James Micajah Berry

James Micajah Berry

• Father: William Wallace Berry b. 6 May 1833, d. 11 April 1905
• Mother: Mary Annis Davis b. 21 February 1837, d. 26 November 1882

• James Micajah Berry was born in March 1862 in Bedford, Virginia.
• William Wallace Berry and Mary Annis Davis appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia. Other members of the household included James Micajah Berry, Ellen M. Berry, Thomas Davis Berry and Samuel A. Berry. Also in the household was a domestic servant and a farm laborer.
• William Wallace Berry and Mary Annis Davis appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia. Other members of the household included James Micajah Berry, Thomas Davis Berry, Samuel A. Berry, William Wallace Berry Jr. and Ellen M. Berry. Also in the household was one domestic servant.
• He was a tobacco broker, according to the 1880 census.
• He married Abbie Howe Bell, daughter of Orville P. Bell and Nannie (?), on 25 May 1882 in Bedford, Virginia, and James' brother Thomas married Abbie's sister Ida.
• James Micajah Berry became a widower at the circa 23 February 1891 death of his wife Abbie Howe Bell.
• Research Note: Further research is required to determine whether Thomas D. Berry and Thomas Davis Berry Jr. were the same person.
• He married Emeline L. Campbell, daughter of John Wesley Campbell and Sarah Louise Davis, on 23 November 1892 in Galveston County, Texas.
• James Micajah Berry and Emeline L. Campbell appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Bedford, Virginia, at Bedford Avenue. Other members of the household included Abbie Howe Berry, James Micajah Berry, Thomas D. Berry, Eloise Douglas Berry, Mary Annis Berry and John Clarke Berry.
• He was a tobacconist, according to the 1900 census.
• The following appeared on 2 June 1905 in The Times-Dispatch: (Bedford City, June 1) The marriage of Miss Abbie Howe Berry, the eldest daughter of Mr. James M. Berry, to Mr. George Miles, Jr., was solemnized at St. John's Episcopal Church this evening at 9:30 o'clock in the presence of a large assemblage of friends and relatives, Rev. Dallas Tucker, the rector of the church, officiating.
       The church was very tastefully decorated with potted Boston ferns, boughs of the beautiful shell-tinted mountain ivy and daisies forming a flowry background within the chancel for the impressive service of matrimony. Many electric lights shed a mellow glow upon the fair scene. Professor W. Saunders Adams, of Lynchburg, gave a delightful organ recital prior to the arrival of the bridal party and rendered the wedding marches and played softly during the ceremony.
       The ushers advanced first and took positions on either side of the rostrum. They were in full evening dress and wore boutonniers of lilies of the valley. They were Messrs. Hans Suhling and H. T. Nicholas, of Lynchburg; Robert L. Scott, of Norfolk; Miles Faggart, of Roanoke; S. S. Lambeth, Jr., T. W. Richardson, O. C. Bell and E. C. Burks, of Bedford City.
       Then came the matron of honor, Mrs. O. C. Bell, arrayed in a lovely costume of figured heliotrope silk mulle with trimmings of German Val lace, satin girdle of two shades of heliotrope and wearing a coronet of heliotrope; in her hand she carried a bouquet of heliotrope with long ribbons of smilax; after whom came the little maid of honor and sister of the bride, Miss Ellaoise Berry, in a lovely frock of white silk, white shoes and hose and carrying white roses. Last came the bride, very charming and lovely, clad in an exquisite creation of white crepe and German Val lace, over white taffeta with white girdle; over the fair form fell in filmy folds the long veil of tulle. In her hand she held a shower bouquet of lilies of the valley. She was escorted by her father, Mr. James M. Berry, to the foot of the rostrum, where she was met by the groom and his best man and brother, Mr. Edmund Miles, of Pittsburg, Pa., both in full dress. Then the betrothal service took place. The remainder of the ceremony was performed in front of the chancel.
       The party left the church in reversed order and repaired to the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Berry, where a reception was held to the relatives and immediate friends of the two families.
