A Biographical Sketch of
Comrade Caleb Berry
Once more the taps
have been sounded, another call has been made.
Another Comrade has answered. "The Last Call." That Comrade was
Caleb Berry.
Comrade Berry was born in Knox County,
Ohio, Oct. 29, 1839 and
died Dec.24, 1913. When three years old, his father died. When another
year was added to that young life, the chilly hand of death was
laid
upon the mother, and he was left an orphan, indeed dependent upon
the
charity. The charity which to him seemed a friendless world. He
was
taken by his uncle, Gus Elliott, to his home near Bloomfield, Coshocton,
Ohio. The child was so cruelly treated, and so shamefully punished
by
his uncle that the neighbors and friends requested a farmer to take
and
raise the child. He was bound by his next friend to serve unto John
McConnell of Bethlehem Tp. until he became twenty-one years old.
He
served his years of bondage, with credit to himself, and honor
to his
master. No son was more studious, careful, and industrious. Always
looking, and working to the interest of his master.
On Aug. 9th, of 1862 he enlisted in Co.
G. 122, O.V.I. to serve three
years, where he served with honor and obedience, always ready for
duty, until rheumatism was brought on by exposure, and on the 4th
day
of Nov. 1863 he was discharged from the service on the surgeon's
certificate. He returned to his former home. As soon as he was able,
he
returned to the Army and engaged as a teamster. His skill in handling
horses, and his care of his team, soon gained him the position of
Wagon
Master. On the 18th of Feb. 1865, he enlisted in Co. A 5th Ohio
Calvary, and served until the close of the war. And he was mustered
out
with his company Oct. 30th, 1865. When his military service ended,
he
returned home to his native heath, and made his home with Comrade
Thomas McConnell for 15 years. After which, he made his home with
Adam Bibles, near Cole-Port for a short time.
While there he joined the M.E. Church to
which he was a faithful
member all his after years.
On Thanksgiving day, 1881, he was united
in marriage to Miss
Clough, a daughter of a veteran, and lived a happy and contented
life. A
kind and indulgent father, and a loving husband, and a good neighbor.
He was kind even unto gentleness. His aim in life was to cheer all
the
sad and comfort the lonely. Always willing to act the part of the
good
Samaritan.
Resolved that this biography of Comrade
Berry be placed on file in
the Archives of this post and a copy sent to the bereaved family.
L. C. Milligan
Additional- by Mitchell L. Wise
The preceding tribute was written by L.C. Milligan,
a officer of the
local GAR in Coshocton, Ohio. The GAR is comparable to the modern-
day VFW or American Legion.
Caleb's marriage to Margaret Clough in 1881 produced
eight
children-
James W. Berry, born 1883, Effie M. Berry, 1885, Joseph C. Berry,
1887, Ada Berry, 1889, Catherine Ann Berry, 1891, Harvey Berry,
1895, Gladys Berry, 1898, and Sarah Ethyl Berry, 1900. Sarah Berry
married Ralph Leroy Wise and their youngest son, Lorin Wise was
my
father.
The tribute mentions Caleb living in Cole-Port,
which is actually
Coal-Port, a small area just outside of Newcomerstown. Coal-Port
was a
small coal mining area and it is known that Caleb was a miner for
a
short time, as was his father-in-law, William Clough, whom I hope
to
feature in an upcoming newsletter.
Caleb's only known sibling was his brother
Joseph, of whom little is
known. And because the parents died so young, very little is known
about them including their names. One may suspect that Caleb's
children may have been named after his parents and Caleb's brother
may have been named after his father. It is not known who raised
Joseph and if in fact the two brothers were separated after the
death of
their parents.
Caleb's military records, available from
the National Archives, tells
us Caleb's occupation was farmer. He was 5 foot 7 inches tall, blue
eyes,
and dark complexion.
The year Caleb died Ohio suffered one of
its worst floods in its
history and my grandmother Sarah was only thirteen years old. Caleb
and his wife Margaret are buried in the South Lawn Cemetery in
Coshocton, Ohio.
Any feedback, information, or questions concerning the Wise Family
News Letter or its contents is encouraged. Write me today or E-mail
mitchlwise@tusco.net
INFORMATION REQUESTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Additional information is requested on Caleb Berry, his wife Margaret,
or any of his children. The more information gathered may assist
us in
learning the identity of Caleb's parents.
Newcomerstown News
July 31, 1918
Grandmother Hinds
Mrs. Mary Ann Hinds died Friday, July 26,
at the home of her
daughter, Flora D. Hinds of Canton, at the age of 85 years.
Grandmother Hinds, as she was familiarly
known was a remarkably
well preserved woman, and enjoyed excellent health until about a
year
ago when she was taken seriously ill. She apparently recovered and
was
able to go about again as usual. Last February she went to
Canton to
visit with her daughters, Flora Hinds and Mrs. Walter, and in May
was
taken back down sick in bed. The family noted her gradual loss of
vitality and realized the end was near.
Since the death of her husband, Oct. 10,
1908, Mrs. Hinds has made
her home with her daughter, Mrs. D.C. Whiting of this city, making
extended visits from time to time with the other children.
Mary Ann Huff was born in Belmont County
October 3, 1833. After
her marriage to Westley Hinds, they resided for some time in the
Rodney Run neighborhood.
Later, they removed to Newcomerstown, then
to Iowa, where they
resided over a year, then returned to this neighborhood. Mrs. Hinds
was the mother of nine children, six of whom survive. They are:
Mrs.
R.H. Phillips, of Oreana, Ill., Ezra Hinds of Portland, Oregon,
Mrs. H.
P. Walter and Flora D. Hinds of Canton, Elisha Hinds and Mrs. D.
C.
Whiting of this city.
Mrs. Hinds united with the U. B. church
at Everals many years ago.
The body was brought back to this city Saturday Night in the D.
L.
Lyrick's auto hearse. Funeral services were held on Sunday at the
Whiting home on Main St., conducted by Rev. M. L. Oliver. Burial
was
made beside the grave of her husband in the local cemetery.
**************************************************
A daughter of Westley and Mary Ann Huff Hinds would be born
December 8, 1857 and her name was Laura Ann Hinds. On April 22,
1880, Laura Ann Hinds married Phillip Schide, who was born May 26,
1847. Phillip and Laura would have three children-Harry G., Nora,
and
Augusta Mae Schide, the wife of Jesse Leroy Wise, my great
grandfather.
Feedback!!!!!!!!
Feedback on the Wise Family Newsletter
is encouraged by all family
members. Questions on family ties, important dates, and histories
can be
addressed through the Wise Family Newsletter Feedback Section.
Mail FEEDBACK to-
Mitchell Wise
335 N. College St.
Newcomerstown, Ohio 43832
or E_MAIL---mitchlwise@ tusco.net
Check out the Wise family on the INTERNET at
http://web.tusco.net/wisenct/
FAMILY TRIVIA--
From Newsletter #1
Which family member was shot in the leg at the Battle of Peachtree
Creek near Atlanta? William
Thomas Wise
Which family member fought for the Union Army in the Civil War but
wasn't born in the United States?
**************************************************************************************
**************************************************************************************