Page 105 - WPA Book
P. 105
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
John K. Beery Home.
2. LOCATION:
About half a mile east of Edom, Virginia, on a branch of Linville Creek. Take Route 260 from Harrisonburg,
turn east at Edom.
3. DATE:
About 1850.
4. OWNERS:
John Berry, father of John K. Beery, from ___. Records either obscure or burnt in 1864.
John K. Berry from John Berry’s executors, July 4, 1835. Deed not indexed.
I.N. Berry from John K. Berry, March 2, 1877, $10,687.50, for “home tract” of 142 acres, 2 rods, 31 poles;
$800.00, for blacksmith property in Edom. D.B. 14, page 230.
Dr. Ashby Turner from I.N. Berry, October 28, 1915, $13,000, for 41 acres, 2 rods, 19 poles (“Home
Farm”). D.B. 103, page 194.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This house is built of stone, on a rectangular plan, with walls of blue limestone, about twenty inches thick.
There are eight rather large rooms and a closed stairway to the second floor. Rooms have paneled presses.
See also form 3686 and the pictures, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
John K. Beery, the son of John and Barbara (Kagy) Berry, was born near Edom, Rockingham county, Virginia,
June 4, 1801, a descendant in the third generation of Abraham Beery, who came to Pennsylvania from
Switzerland, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 19, 1736, later coming to Virginia in 1787 at the
age of sixty nine years, settling at Cross Keys, Rockingham County, Virginia, where he died May 26, 1799, at
the age of eighty one years. “John K. Beery was a man of robust constitution, and like many others started in the
business of farming at a time near the close of pioneer life in the forests of Rockingham County. In a financial
way he had clear conceptions backed up by good judgment in business matters, and always knew a good thing
when he saw it. He was very energetic in business and although he suffered some very severe losses, yet he
accumulated quite an amount of property. He was a man of firm and decided convictions and when a question
was settled in his mind, it was folly to endeavor to change his opinion; yet he was kind to his family and their
obedience was sure, knowing that his commands were positive.”(History of the Berry Family, by Joseph H.
Wenger, South English, Iowa, 1905.)
In 1835, Mr. Berry bought from the executors of his father, John Beery, what is supposed to be the “Home
Farm” though the record of conveyance is not indexed, possibly having been destroyed in the burning of the
court records in 1864. The purchase, however, is mentioned in later conveyances and may be seen in Deed
Book 14, pages 230-1.
Mr. Berry had two sons in the confederate Army, John C. being a sergeant in Company B. Captain Taylor, 7th
Virginia Cavalry. He was incapacitated for service by rheumatism and was detailed for further service as a
miller for the duration of the war. He died at the age of 68. The other son, Joseph, was a private in Company A,
Captain Taylor, Virginia Militia, was mortally wounded in battle, and died the following day at Martinsburg,
West Virginia. (Civil War Records.)
Page 104 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
John K. Beery Home.
2. LOCATION:
About half a mile east of Edom, Virginia, on a branch of Linville Creek. Take Route 260 from Harrisonburg,
turn east at Edom.
3. DATE:
About 1850.
4. OWNERS:
John Berry, father of John K. Beery, from ___. Records either obscure or burnt in 1864.
John K. Berry from John Berry’s executors, July 4, 1835. Deed not indexed.
I.N. Berry from John K. Berry, March 2, 1877, $10,687.50, for “home tract” of 142 acres, 2 rods, 31 poles;
$800.00, for blacksmith property in Edom. D.B. 14, page 230.
Dr. Ashby Turner from I.N. Berry, October 28, 1915, $13,000, for 41 acres, 2 rods, 19 poles (“Home
Farm”). D.B. 103, page 194.
5. DESCRIPTION:
This house is built of stone, on a rectangular plan, with walls of blue limestone, about twenty inches thick.
There are eight rather large rooms and a closed stairway to the second floor. Rooms have paneled presses.
See also form 3686 and the pictures, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
John K. Beery, the son of John and Barbara (Kagy) Berry, was born near Edom, Rockingham county, Virginia,
June 4, 1801, a descendant in the third generation of Abraham Beery, who came to Pennsylvania from
Switzerland, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 19, 1736, later coming to Virginia in 1787 at the
age of sixty nine years, settling at Cross Keys, Rockingham County, Virginia, where he died May 26, 1799, at
the age of eighty one years. “John K. Beery was a man of robust constitution, and like many others started in the
business of farming at a time near the close of pioneer life in the forests of Rockingham County. In a financial
way he had clear conceptions backed up by good judgment in business matters, and always knew a good thing
when he saw it. He was very energetic in business and although he suffered some very severe losses, yet he
accumulated quite an amount of property. He was a man of firm and decided convictions and when a question
was settled in his mind, it was folly to endeavor to change his opinion; yet he was kind to his family and their
obedience was sure, knowing that his commands were positive.”(History of the Berry Family, by Joseph H.
Wenger, South English, Iowa, 1905.)
In 1835, Mr. Berry bought from the executors of his father, John Beery, what is supposed to be the “Home
Farm” though the record of conveyance is not indexed, possibly having been destroyed in the burning of the
court records in 1864. The purchase, however, is mentioned in later conveyances and may be seen in Deed
Book 14, pages 230-1.
Mr. Berry had two sons in the confederate Army, John C. being a sergeant in Company B. Captain Taylor, 7th
Virginia Cavalry. He was incapacitated for service by rheumatism and was detailed for further service as a
miller for the duration of the war. He died at the age of 68. The other son, Joseph, was a private in Company A,
Captain Taylor, Virginia Militia, was mortally wounded in battle, and died the following day at Martinsburg,
West Virginia. (Civil War Records.)
Page 104 of 482
