In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1839, Pettis county
From Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910), The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882)
HON. BERRYMAN K. DAVIS.
Berryman K. Davis was born in Pettis County, Missouri, in April, 1839. His father removed to this county in Ig42, and settled on the White Cloud, near the farm now owned by Isaac Cox. Here Berryman grew to boyhood. The family moved to Nebraska sometime about the year 1852. Young Berryman acquired a good common school education. During the Pike's Peak gold fever he took a trip to the mountains and mined one summer. He always had a great longing for a collegiate education, and the height of his ambition was to go to college. But circumstances were against him, and his desires were never realized. In 1860, we find him in Maryville attending school. He entered the law office of M. G. Roseberry in 1862, and commenced the study of law. But the country was torn and distracted by civil war, and we imagine it was hard work to study amid the excitement of those times. We think the young student found it so, for we find that in the spring of 1864, he threw down Kent and Blackstone and took up the sword. He was elected Major of the Forty-third Missouri Infantry. His career as a soldier was short, as his regiment was captured by General Price in the summer of 1864, and he was not exchanged in time to again enter into active service.
He again took up the study of law and commenced to practice his profession in 1866. He immediately took high rank as a lawyer. In 1868, he was elected to the responsible position of prosecuting attorney for the Twelfth Judicial District. This position he held almost four years, and filled it with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of the public.
Major Davis was married to Miss Sarah Broyles, February 16, 1868. His marriage was a fortunate one, and his domestic relations have been of the most happy character. The fruits of this union have been four children, two of whom are dead.
In 1872, Mr. Davis was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket. His name was prominently mentioned in 1876 as a candidate for congress, and it was only withdrawn at his own request. He was then tendered the nomination of state senator from this district, which he accepted. But the accident which proved fatal prevented him from taking any part in the canvass. He died in November, 1876. Had Major Davis lived, there is no doubt but that a most brilliant career was before him. He was a man of fine talents and of strict integrity. His morals were of the purest character, and he delighted in the enjoyments of the home circle. He was a model husband and father. Since the death of his father, in 1875, the family looked to Berryman for guidance. Said one of his weeping sisters: "Berryman never spoke a cross word to one of us." He left one brother and four sisters to mourn his loss. They are: Mr. George Davis, Mrs. H. H. Geiger, Miss Lucinda Davis, of Maryville, and Mrs. J. C. Wiswell and Mrs. Burwell Spurlock, of Nebraska. Mrs. Davis is a sister of the wife of Joseph Jackson.
The bar of Nodaway County met at the court house in Maryville, Monday evening, November 20, 1876, to take appropriate action on the death of Major B. K. Davis, one of its most honored members. Hon. M. G. Roseberry was called to the chair. A committee was appointed to draft appropriate resolutions. Hon. Lafe Dawson then pronounced a most touching and beautiful eulogy on the deceased. It will be found below.
The committee on resolutions then reported, and one after another of his brothers at the bar arose and said a few words in commendation of him who had gone. It was a touching and beautiful scene. The feelings of some of the gentlemen who spoke entirely overcame them, and many tears course down their cheeks. Such scenes give one a better idea of human nature, and shows that the world is not as cold and heartless as many would have us believe. Judge Kelley was present and added his testimony to the worth of the departed. The resolutions were then passed and the meeting adjourned.
As printed in The history of Nodaway county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HON. BERRYMAN K. DAVIS.
Berryman K. Davis was born in Pettis county, Missouri, in April, 1839. His father moved to Nodaway county in 1842, settling on the White Cloud. Here young Berryman acquired a good common school education. During the Pike's Peak gold mining excitement he took a trip to the mountains and followed mining one summer. The highest aim of his youthful years was Vo obtain a college education, but fate and circumstances seemed against his accomplishing this laudable ambition. In 1860 he was found attending school in Maryville. He then entered the law office of M. G. Roseberry, as a law student, but the country was at that time torn asunder by reason of the Civil war, so, instead of studying Blackstone and Kent, he buckled on a sword. He was elected major of the Forty-third Regiment Missouri Infantry, but his career as a soldier for the Union was of short duration, as his command was captured in the spring of 1864 by General Price, and he was not exchanged in time to enter into the service again.
Mr. Davis then took up law again and commenced to practice in 1866 and soon attained to eminence as a lawyer, in 1868 being elected as prosecuting attorney for the twelfth judicial district. He held this position almost four years with much credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
In 1872 he was a presidential elector on the Republican ticket. He was prominently named for Congress in 1876, but he withdrew his name voluntarily. Later, he accepted the nomination for state senator, but did not live to fill the office; he died in-November, 1876. Major Davis was a man of fine talents and strict integrity. After the death of his father, he had to be at the head of the family, and at his funeral, a sister remarked that “Berryman never spoke a cross word to one of us.” At his funeral, Hon. Lafe Dawson delivered a befitting eulogy on the life and character of this noble man, who was a great favorite with the members of the Nodaway county bar. The closing paragraph of the oration just mentioned reads as follows: “Although Berry man Davis is dead, he still lives; lives by his example; lives in the hearts and affections of those who knew him best; and our bereavement is only intensified because he was cut down in the vigor of his manhood, in the meridian of life, when his mind was undimmed, his intellect unclouded, and his usefulness un impaired.”
As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: H. H. Geiger (b. 1840) Isaac Cox (b. 1803) Joseph Jackson (b. 1842)
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.