John Berryman
John Berryman, one of the influential agriculturists of Shawnee township, residing in section 3, was born August 19, 1843, in that part of Allen County, which has since been set off to Auglaize County. His parents were Russell and Margaret (Slain) Berryman and his grandparents, William and Rachel (Clausen) Berryman. The grandfather came from England and settled in New Jersey, from which State he entered the Continental Army. Later he moved to Virginia and about the year 1800 located in Montgomery County, Ohio. He and his sons entered a large body of land which extended along the Auglaize River some two miles and included what is now the Fort Amanda farm. Here he tilled the soil and also did considerable work at shoemaking, which trade he had learned in early life.
Russell Berryman was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January 10, 1814, and seven years later accompanied his parents to Allen County. The two white families who had already settled here comprised the entire white population of the county at that time. Their supplies were to be had only at the expense of a long, tedious journey to Dayton or Toledo, and most of what we consider necessities were unknown to the pioneer homes. As Russell Berryman grew older he helped clear the farm and care for the growing crops and, as the land was rich and mellow, the wooden mould-board plow answered very well for breaking up the soil and making it ready for planting. When the grain had ripened, the sickle and cradle were used for harvesting it, many of the pioneers boasting of their skill and the rapidity of their work with these implements. The Indians were a constant menace to the quiet of the rapidly growing community and a military company was formed for defense against them, Mr. Berryman being captain. He died on the homestead in 1877 in the 63rd year of his age. He married Margaret Slain, who was a native of Virginia, and the following children were born to them, viz.: Cornelia (Stocken); Ephraim, deceased; Rosabelle (Blackburn), deceased; John H.; and James. Mr. Berryman was a Democrat.
John H. Berryman was reared to manhood on a farm about one mile south of Fort Amanda, where he remained until 1867. He then rented a farm and began buying and feeding cattle for the market. This proved profitable and enabled him to purchase the Dickey farm, and afterwards the Goodman farm, then known as the Turkey Foot farm. Following this, he moved to Lima and engaged in the manufacture and sale of buggies for about one year after which he returned to the country and located on his present farm. About 1879 Mr. Berryman had purchased this property from the heirs of his wife's father. In addition to buying and shipping stick, he also began butchering, a business which he conducted for many years. For about seven years he ran a dairy, keeping 60 cows to supply the milk. His land is situated in the oil belt, and at the present time eight wells are being pumped.
On March 12, 1868, Mr. Berryman was married to Sally Columbia Boyd, who was born February 3, 1845, on the farm which is still her home. Her parents were Abraham and Maria (Hover) Boyd. Her maternal grandfather, Ezekiel Hover, came from New Jersey about 1832 and settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, removing in 1833 to Allen County as one of the first pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Berryman have been blessed with a family of seven children, viz.: Myrtle, wife of William Minton; Margaret, who married John R. Jr.; Russell, who was a naval cadet four years and died in his 26th year; Mable, who died when four years of age; Harriet, who married J. M. Davis and died leaving two children Calvin Russell and Harriet Berryman; Robert Fulton, a graduate of Oberlin College, who is now a teacher in the Philippines; and Waldo, a member of Company C, Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, who lives at home. Mrs. Berryman is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while Mr. Berryman holds a membership in the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Like his father, he is a Democrat, and has served as school director, justice of the peace, trustee, assessor and supervisor. He was the party candidate for nomination for Congress, but withdrew his name, much to the disappointment of his many friends who would have strongly supported his candidacy.