Obituary of Henry Berrier


"HENRY BERRIER deceased, formerly of Shade Valley Huntington County, PA was born near Germantown, Toboyne Township Perry County, April 19, 1831. He is a son of Henry and Maria (Barnhart Berrier. He was one of six children; his parents both died in Perry County.

  Henry Berrier received a very limited education. When he as only twelve years old he began to earn his own living by driving a team to and from Baltimore, MD, for the firm of Foss & Elder tanners of Perry County, PA. After driving for some years, he bought a small farm in Perry County, which he cultivated until 1864, when he enlisted in Perry County for one year, or until the close of the war; in Co. F, 208th PA Volunteers Capt. G.C. Palm.

  The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and took part in some of the most desperate battles of the war. As Mr. Berrier was never either wounded or in the hospital, he was with the regiment until the end of the war. In 1866, he sole his farm in Perry County and bought a farm of 88 acres in Shade Valley, Huntingdon County, PA. He cultivated this farm until the time of his death and greatly improved his property by building a comfortable frame dwelling and a convenient barn. He also planted an orchard. Mr. Berrier was interested in the affairs of the township. He was a member of the Democratic party, prominent in Huntindon County and was well known and esteemed by his neighbors.

  Henry Berrier's first wife was Miss MC Feathers, of Shade Valley, Huntindon County. They had eleven children: Lucinda(Mrs. E. Wallace) of Illinois; Alexander living on thehomestead in Shade Valley; Lillie O. (Mrs. John Culver) of Illinois; Elmer deceased; John resides at Harrisburg, PA; Richard, living in Huntindon County; Emma resides in Illinois; Roland H. of Tuscarora Valley; Nancy (Mrs. David Briggs) of New Philadelphia, Ohio; Martha of Illinois; and William of Lack Juniata County. Mr Berrier was afterwards married at Concord, Franklin County, PA to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Reisinger) Bender, who was a native of Perry County. He married Miss Harriet Hess of Perry County and has one son James M. Mr. Henry Berrier was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

  He died at this home in Shade Valley, in 1890. His disease was caused by the exposure he endured while in the Army. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Berrier sold the farm in Shade Valley on which her husbands sons are now living. In 1890 she removed to Port Royal, Juniata County where she bought a home. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church."

Source: Berrier, Frank J. Jr, Ph. D., "Our Berrier Family Heritage," http://www.berrierheritage.com, 28 Jul 2000, from Diane Thomas.