In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1901) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1828
From Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901), Portrait and biographical album of Linn County, Iowa (1887)
OBERT BERRY, a prominent citizen of Linn County and a successful farmer and stock- Iki raiser, living on section 27, Bertram Town- ) ship, is a native of the Buckeye State and was born on the 4th of July, 1828. He is one of those gentlemen to whom the growing population of Linn County can point with pride as being a self-made man, for what he has of this world's goods has been accumulated through his own indomitable energy and perseverance, and not as the recipient of any legacy. His school privileges were quite limited, and what education he acquired in the district school has since been supplemented by a practical information. In fact, the life of our subject has been that of a farmer, and his younger years were passed on the old homestead of his parents, assisting his father in the labors on the farm.
The parents of our subject were Samuel and Mary (Emmons) Berry; the father was of Irish and the mother of English descent. The father was born in New York, May 1, 1784, and the mother in New Jersey, Nov. 1 5, 1 782. After they were married they moved to Ohio, where the father engaged in farming, and was thus occupied until his death. The mother moved to this county in 1851, and died at the home of our subject, Aug. 5, 1860. They had eleven children: David, born Aug. 26, 1807; William, March 10, 1810; Johanna, June 12, 1812; John, June 14, 1814; James, June 18, 1817; Sarah, Aug. 15, 1819; Mary and Amy (twins), Nov. 9, 1822; Samuel, Sept. 24, 1825; Robert and Nellie. Those deceased were David, Nellie, Johanna,
James, Sarah, Mary, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Berry of this notice, after leaving the old home in Ohio, rented land there, and for one year was busily engaged in its cultivation, after which he became a contractor, and assisted in building the road of the C. H. & D. R. R. In 1851 he came to this county, purchasing 160 acres of land in Bertram Township, and has continued to reside in that township until the present time. He has added to his landed interests in Linn County until he is at present the proprietor of nearly 1,000 acres of valuable land. During the time that our subject has been a resident of Bertram Township, he has been for upward of thirty-five years continuously identified with its agricultural development, and probably no man has done more to further its prosperity than Mr. Berry. He has erected good and substantial buildings on his farm, and has brought the land to a high state of cultivation. His residence is a fine brick, and was built in 1858, and in 1872 he erected as fine a barn as is to be found anywhere within the boundary lines of the county. It is 50x72 feet in dimensions. He also has a corn crib 22x48, a stock barn 30x64, and a piggery 78x28 feet in dimensions, with stone floor. He also has a cattle-shed 20x60 feet, and has on his place the Jackson patent scale. He fatten about 150 head of hogs and fifty head of cattle for the market annually. On his place is one of the finest set of water-works to be found anywhere in the county, which must be seen to be appreciated.
Mr. Berry was married in this county on the 25th of April, 1854, to Nancy Thorington, daughter of Alex and Martha (Webb) Thorington, natives of Maryland. Her parents moved from their native State to Ohio, subsequently to Montgomery County, Ind., settling near Crawfordsville, and thence to this county, terminating their journey here in 1853. They located in Bertram Township, where they both died. Mrs. Berry was born in Montgomery County, Ind., July 4, 1834, and has borne our subject eight children — Walter H., born April 29, 1856; Charles E., Feb. 27, 1859; Jennie E., April 11, 1861; Addison A., June 22, 1863; Robert O., May 14, 1865; William J., Jan. 28, 1868; John F., June 26, 1872, and one who died in infancy. Walter was united in marriage with Almeda Harrison,
Bjip inmr/ and is a farmer of Bertram Township; Charles and Miss Lurena J. Byers were married, and are living in Bertram Township; Jennie E. became the wife of William Harrison, who is also a farmer of Bertram Township; Addison and Miss Ella Hunter were united in marriage, and they reside in the same township; Robert, William and John are inmates of the parental home.
Mr. Berry has held the offices of Township Trustee and School Treasurer, and in politics votes for the best men for office regardless of party. He and his wife became members of the Methodist Church about 1 865.
A fine lithographic view of the handsome residence and commodious barns and out-buildings of Mr. B. is presented on another page of this work.
