULLOM (1868-1937)
Tacy Berry Ullom's Autograph Album was of Burgundy velvet covered with red roses and blue forget-me-not illustrations.

1. Coffeyville, Kansas February 19th, 1893
May Thy Pathway bee strewed with
Roses bright and Thornless so the
End Then in Heven Repose
Forever is The Wishes of Thy
Father. B.F.Berry

2. Febuary, Sundy, 19th 1893
Dear Daughter
Rember me when far away
Rember me when near
Rember me when dead and gon and drop
For me a Tear.
your mother, Elizabeth Berry
Coffeyville, Kansas

3. 2th month, 1892
Rember me is all I ask for Rembrance is a daly Task
Thy brother, Gord Berry

4. Fiend Miss Tacy Berry April 25, 1891
Remember me when far away and only half awake
Remember me on your wedden day and send me a slice of cake.
Mr. John Gilbert

5. For my sister 2nd month, 19th
Length of Days and Prosperity
Will be the Lot of Him
Who trusts in the God and serves him
May the be faithful So
trust him is the wishes of thy Brother.
Henry R. Berry.

6. Coffeyville, Mongumery Co., Knsas
Febuary 19 1893
Dear Sister Rember well and Bare in mind
That a Jay Birds Tail Sticks out behind.
your well wishing brother. William Berry.

7. Feb 19th, 1893 Coffeyville, Knsas
From Ray Berry to his sister
When you see This just give yourself a kiss and think of Ray.
Ray Berry.

8. Washington, Kan May 9, 1891
Friend Tacy
Come back I long to Clasp thy hand and Press my lips to thine.
I hear thy Voice in tones of love and Still I call thee mine.
A friend G.D.M.

9. Rember me Dear Sister,
When on This Page you look.
Rember was your sister who
this in your Book.
Anna D. Berry. 2nd month, 19, 1893. Coffeyville, Knsas.

10. Dear Sister 3/21/1892
For you and I must part
Perchase too meet no more
But you and God shall Never Part
and pray. Tacy So gain that heavenly shore.
These are the best wishes of your sisters, Ettie,
Rember March 17, 1892, Sunday

11. Dear Sister 2/19/1893 Rember the trip to Coffeyville from Washington.
May your cares all fly away
Like Due Bee fore the Sun
and when youre nothing Else to do
Jist think ov me for fun.
from Brother Lewett Berry. forget-me-not!

12. Ever remember your Everdale friends, Stringtown, Kans. 1/20/92
Dear Friend, Five friends are like dimonds,
precious but rare
fals ones like autumn leavs found ever whare,
your friend, Nettie Pickett. I wish you luck in leap year adventures.

13. March 19, 1894, Streator, ILL.
Dear Tacy, May your life be long and deray
and its ending out of sight
foot it bravely trewa faithful, trust in God
& do the right. Your friend, Bessie T.

Her Recipes

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3. Levett Z. BERRY (b. 1870)
From Levett Berry to Sister Tacy Ullom
Dec the 23, Warner, Okla.
Dear Sister and family,

I thot I wood drop you a few leines two Let you know We have fo goten you We ar all well haaf Wite this fow lines real hes you will find you the Same We ar hauling Pretty Bad Wether Dom hir How fare Doo you Live from Oklane City We have Been think of Driving out too See you Som time next sumer Seem as thore We Dont over hear from you now tacy if you can Write git Same of the childern too write we here from nora once and a while how Wase your Crosfer When is the Best time too come out ther Nellie Wood Write But she is So Bisey hamt got time Well tacy this is the first Letter I have tride Write for So Long Excus Pore Wriring Leove too all Pleas write us know all of you are getting good By

from L.Z.B. and famly Warner, Okla Rout1, Box 38

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4. Mary Etta BERRY (b. 1875)

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5. Henry Richard BERRY (1876-1909)

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6. William W. BERRY (1877-1935)

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7. George E. BERRY (1880-1931)

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8. Anna D. BERRY (1883-1909)

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10. Nora M. BERRY CLARK (1891-1962)
From Donzella Clark to Aunt Tacy Ullom
From: Return in 10 days                                        
Postmark: Coffeyville, KS.
To Donzella Clark                                                  
December 1, 1929, 1:30 pm, 2 (1 cent) stamps
1512 So Walnut, Coffeyville, Kansas
To: Mrs. A. Ullom, Elkhart, Kansas
Dear Aunt Tacy & all,

