My Genealogy Hound

Rev. Edward Berry, pastor of St. Patrick’s Church, near Catawissa, Mo., was born in Queen’s County, Ireland, and when sixteen years old entered the classical school of Cloneslee, Ireland, to prepare himself for college. At the age of twenty-one he entered the rhetoric class of Carlow College, where he was very successful in his studies, and was ordained priest at the age of twenty-seven. He immigrated to the United States in 1856, first settling in Monroe County, Mo., in charge of the Indian Creek Church, where he labored two and one-half years. He was then called to St. Louis as assistant pastor of St. Bridget’s Church, which position he held five years, when he accepted his present charge. He has been successful in his ministerial work, and has organized and built several churches, among them the church at Pacific, Mo., one at Indian Creek and one at Byrnesville, Jefferson County, as well as the one over which he has presided so successfully the past twenty-four years, all lasting monuments of his efficiency as a church organizer and successful pastor. He was also instrumental in organizing the St. Patrick Benevolent and Literary Society which was established about 1866. When first given control of work in this district Father Berry had charge of organizations at Pacific, Byrnesville and Catawissa, at all of which places he has built substantial church-houses, and all now have resident pastors. For the past six years Father Berry has had sole charge of St. Patrick’s Church. He was the third of seven children of Charles and Mary (Conroy) Berry, natives of Queen’s County, Ireland, where they lived and died; the former was a farmer by occupation.