ROBERT BERRY HOME

ALBERT EDGAR BERRY was born on December 28, 1881 in Etowah County Alabama. Albert died om May 23, 1964. He and his first wife are buried at Bethaney Baptist Church Cemetery Index, Henry County, Georgia. His first wife was Ella Clandia Dorton and it is uknown when they were married. She was born February 2, 1880 and died Februart 15 1916.

In 1910, Albert Edgar, his wife Ella Claude, and his two children, Eunice and William were living in Muscogee County, GA next to Jesse Lee Berry. This refutes the idea that my dad was born in Henry county as he thought he was. Eunice Mary, she went by Mary in the 1920 and 1930 census, was the oldest being born in 1906. William was born in 1908 and both ages show that in the 1910 census. Sometimes after that, they migrated to Henry county, GA. This is recorded by his WWI Draft Registration card. It was filled out on Sep 12, 1918. The year is hard to read, but by looking at previous and later cards in the records, there were many made out on that date. This is also confirmed by the three different draft registrations for that period:

During World War I there were three registrations:

1. The first, on June 5, 1917, was for all men between the ages of 21 and 31.
2. The second, on June 5, 1918, registered those who attained age 21 after June 5, 1917. (A supplemental registration was held on August 24, 1918 for those becoming 21 years old after June 5, 1918. This was included in the second registration.)
3. The third registration was held on September 12, 1918 for men aged 18 through 45.

This brings up a question though. It has always been supposed that Ella Claude died in 1916. Albert's draft card states he is married. Although it says Spouse: Mrs.. A.E. Berry, I am quite certain this is Ella Claude for he did not marry his second wife until after 1920. Several reasons for this belief. First, both of his children by his second wife were born after 1920: Albert in 1921 and Ruby in 1923. Secondly, the 1920 census shows him living as a widower in Henry county with his three children, Mary Eunice (14), William (11), and Ella (7). I suspect he married his second wife, Maydelle, shortly after the census. It seems he lived in the same area as when he registered for the draft; Luella, Henry County, GA. This town is approximately 12 miles from Griffin, GA. Griffin is in Spalding County and it is where my Dad met, married and started his family. I believe Ella must be buried close to Luella if not in Griffin.

In the 1930 census, Nannie Berry, Jesse Lee's wife is living in Griffin, Spalding, GA with her mother, Mary Ann Mitchell Henry Wiggins. Mary is 94 in that census. She lived to be a bit over 100. Jesse met her in that area and moved southwest to the Columbus, GA area sometimes afterwards. A few years later, my Dad started to work in the Highland Mills in Griffin and began his career in the textile industry. I am sure he met my mother at that time since her father and brother also worked there. He shows up in the 1930 census with my Mom and their first son William Jr, living with her parents Thomas and Allie Bell Mitchell. Close by is a Clomer G. Berry family. I am not sure where they are related, but I suspect they are in some way. Also some familiar names besides the Mitchells and Berrys are the Hightowers and Coggins (Scoggins). All from the Orange County, NC area also. I am sure there are others, too.

I have not located Albert in the 1930 census, yet, but I am still searching. It was hard to locate him in 1920 because they had him listed as Reny. I made a hunch he might still be in Henry County so I went through every census for the county looking for Ella and found them that way. I did locate Albert's wife and their two children, Albert and Ruby in 1930. They are living in Columbus, GA. She is listed as head of the family and has two boarders living with them. I also located Mary (Eunice) and Ella Mae in 1930. Mary is married to Fred Stirk and is living with with his family along with her sister Ella Mae. Looks like Albert took off in the mid-to-late twenties to do his own thing. Not sure if he ever got back together with his wife. Maybe the 1940 census will clear up a few things.

• CHILDREN

• Eunice Berry born 1906

• William Lamar Berry born 1908

• Living Berry by second wife
• Living Berry by second wife

VIEW DRAFT REGISTRATION FOR WORLD WAR ONE