Mamma wants to know why don't you write to us once & awhile mamma never did hear from Laura after wrote card about you being bad off with that rupture of yours so I thought I write and see how you was I am in a hurry for I have to help with supper daddy is working every day we are all just fine are you folks all right & the rest to tell Hello for me tell Laura Hello is she going to school this year I am in the 7B this year like it Just fine lone walk though but going to get my education uncle Sid will be home Thursday. it is snowing here is it their we have rabbits write to us soon please excuse writing tell all Hello from us

your niece Donzella Clark
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Coffeyville, Kansas, Dec. 29
Dear aunt tacy,

      I thought I would drop you a few lines to let you know we are all well. Hope this leaves you all well. We all was all sorry when we heared that Rolans baby died what seemed was the matter with the little baby. did you reived the card. We recived your cards. I got a lot of presents as alowing I got these. a box of staniory, two boxes of candy a lots of Hanchiefs some cards. 2. pair of stocking bottle of prefume some goods to make me a dress and a lots of other thing. Hope you folks got lot of nice things Why don't you ever write aunt nellie uncle levett and Delma stayed four days and they wasn't . . .

More to Read:

1. Ancestry.com
2. Clan MacLeod USA.
3. Dalton Raid -- Dalton Gang Photograph (small boy's face peering through the fence is Ray H. Clark). 
4. see all the BERRY and ULLOM labeled posts
5. "Walters, Sanders, Soots, Russell, Morphew, McCloud Families" by Mary Anne Walters. Rootsweb. 

Rush Reunion 2013

♪ ♫ ♪

 A Music Jam-o

By Mrs. Dolores J. (O'Neal) Rush, 2013.

In the little Ozark Mountains

Once upon a time-o

A fellow named William Jasper Sullens

Could play the fiddle just fine-o.

It is said he could fiddle the night away

And never repeat a song-o

His son Loyd Carl would accompany him

On his little banjo. 

Hymn-sings and bluegrass music parties

Were all the rage then-oh

And after a busy day of chores

Would make one's face grin-so.

How many songs do you know?

Let's stir up music jam-o?

Come to the Rush reunion; after noon

And doh-ray-me with gram-o!

 ♪ ♫ ♪

Rev. Alexander Sullens (1830-1905) +

Martha Ritter (1831-1914) =

|

William Jasper Sullens (1850-1929) +

Nannie Cyntithia Scrivner (1857-1901) =

|

Cora Lee Sullens (1875-1955) +

William Thornton RUSH (1874-1954) =

|

Nannie Marie RUSH (1909-1996) +

Ishmael Lawrence RUSH (1906-1990) = 4 children

 ♪ ♫ ♪

 

Spring Garden Cemetery, AA Hwy & Binkley (north of 54 Hwy), Spring Garden, MO.

 

Rush Chapel Cemetery, on Rush Road (south of 54 Hwy and southeast off 17 Hwy), between Tuscumbia and Mary’s Home, MO.

 ♪  ♫  ♪

Citation: "A Music Jam-O". Written by Dolores J. Rush. Family tree researched by David W. Rush. 3 June 2013. Rush Family News, USA. 

Gathering the Generations

I found this little booklet recently while culling some of the books in our personal library. I forgot I had it. I could not find a publishing date anywhere in the book, but looks fairly recent. It's a little guide to help one plan a memorable reunion. Chapter contents include = Making a Master List, Family File, Teams or Committees, Reunion Notebook; Family Liaisons, Planning the Event, Family Poll, Public Sites, Lodging, Invitations, Feeding the Folks, Activities and Entertainment, Ice Breakers, Variety is the Spice . . ., Extra Projects, Gathering Data, Establishing a Tradition, Keeping in Touch, and Seeing You Again Next Year!

Since the beginning of the Rush Reunion some twenty odd years ago, we have naturally completed some of these chapters and moved beyond, but it gives me various ideas for invitation design ideas or activities that could be included in a future reunion.

And while I've got your attention, I just want to say that as the second Reunion secretary [the first was my sister-in-law], the directory I use to address the envelopes for the reunion notices still needs updating. Some of the older generation are graduating to heaven and the younger generation our son's age are moving out on their own and/or getting married. I NEED THEIR ADDRESSES PLEASE! Personally, I think it would be a nice idea if we could get a photographer come to the reunion and take photos of family groups for a directory like one gets at church. Would anyone like to be in charge of setting one up and letting me know in advance [like April for the following July], so I could include the information with the invitation? 

We also have several books published on the Rush family tree and inter-related branches [see the book list on the side menu of this blog] and David sets up a table every year at the reunion with info, the books and photo albums to pass round. He LOVES sharing family information. 

Our reunion planning committee was and is a loosely formed decision crew. One person, G.R., took charge of the renting the picnic shelter where we hold the reunion every year and still does. I remember some discussion about when to hold it and as most of the family were from the area and farmed, it was decided to have it after harvest in June and before the Missouri State Fair in August and the only open day then at the airpark shelter was on the second Saturday of July which has become the family tradition. He also puts an advertisement in the local papers for the reunion. 

After a few years, the city of Eldon, MO. began charging a low rental fee for the park shelter [amenities: natural air, level concrete floor, picnic tables, electrical outlets, playground, skatepark, basketball, tennis court  and a softball field, Johnny-on-the-spots, a pool, parking and getting to watch airplanes take off at the airpark] versus buildings with artificially cooled air. 

My father-in-law, N.R., paid for the stamps and stationery to send out the invitations until last year. I've designed the reunion invitations since I was handed the baton and stuff the envelopes, but I know my husband would appreciate help with the cost of the postage and stationery as we sent out approximately 150 invitations last year, give or take a few. 

Several years ago, another Mrs. Rush took on renting the park pool for a couple of hours near Reunion Day which is a much welcome, cool activity. I hope she continues with it. It's been fairly well attended. I know she would appreciate help with the rental expense as it's quite expensive to rent the pool for a couple of hours. 

We do gather the family together around several picnic tables loaded with a potluck dinner [that's lunch time for you city folks]. There are some excellent cooks in the family! There has been talk of gathering recipes for a family cookbook for several years and if you would like to be in charge of that, go for it! Just let me know, in advance of the reunion, so I can add it to the invitation.  

There are many activities in this book that give me food for thought. If you can locate a copy, perhaps this booklet can be a springboard for your family reunion too! See ya!

Update: Last year, in 2020, has been the first time since our Rush Reunion began, that we have canceled it due to Covid-19. May the following years be healthy ones! 

Are You a Family History Junkie?

Borrowed.

Several sources have reported that genealogy has now replaced stamp collecting as the No. 1 hobby in the United States. If you are spending lots of time working on your family history and still don't think of yourself as an "addicted genealogist" here's a little test:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Do you always brake for libraries?

Yep! But we also brake for cemeteries, historical societies, museums, and tourist information offices. Do you?

2. If you were locked in that library overnight, would you notice?

Probably not, unless they turned the lights out on us. Hubbin would have to have his trusty sidekick though and that's his laptop.

3. Do you hyperventilate when you see an old cemetery not yet explored?

When hubbin and I were courting, we went parking in cemeteries and we weren't necking, either! We were too busy taking notes! LOL!

4. Would you rather browse in that cemetery than in a shopping mall?

Not necessarily -- I like junking in garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets and hobby/craft stores. I have found historical treasures at the three above places that's been donated to our local genealogy library and transcribed for genealogy newsletter publication.

5. Do you think every home should have a microfilm reader?

I don't know where I would put a microfilm reader in my cottage. Lack of space and lack of purchasing power puts a crimp in that idea.

6. Is your closet carefully stacked with notebooks, books and journals while your clothes are stuffed under the bed?

Nope, the closet holds clothes, although there is a small metal drawer cabinet of maps on David's side of the closet which he obtained from raiding old National Geographic magazines at garage sales. Right now, most of our genealogy books are stacked on my walker seat between a stuffed bookcase and the TV. Library books are stacked on top of a TV tray, waiting to be either read or taken back to the library.

7. Does all your correspondence begin, "Dear Cousin?"

Some of my correspondence or emails begin with "Dear Cousin," but not all. I also have friends, some who share my passion for history and some who share my passion for crafts and card-making.

8. Are you more interested in what happened in 1693 than what happened in 1993?

Not necessarily. I try to keep up with current events as I'm making history of my own too! Hopefully, some day I'll be great-grandma to a descendant and maybe they will be interested in my American history as well. To see what happened the year you were born, click here.

9. If you can find Harrietsham, Hawkhurst, Kent on a map of England--but can't find Chicago on a map of the United States--you know that you are an addicted genealogist.
Well, I'm sorry, that's really sad. Maybe that's the difference between the quizzer above and me. I can find Chicago on the map -- probably because I'm a former homeschool mom. We had a huge laminated map of the world nailed to our laundry room wall for many years and I have a well-used US atlas parked next to my computer that gets referred to a lot.
Take it from me. Even though we don't "pass" all the questions above, I can tell you we are addicted family researchers. Both of us have compiled info on our dead relatives since high school and love history, even handing down that love of history to our son! He said one time he would rather go to a flea market than a museum, because you get to purchase a piece of history to bring home! We have this blog, I have a history blog that I write short biographies of interesting people from Missouri and Kansas history for it, I like crafts from grandma's day, my hubbin belongs to both the Miller County, MO. historical society and the MO. Genealogy society and I am the current secretary for the Rush Reunion, so we've got it BAD, BAD, BAD! *wink*