James Henderson Berry

James Henderson Berry (May 15, 1841 – January 30, 1913) was a United States Senator and served as the 14th Governor of Arkansas.

James Henderson Berry
14th Governor of Arkansas
In office
January 13, 1883 – January 17, 1885
Preceded byThomas James Churchill
Succeeded bySimon Pollard Hughes, Jr.
United States senator
from Arkansas
In office
March 20, 1885 – March 3, 1907
Preceded byAugustus H. Garland
Succeeded byJeff Davis
Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
1873
Preceded byCharles W. Tankersley
Succeeded byA. A. Pennington
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
1866–1874
Personal details
Born(1841-05-15)May 15, 1841
Jackson County, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJanuary 30, 1913(1913-01-30) (aged 71)
Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States
Branch/service Confederate States Army
Unit16th Arkansas Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Early life
A 1908 monument in homage to James H. Berry and the Southern Soldier, located in the town square of Bentonville, Arkansas

James Henderson Berry was born in Jackson County, Alabama, to Isabella Jane (née Orr) and James McFerrin Berry. The family moved to Arkansas in 1848. Berry attended Berryville Academy in Berryville, Arkansas, for one year. The academy was named after his family.[1] Berry studied law and in 1866 was admitted to the Arkansas bar.

American Civil War

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Berry joined the Confederate Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the 16th Arkansas Infantry. Berry lost his right leg during the Battle of Second Corinth in northern Mississippi. After recuperating from his wound, he worked as a school teacher and started a private law practice.

Political career

Berry was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1866. He was reelected in 1872 and in 1874. In his last term he was selected to be Speaker of the House. Berry was the chairman of the Democratic State Convention in 1876. In 1878 he became a judge for the Fourth Circuit Court and served in that post until 1882 when he was elected Governor of Arkansas. The Berry administration focused on reducing the state debt and creating a state mental hospital. Berry did not run for reelection. In March 1885, Berry was selected by the legislature to fill the unexpired term of Senator Augustus H. Garland. Berry remained in the U.S. Senate for the next 22 years.

Later life

In 1910, Berry accepted a position with the Arkansas History Commission to mark the graves of all Arkansas Confederate soldiers who had died in northern prisons.[2] Berry died in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is buried at the Knights of Pythias Cemetery (present-day Bentonville Cemetery), Bentonville, Arkansas.[3]

Personal life

In 1865, Berry married E.Q. "Lizzie" Quaile. They had six children.

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References
  1. "History of Berryville". CarrollCountyAR.com. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  2. "Arkansas Governor James Henderson Berry". National Governors Association. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  3. "Former Senator J. H. Berry Dead". Arkansas Gazette. Bentonville. January 31, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved April 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Thomas James Churchill		 Democratic nominee for Governor of Arkansas
1882		 Succeeded by
Simon Pollard Hughes Jr.
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas James Churchill		 Governor of Arkansas
1883–1885		 Succeeded by
Simon Pollard Hughes, Jr.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Augustus H. Garland		 U.S. senator (Class 2) from Arkansas
1885–1907
Served alongside: James K. Jones, James P. Clarke		 Succeeded by
Jeff Davis
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