       The house was beautifully decked with roses and other flowers, upon which many lights glowed with pleasing effect. These, with the beautiful evening costumes of the ladies, and evening dress of the men, all conspired to form a memorable scene, of which the fair young bride was the center. Tempting and dainty substantial refreshments followed by frozen dainties, strawberries and cake were dispensed in graceful style.
       Rarely has there been so valuable and handsome an array here of bridal presents as was presented these fortunate young people, who enter upon life's united journey under such auspicious circumstances.
       Mr. and Mrs. Miles left on the midnight east-bound train for an extended journey to Nova Scotia and other points.
       The going away gown of the bride was a very handsome blue silk walking costume, with hat and gloves to correspond. The bride is a very accomplished, handsome young lady, of sparkling wit and brightness and a devotee of music, being an exceptionally gifted pianist. She is a greatniece of Mr. B. H. Berry, Mrs. James Poindexter and Miss Ophelia Berry, of Richmond.
       The groom is a young business man of fine ability, and very successful, who, during his nearly four years' residence in Bedford City, has won many friends. He is a member of the largte and prosperous firm of the Berry, Suhling Tobacco Company, and the agent of the Alberti Company, leaf exporters.
       Among guests from other points, who attended the marriage, were Mr. and Mrs. George Miles, of Appomattox, the parents of the groom;p Mr. and Mrs. William S. Carroll, of Lynchburg, the latter the sister of the groom, and their children; Mrs. Harold O. Smith, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Miss Clara Carroll, of Lynchburg; Mrs. Dr. John Mahoney, of Richmond; Mrs. Norton R. Savage, Richmond; Mrs. Harvey Moore, Mrs. Frank Dorsey and Miss Kittie Leyman, of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Gerhard Suhling, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Adams, Miss Elizabeth J. Nicholas, Mrs. John L. Caskie, Miss Lucy Jackson, Miss Louise Jackson and Mr. W. W. Dickerson, all of Lynchburg.
• James Micajah Berry became a widower at the circa 27 January 1908 death of his wife Emeline L. Campbell.
• The following appeared on 30 January 1908 in The Times-Dispatch: (Bedford City, Jan. 29) The funeral services of Mrs. Em. Campbell Berry took place this morning from the home of her husband, Mr. James M. Berry, on Bedford Avenue, conducted by Rev. Dallas Tucker, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, of which she was a devoted and valued member, being also a most efficient and useful member of the Woman's Auxiliary Missionary Society and Guild of the church. There was a large assemblage of relatives and friends to testify to their love and admiration.
       Mrs. Berry was a native of Galveston, Tex., whence about fifteen years ago she came as the bride of Mr. James M. Berry, and by her attractive person, rare intelligence, culture and loveliness of character soon won her way to the hearts of all those with whom she came in contact. She is survived by her husband and six children, who are Ellaoise, Mary, Clark, Edmonia, Nellie and Georgia, the two last twin infants, only ten weeks old. Scarce less devoted to her are the children of Mr. Berry's first marriage, who are Mrs. George Miles, Jr., James and Tom Berry.
• The following appeared on 27 July 1908 in The Times-Dispatch: (Bedford City, July 26) Georgie, the infant daughter of Mr. J. M. Berry, aged about eight months, died this morning at the home of her father in Bedford Avenue, after an illness of several weeks. Mrs. Berry died last February leaving twin daughters, of whom the little one who died this morning is one.
• James Micajah Berry died on 12 May 1909 at age 47 in Bedford County, Virginia.
• He was interred at Longwood Cemetery, Bedford, Bedford County, Virginia.
• The following appeared on 13 May 1909 in The Times-Dispatch: (Bedford City, May 12) James M. Berry died this afternoon after an illness of many months, aged forty-eight years. He was engaged in the tobacco business until ill health compelled his retiring. He is survived by the following children: Mrs. George Miles, Jr., J. M. Berry, Jr., Thomas D. Berry, Eloise, Mary, Clark and Edmonia Betty; a sister, Mrs. J. F. Spencer, of Brookneal; two brothers, T. D. and W. W. Berry. He was a nephew of B. H. Berry, Miss Ophelia and Mrs. James Poindexter, of Richmond.

• Last Edited: 24 Nov 2014

• Charts: Descendants of CAMPBELL Archibald & Rebecca Kirk