ARTIN A. LANNING is a pioneer of Otter Creek Township and resides on section 20. He is an estimable and influential citizen, a native of the great commonwealth of Ohio, where he was born March 20, 1825, in Tuscarawas County. He is the son of Richard and Justina (Risher) Lanning. Richard Lanning was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1798, and came to Iowa in 1850, locating in this township, where he died May 13, 1885. His marriage with the mother of our subject took place in Guernsey County, Ohio, Jan. 17, 1822. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1803. This excellent old lady is still living, and is a member of the Christian Church. She became the mother of ten children, including triplets, who are deceased: John, Martin A., Jacob M., Lydia, Absalom, Nancy J., Leonard N.,and the triplets who died in infancy. John Lanning those for his life companion Miss Margaret J. Thomas; Jacob M. for his first wife married Miss Mary Yawbert, of whom he was deprived.by death, and he subsequently married Miss Sarah Weare; she also died, and he married again; the lady's name is not known. Lydia died at the age of thirty years; Nancy J. became the wife of Abraham Ward; Leonard married Miss Fairbee Andrews, who is now deceased.
Our subject for his first wife married Miss Mary E. Myers, which event occurred March 11, 1848. The decease of this lady took place Jan. 5, 1875; she left nine children; Margaret J. became the wife of Thomas Cress; Lavina C. married George Garrison; Lydia S. died on Christmas Day, 1874; John C. took for his life companion Miss Anjelia Hogueland, March 11, 1875; Amanda J. was born June 4, 1854; Nancy E., born Nov. 4, 1856, married Corwin D. Fleming; she departed this life Aug. 25, 1886, at Lewiston, Idaho; Richard E. was bum Feb. 14, 1859; William D. was born Sept, 1, 1861; Leonard G., born Oct. 19, 1863, died Feb. 11,
The maiden name of the present Mrs. Lanning was Laura A. Greene. She was a native of Ontario County, N. Y., and was born May 8, 1826. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Lamb) Greene, also natives of the Empire State. Her father, John Greene, was born Jan. 22, 1802, removed to Iowa, and died there in 1884. Elizabeth, his wife, was born Aug. 3, 1807, and died June 18, 1878. Eight children formed their family circle, whose record is as follows: Orelia E. died in infancy; the next in order were Benjamin, Laura A., James R., Franklin, Ruth, Sarah, and Arnold G.; the latter died at the age of twenty-one years.
Mr. Lanning is the possessor of a fine farm of 225 acres, all improved and in a high state of cultivation. Besides the pursuit of agriculture he is turning his attention largely to the breeding of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle. He has a fine herd of fifty-three head, making his first purchase from the celebrated breeder, Mr. John Stama.
The homestead of Mr. Lanning is one of the finest in Otter Creek Township; he has erected a fine dwelling-house, and his barns and out-buildings are of first-class description, and supplied with all the necessaries for the transaction of an extensive business. He is a man of most excellent judgment, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and is esteemed by his community as one of its most useful citizens. He has contributed his part toward building up the township, and takes a just pride in reviewing what he has accomplished. In politics lie is a stanch Republican, lending his influence in behalf of the best measures and best men. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
A view of Mr. Lanning's handsome property shown on another page.
As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Linn County, Iowa (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ROBERT BERRY.
For over half a century Bertram township had no more influential or prosperous citizen than the gentleman whose name introduces this review. He was born in Ohio, July 4, 1828, and is a son of Samuel and Mary (Emmons) Berry, the former born in New York, May 1, 1784, of Irish descent, the latter in New Jersey. November 15. 1782, of English extraction. After their marriage they removed to Ohio, where the father followed farming until his death. In 1851 the mother came to Iowa, and died at the home of our subject, August 5, 1860. They were the parents of eleven children, whose names and dates of birth were as follows: Davis, August 26, 1807; William, March 10. 1810; Johanna. July 12, 1 81 2; John, June 14, 1814; James, June
18, 1817; Sarah. August 15, 1819; JNIary and Amy, twins, Xovember 9, 1822: Samuel. September 24, 1825; Robert, July 4, 1828; and Nellie.
Mr. Berry's early educational advantages were meager, but the knowledge he acquired in the district schools has been supplemented by a practical information acquired in later years. He grew to manhood upon his father's farm and obtained an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On leaving the old homestead he commenced farming upon rented land in Ohio, and later engaged in railroad contracting.
