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(My sincere thanks to Ronald G. Berry for the information he provided on this family.)
John Wyatt Berry was born in 1832, in Hardin County, Tennessee. He was the fourth child born to William Berry and Sarah Weatherford.
He moved with his family to Wayne County, Tennessee about 1837.
The 1840 Wayne County census shows John as a male under the age of 5 years.
The 1850 Wayne County census shows John, 18, living at home with his family. He was living in Arkansas in 1860 with his sister, Rebecca Alexander and her family.
On December 11, 1861, John enlisted in Co H, of the 54th Confederate Tennessee Infantry.
On September 18, 1866, William Berry signed a will in which he appointed John executor of his estate. William's estate was to be equally divided between William's wife, Lucinda, and his eight children.
John married Nancy Margaret Newman on March 4, 1869. Nancy Margaret Newman was born about 1844, the daughter of Asberry G. Newman and Mary Brewer.
The 1870 Wayne County, Tennessee census shows J. W. Berry, 35, a farmer, real property valued at $800, personal property valued at $300; Nancy M., 24; and Mary J., 7 months old.
According to information provided by Ronald G. Berry, John traveled to Arkansas soon after his marriage and bought 88 acres of land in Searcy County near Campbell from James and Lorindy Brewer. The deed was signed on October 24, 1871. John then returned to Tennessee and brought his wife back to their new home in Arkansas in a covered wagon. Their son, John Wayne Berry, was either born on the trip to Arkansas, or shortly after their arrival in Arkansas.
Ronald Berry reports that after settling the family in Arkansas, John Wyatt returned to Tennessee to settle his affairs there. While on the trip John contracted a fever which weakened him. After regaining some of his strength, John returned to Arkansas where he relapsed and died in December 1872. Ronald reports he was buried in the family burial plot which was later called the Scribner Cemetery.
Nancy later married N. M. Scribner. Nancy is buried beside John Wyatt in the Scribner Cemetery.
Children of John Wyatt Berry and Nancy Newman
1. Mary Jane Berry, b. Dec 13, 1869, Wayne Co, TN; d. abt 1923; m. Sam Arter Barnes on Oct 7, 1888
2. John Wayne Berry, b. June 16, 1872; d. abt 1944; m. Lydia Fuller abt 1897