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Biography/History:
William Berry and Maria M. Vaden were married in Virginia on December 13, 1827. In 1836, the couple moved to Yalobusha County, Mississippi, where William Berry engaged in farming. They had at least six children, Mary P. (b. ca. 1828), James William (b. September 20, 1835), Maria (b. ca. 1835), Caroline (Carrie) A., Samuel A. (b. ca. 1839), and Julia Addie (b. ca. 1846). Berry moved his family to Grenada, Yalobusha County (now Grenada County), Mississippi, in 1852. William Berry died in the early 1860s near Dawson, Georgia. Maria M. Vaden Berry died on February 7, 1875, in Grenada.
Mary P. Berry married grocer Edward H. Mitchell and resided in Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi. James William Berry was married twice, first to Laura M. Whittaker (d. April 7, 1895) and then to Myrtle Weymuth. He resided in Grenada where he was first a cotton gin and grist mill operator and then a grocer. James William Berry died on May 12, 1898, and was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Grenada. Julia Addie Berry apparently never married. She resided at various times in both Holly Springs and in Grenada. In April 1930, Julia Addie Berry was eighty-six and residing with her great nephew, Caley A. Foreman, in Leflore County, Mississippi.
Scope and Content:
Dating between 1858 and 1877, this collection consists of correspondence; social papers; photographs; financial records; literary papers; and newsclippings collected by Julia Addie Berry of Grenada, Grenada County, and Holly Springs, Marshall County, Mississippi.
Most of the incoming correspondence is addressed to Julia Addie Berry from family members, friends, and admirers. The letters offer news of family members and friends as well as social events in Holly Springs and Grenada. A few of the letters offer Civil War-related news. Some of Berry's admirers were Confederate soldiers. Of these letters, two are of note. The first, dated September 7, 1862, is from Samuel Laurence, who was stationed at the headquarters of Breckinridge’s Division. In this letter, Laurence offers details on what he refers to as an expedition against Baton Rouge. The other letter was written by Alexander Brown on March 10, 1864. Brown was a prisoner at Rock Island, Illinois. He describes the physical situation of the prison on the Mississippi River.
The social papers contain calling cards, invitations, a program, a flyer, and a birthday card. The calling cards belong to Julia Addie Berry and represent several of her acquaintances and friends in Grenada and Holly Springs. Many of the cards have notes that give news of mutual acquaintances. There are two invitations for parties that were presumably held in Grenada. The 1860 program is from a prize exhibition held at the Masonic Hall in Holly Springs. There is also an undated flyer from a celebration held at Union Sabbath School. The school’s location is unknown. The birthday card is signed “Lant.”
There is one photograph of Julia Addie Berry and a tintype of an unidentified woman. The financial records consist of three shipping receipts, all dated 1876. The receipts are for livestock and other goods shipped between various Berry family members. The literary papers consist of Bible and other verses, either copied or collected by Berry. Of note are the newsclippings. They contain obituaries and tributes to Maria M. Berry and date between 1875 and 1876. Also included are a few undated poems.
Series Identification:
Box 1, folders 1-4
Box 2, folders 1-2
Box 3, folder 1
Box 1, folders 5-7
Box 2, folder 3
Box 1, folder 8
Box 1, folder 9
Box 1, folder 10
Box 1, folder 11