Senator William Henry Berry View All Years

WILLIAM HENRY BERRY

MR. PRESIDENT—Your committee which was appointed to report resolutions commemorating the life, character and services of the late William Henry Berry, beg leave to submit the following report and move its adoption:

William Henry Berry was the son of Benjamin Carlton and Isabelle Van Eaton Berry and was born in Cass county, Illinois, October the 23rd, 1849, and became a resident of the state of Iowa in 1867, and here commenced his studies in Simpson College from which he was graduated in 1872.

He was united in marriage to Alice M. Barker, a classmate, May 12, 1875, and is survived by his wife and the only child, Don L. Berry.

Mr. Berry was admitted to the bar in August, 1873, and commenced upon the practice of his chosen profession and continuously practiced at the bar in Warren and adjoining counties until the date of his death, which occurred March 25, 1923.

As a lawyer Senator Berry was of the type of advocate who, after having become interested in the cause, pursued a diligent prosecution of the cause until it was finally concluded, and never allowed local passion or prejudice to swerve him from his client’s interest. Mr. Berry was a lawyer whose ideals were high and he always sought to maintain the highest legal ethics in connection with his practice and was noted for advocating sound, honest justice rather than being bound to some precedent which had outlived its usefulness. He was never afraid to venture out into new fields if he felt that his cause was just, and was not governed by custom or practice if the same had become obsolete. He enjoyed his profession and gave his professional service to his community and any other public activity whenever the occasion arose.

Mr. Berry was elected Senator from the Eleventh Senatorial District, comprising the counties of Warren and Clarke, in the year 1895, where he served with distinction and was regarded as one of the ablest law makers that ever sat in that body. Senator Berry was at once recognized as one of the able debaters and clear thinkers in this body, and was a member during the period when the Code of 1897 was written, and many of the laws written into the statutes of the State of Iowa during his service show the sound judgment and careful legal training of Senator Berry.

After his services in the Senate were concluded he was appointed chairman of the Board of Parole, and the work of this new board largely fell upon the shoulders of Senator Berry, and owing to his administrative ability and his keen yet sympathetic qualities he was able to direct the functions of this body to such an extent that it at once gained the confidence of the people of the state of Iowa, and the practical, common-sense methods applied to its operations caused this activity to find a firm place in our criminal and penal statutes.

Senator Berry was a man of vigorous physical type, and combined with his alert mental equipment made one of the leading figures in public life in the state of Iowa, and because of his unquestioned integrity and his ability to quickly analyze any situation that arose was regarded as one of the leaders in political thought in his day, and was frequently mentioned for the highest offices in his state, and while he did not seek political preferment a man with the same ability and less decided convictions would doubtless have made greater progress along this line than Senator Berry. He was never willing to sacrifice a principle in order to gain the place.

Senator Berry had a virile, energetic personality and was always willing to lend his services for the advancement of the people in his community, and as time goes on will always be referred to as one of the outstanding figures of his part of the state.

Whereas, his record as a man, a legislator, a public official and a citizen has been of the highest character; therefore

Be It Resolved, That the Senate take this occasion to express its high appreciation of his lofty character and faithful public service, and adopt this memorial in the name of the people of Iowa as a tribute to his name and memory;

Also Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the records of the Senate and that the same be engrossed and a copy thereof sent to his surviving spouse, Mrs. Alice Berry, Indianola, Iowa.

LLOYD THURSTON.

HARRY C. WHITE,

J. L. BROOKHART.

The resolutions were adopted unanimously.