My Genealogy Hound

Green C. Berry (deceased), who was a successful farmer and trader of Cole County, Mo., was born in that county September 9, 1831, and there passed his youth. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to this State at an early day. He purchased land and followed farming for many years. Green C. Berry attended school in Jefferson City for a number of years, and was then appointed deputy county and circuit clerk by G. A. Parsons, filling that office for several years. In 1855 he married Miss Virginia Parsons, a native of Virginia, and the daughter of Gen. G. A. Parsons. Her parents came to Missouri in 1835, settling first in Cooper County, but at the end of two years came to Cole County and settled in Jefferson City. Her father was soon elected county and circuit clerk, which office he held for a number of years, and was county clerk at the time of his death, in 1882. Mrs. Parsons died two years later. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living at the present time. After marriage Mr. Berry removed to his farm, where he remained, however, but a short time, and then removed to Jefferson City, where he engaged in commercial pursuits. This business he continued for two or three years, after which he purchased a farm in Osage Township, remained there until 1865, and then bought the farm where his widow now resides. This consists of 350 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation. Mr. Berry was elected sheriff and collector of Cole County in 1870, and held this office two terms in succession. After his retirement from office he was prominent in politics, and was one of the representative citizens of the county. His death was the result of a sad accident on the Branch Railroad, near Russellville, December 18, 1881. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Berry were born nine children, six of whom are living at the present time: Monroe (who is now in Montana), Robert L. (is residing at home and managing the farm), Nannie, Gustavus, Frank and Julia. The father of Mrs. Berry was adjutant-general of the State previous to the late war, and was quite prominent as a politician. He was the father of Gen. M. M. Parsons, of the Confederate service, who was murdered in Mexico after the close of the war. He held the rank of major-general in the Confederate army at the time of its surrender.