Coming to Linn county, Iowa, in 1851, Mr. Berry purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 27, Bertram township, where he continued to make his home till the spring of 1901, when he rented his place and removed to Cedar Rapids. In his farming operations he has steadily prospered, and has added to his landed possessions until he now owns nearly one thousand acres of valuable land. He has placed his land under excellent cultivation and erected thereon good and substantial buildings, until he now has one of the best improved and most desirable farms in the county. He has always given considerable attention to the raising of stock for the market and has also met with success in this undertaking.
On the 25th of April, 1854, in this county, Mr. Berry was united in marriage with Miss Xancy Thorington, who was born near Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, Indiana, July 4, 1834, and is a daughter of Alexander and Martha ( 'elib) Tlmringtnn, natives of Maryland. Her parents removed from that state to Ohio, and from there to Montgomery county, Indiana, and in 1853 came to Linn county, Iowa, spending the remainder of their lives in Bertram township.
Lnto Mr. and Mrs. Berry were born the following children: Walter H., born April 29, 1856, and Charles E., born February 27, 1859, are both represented elsewhere in this wurk: Jennie E.. burn April 11, 1861, of the wife of William H. Harrison, whose sketch also appears on another page of this volume; Addison A., born June 22, 1863, married Ella Hunter and makes his heme in Alt. vernon (a sketch of him will be found on another page of this work); Robert O., born May 14, 1865, married Rachel Cory, and lives on a farm in Marion township; William Jasper, burn January 28, 1868, married Bertie H. Hutchinson and lives on a farm in Bertram township; Jcjhn Frederick, born June 26, 1872, married Ida McCloud, and resides in Cedar Rapids; and one died in infancy.
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THOMAS E. AlUXHOLLAXD.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success in life has been worthily achieved and who has won for iiimself a high position in the business world. This is a progressive age and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. Mr.
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Avhere he secured a section of land, making it his home for two years prior to the Civil war. He joined the Fifth Illinois Cavalry, being the first of his company to enlist, and with his regiment went to Missouri, wh?re thev were engaged in fighting' guerrillas.- He was badly injured by being thrown from his horse, and was sent to the hospital at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illiuijis. While there the smallpox broke out in the hospital, and he was appointed as a physician to care for the patients, having studied chemistry in his early days. He was so successful in his treatment of the disease that he was appointed by Governor Yates, of Illinois, as hospital steward at Camp Butler, and was given charge of all supplies. He then sent for his wife and two sons and remained there three years. At the close of the war he was honorably* discharged and returned to New York, but after spending a short time there he located in Blotimington, Illinois, where he started a steam dye works. He made his home there until his death, which occurred July 22, 1887.
Thoma Munholland was educated at Poughkeepsie, New York, and Bloomington, Illinois, attending school in the latter place until fifteen years of age, when he returned to New York and commenced learning calico printing in the dye department of the Dutchess Print works. He spent two years in that factory and then returned to Bloomington, where he was engaged in business with his father, remaining there until his marriage. At the age of twenty-two he wedded Miss Lillian Preble, of Lexington, Illinois, a daughter of Charles Preble, who was a large stockman and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade.
On the 17th <if March. iSSd. Mr. Munholland reihoved to Cedar Rapitis and established the Boston Dye Works, his first location being where the postoffice now stands. Later he bought the price where he is now located. On coming to Cedar Rapids he had only thirty-three dollars in. cash, but he has prospered in business here through his perseverance, capable management and determination to succeed..\t the age of sixteen he went to iMichigan, where he had charge of a system of pumps in the iron mines for a year, and during that time saved enough money to buy a piece of land, which he sokl for three hundred dollars on leaving there. The same land afterward pro\ed to be fine mineral property and was sold for one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Munholland is the breeder of some of the finest spaniels in this country, and is a over of sport with the rod or gun. For seventeen years he has been a member of the Iowa National Guards, and has held office from first corporal to first lieutenant. He has received three honorable discharges, and has served three years in Company C, of Cedar Rapids. In his political views he is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is a member of Crescent Lodge, No. 25, A. F. &
As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Lanning (b. 1797) William H. Harrison (b. 1859)
Their biographies name Robert Berry: W. H. Harrison Charles E. Berry (b. 1859) Addison A. Berry (b. 1863) Walter H. Berry (b. 1856)
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.