FREDERICK E. BERRY, one of the managers of the National Union store at Rushville, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, December 23, 1841, a son of Daniel and Mary A. (Crow) Berry, natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Samuel Berry, the paternal grandfather, was also a resident of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Daniel Berry was reared to the occupation of a farmer; he emigrated to Schuyler county, Illinois, in an early day, and settled in Rushville township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, partially improved; his widow still resides on the home farm. They had a family of nine children, all of whom grew to mature years: William C. died in Rushville, leaving a family; Daniel died in California; George G. died at Tombstone, Arizona; Sarah is the wife of Morris Hobart; Elizabeth married C. L. Easley; Mary A. is the wife of W. R. Milby; Frederick E. is the subject of this sketch; Martha M. is the wife of A. V. Quinn; John S. died in New York city; Frederick E. was brought up amid rural scenes and attended the common schools.
When the great Civil war arose between the North and South, he was not slow to espouse the cause of the Union, and May 10, 1861, he enlisted in the service of the State Government; and May 24, 1861, enlisted for three years in Company G, Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and spent the summer and fall of 1861 in Missouri; in January, 1862, he went to Cairo and afterward joined Pope's army in the siege of New Madrid; he participated in the capture of Island No. 10, the siege of Corinth, and was afterward stationed at Big Spring, Mississippi; next at Tuscumbia, Alabama, and took part in the retreat of Negley's and Palmer's brigades; next they were at Decatur and Nashville, Tennessee, remaining at the latter place during the two months of the siege; he was at Stone river, at Nashville, and during the siege of Chattanooga was at Kelly's Ferry. January 1, 1864, he was transferred to the Sixtieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and took part in the battles of Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost Gap; he was transferred March 1st to the Sixteenth Regiment, which he joined in the beginning of the war, and served until May 2d, when he began the Atlanta campaign; he went as far as Burnt Hickory, and there was ordered back, and June 13th at Chattanooga, was discharged. He returned to his home, and resumed the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture.
Mr. Berry was married January 3, 1867, to Miss Maggie Milby, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary Milby, a native of Delaware, born January 30, 1845. He then took charge of his father's farm, which he managed until the fall of 1891. In October of that year the branch store of the National Union Company was organized; he was made manager at Rushville; this company does a general mercantile business, carries a well selected stock, and is worthy of the generous patronage received. Mr. Berry owns the old homestead left by his father, which consists of 178 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Berry have had born to them a family of five children. Katie is the wife of Miles Van Horn; Anna, Elizabeth, Grace and Fred E. In politics Mr. Berry is independent, although he formerly affiliated with the Republican party. He has been Tax Collector and served as a member of the School Board. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and has been Commander of colonel Harney Post, No. 131; he is also a member of the A.O.U.W., and is Secretary of the County Alliance. He has also been interested in public movements, and has been a loyal supporter of home industries. He is a man of superior business qualifications, and through strictly honorable methods he has accumulated considerable property.