William H. Beery

As printed in 1906

WILLIAM H. BEERY.

William H. Beery, one of the trustees of Center township, who is extensively engaged in farming and is also a director of the Henry County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, was born in Baltimore township, this county, on the 12th of March, 1846, a son of Levi L. and Margaret (Short) Beery. The father, a pioneer settler of this state, was born in Lancaster county, Ohio, in 1814, and was a son of Isaac Beery, a native of Germany, who came to Ohio on crossing the Atlantic to America. Levi Beery was reared in the Buckeye state and there wedded Miss Margaret Short, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit until 1840, when he visited Iowa on a prospecting tour and purchased land in Henry county. In 1842 he removed with his family to his farm in Baltimore township, transforming the wild and unimproved land into a rich and productive tract. In the course of years his place became a valuable farm and remained his home up to the time of his death. He also had one of the first saw and grist mills of the county on Big Creek and vas a promoter of the substantial improvement and material welfare of the county for many years. As his financial resources increased he made judicious investment in property until he owned between seven and eight hundred acres of land at the time of his demise. He held different township offices, the duties of which he discharged in a capable manner and his death, which occurred in 1892, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His wife, a most estimable lady, passed away in 1890.

William H. Beery is indebted to the district schools of Baltimore township for the early education he acquired but later he attended Howe's Academv in Mount

I'pleasant, then one of the leading academic schools of the country. When he put aside his text-books he gave his attention to farm work on the old homestead until twenty-one years of age. when he made a trip through the west, visiting.California, Nevada, the Black Hills and other districts. He was one of the first in the Black Hills country, where he engaged in prospecting and mining. He opened up a mine there and was very successful in its operation. He was also in Colorado and subsequently in New Mexico and on selling his interests there he returned to Henry county and purchased a farm in Center township comprising" two hundred and fifty acres of land and constituting one of the best farm properties here. He has prospered in his management of his agricultural interests and in addition to the home place he owns eighty acres of land in Bath township. All of the improvements upon his property have been made by him and in 1904 he erected a beautiful residence with all modern equipments. It is lighted by gas and he has his own gas and water plant upon the place. The home is conveniently situated two miles from the city and is a most desirable and attractive residence. Mr. Beery is an extensive stock-feeder as well as general agriculturist and both branches of his business are proving profitable.

In 1882 Mr. Beery was married to Lillie A. Brittain, a native of Baltimore township and a daughter of Robert Brittain. They now have two children: Agnes, a student in Iowa Wesleyan University; and Wilbur H., at home. Mr. Beery has been an active republican and has served on both the township and county central committees, acting on the latter when President McKinley was elected. He has frequently been a delegate to party conventions and has been called to public office, serving now as township trustee, in which office he has been the incumbent for fifteen consecutive years. During that time many permanent improvements have been made in the roads and in installing cement culverts. He has likewise been the champion of advancement along educational lines and the schools find in him a stalwart friend. He belongs to Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 8, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he was senior warden for a number of years and he affiliates with Mystic Lodge, Independent Order Odd Fellows. For twenty years he has been an officer and director of the Henry County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, of which his father was one of the charter members and Mr. Beery is now serving as vice president. His work in behalf of public progress has been of a practical and beneficial character, while in his business life he has achieved prosperity and at the same time has made an honorable name.

As printed in Biographical review of Henry County, Iowa, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of many of the prominent citizens of to-day and also of the past .. (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.