El Dorado County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


 
REUBEN KELLY BERRY
 
            Was one of the men who rushed to the gold fields upon the first 
announcement of its discovery.  He was born in Delaware county, New York, August 
19th, 1813.  When but a young boy his parents removed to Tompkins county, and 
here he grew to manhood, and for some years was engaged in operating a stage 
line in the Catskill mountains, and in the manufacture of rubber.  On January 
26th, 1849, he took passage on the ship Morrison, around Cape Horn, for San 
Francisco, where he arrived September 21st.  After looking around Sacramento and 
Coloma, he determined to settle at Salmon Falls, then known as Higgins� point.  
Here he engaged in the freighting business with ox teams, hauling between 
Sacramento and the mines at 40 cents per pound at times.  In 1850 he returned to 
New York and brought out his family. They located at Salmon Falls, and he was 
one of the influential citizens of the place until his death, which occurred 
March 12th, 1871.  He was the first alcalde, an office existing prior to the 
county and State government, and for almost all the time of his residence at the 
Falls acted as Justice of the Peace.  He was married on December 21st, 1844, to 
Miss Amanda Phelps, a native of Delphi, Delaware county, New York, and a 
daughter of Elihu C. and Catherine Phelps, of their family but one is now alive, 
Theodore E., who is in charge of the farm at Salmon Falls.  Mrs. Berry still 
resides on the old homestead, once a lively and popular resort for the traveling 
public.   Mrs. Berry is one of the pioneer women of the place; when she came 
only her sister, Mrs. Higgins, and a Mrs. Hanks were there.
 
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & 
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo 
Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 234
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler