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Joseph George Berry was born January 22, 1834, in Hardin County, Tennessee. He was the fifth child born to William Berry and Sarah Weatherford.
The Berry family moved to Wayne County, Tennessee about 1837.
The 1840 Wayne County census shows Joseph as a male under 5 years old.
The 1850 Wayne County census shows 17 year old Joseph still single and living at home.
Joseph married Elmira Jane Cypert on July 26, 1854, in Wayne County. Elmira Jane Cypert was born March 12, 1836, in Wayne County. She was one of seven children born to Rev. John Lafayette Cypert and Elizabeth Neal.
The 1860 Wayne County census shows Joseph Berry, 25; Jane, 22; and William, 2 years old.
My thanks to Ronald G. Berry for the following National Archives Record: "Joseph George Berry, 5' 10", of fair skin with dark hair, formed the Capt. Berry Co. #1 at Wayne County, Tennessee. This company became Company H of the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, of which he was Captain (Union). He entered the army on October 5, 1862 and was discharged on August 27, 1864". Ronald Berry states, "Joseph had been ill with typhoid fever at home for 6 to 8 weeks prior to discharge."
Joseph is named in his father's will, dated September 18, 1866.
The 1870 Wayne County census lists him as John G. Berry. The census shows John G. Berry , 36, merchant and farmer, real property valued at $3000, personal property valued at $2500; Elmira J., 33; William J., 12; Ada, 8; and Joanah, 5 years old. Living with the family was Elizabeth Cypert, 60, personal property valued at $500; W. P. Johnson, 33, a carpenter, born in Tennessee; and William J. Keaton, 20, a farm laborer, born in Tennessee.
In July 1870, Joseph applied to the Wayne County court to be appointed administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel H. "Than" Horton.
The 1880 Wayne County census shows the family living at Clifton. The census shows Joseph G. Berry, 46, hotel keeper; Jane E., wife, 45; and Joanna, daughter, 15. Also living with the family was Elizabeth Cypert, mother-in-law, 71; Isaac H. Old, son-in-law, 30, grocer; and Ada Old, daughter, 18. The census also lists the people who were working or residing at the hotel at that time. That list included Cariann McLean, 40, black, cook, born in Tennessee; Walter McLean, 8, black, boot black, born in Tennessee; Leander McLean, 5, black, boot black, born in Tennessee; Boss Joab, 20, black, porter, born in Tennessee; George W. Old, 25, grocer, born in Tennessee; Truman W. Perfect, 25, teacher, born in Ohio; Mollie E. Perfect, 31, teacher, born in Ohio; William P. Renfro, 37, state (?) dealer, born in Tennessee; and James A. Lancaster, 37, clerk in dry goods store, born in Tennessee.
On December 30, 1881, Joseph applied for his military pension for a bronchial condition and chronic catarrh and deafness as a result of his illness while in the service in 1864. He was awarded a pension.
An article contained in The Goodspeed Histories of Lawrence, Wayne, Perry, Hickman & Lewis Counties, TN states that at the close of the war, Joseph "engaged in the mercantile business at Waynesboro, and there remained until 1880, when he removed to Clifton and conducted the hotel at that place successfully for three years. Since that time he has been connected with the liquor business, farming, and also keeps a hostelry for the traveling public. Mr. Berry is a Republican, and has been a Mason since 1855, and also belongs to the K. of H."
Joseph died December 8, 1889, at Saltillo, in Hardin County, Tennessee, from a respiratory infection and pneumonia. He is buried in the cemetery at Clifton, Tennessee.
Information from Ronald Berry states that Elmira filed for an received her widow's pension on May 2, 1894 when she was living at Saltillo.
Elmira died March 12, 1903, and is buried at Stroud, Oklahoma.
Children of Joseph George Berry and Elmira Jane Cypert
1. William Jasper Berry, b. 1858, Wayne Co, TN
2. Ada Berry, b. 1862, Wayne Co, TN
3. Joanna Berry, b. Oct 1864, Wayne Co, TN; d. Dec 17, 1889 from typhoid fever just prior to her scheduled marriage to J. C. Ozment