California Biographies Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919) History By Paul E. Vandor Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919 Notes: Missing+page1185-1186 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm F. A. BERRYHILL. � Among the experienced and influential ranchers of Central California must be mentioned F. A. Berryhill, well-known at Fresno, where he laid out a subdivision, and at Dinuba, where he planted a vineyard of eighty acres. Born near Camden, Ouchita County, Ark., on March 12, 1847, the son of Michael W. and Catherine (Broyles) Berryhill, he was taken by his parents to Berry County, Mo., when he was only five years old, and there grew up. His father had been born and reared in Ten- nessee, while his mother came from Alabama, for Grandfather Berryhill was a Scotchman who had settled in Tennessee. Mr. Berryhill's grandfather fought under General Jackson in the War of 1812, and was one of the soldiers that won the battle at New Orleans behind an entrenchment of cotton-bales : and Mr. F. A. Berryhill's maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Seminole War. The father of our subject learned the trade of a tanner, and then a carpen- ter; and for a while owned a small farn in Missouri. F. A. Berryhill as a boy had the companionship of three brothers : Jefferson Davis and Leander Rudolphus, both of whom live in Berry County, Mo.; and Orlando D., who is a raisin grower near Parlier, Fresno County. At sixteen, F. A. Berryhill enlisted in the Confederate Army and carried a musket, although he weighed only one hundred and ten pounds; and he served as a cavalryman for two years, until the close of the war. under the celebrated General Sterling Price, who had won distinction in the Mexican War serving under General Stephen W. Kearny. At the conclusion of the great contest. Mr. Berryhill returned to his home in Berry County, to join the family circle which once included seven sisters, two of whom are still living � one in Missouri and the other in California. He was the fourth child, although the oldest boy ; he attended the excellent public schools of Missouri, and after the war went for another winter term. He remained home to help until he was twenty, and then he went to Neosho, in Newton County, and learned the blacksmith trade, putting in ten years at the forge. Next he bought a shop at Washburn, Mo., and worked in it for six years. At the age of thirty he was married to Miss Druecella Truelove, who was born and reared in Berry County ; and when she died, she left a child that survived her only two months. Mr. Berryhill then' ventured into a new field, that of selling goods, and opened a general merchandise store at Washburn. At the end of two years he moved with his stock of goods to Rogers. Benton County, Ark., and there kept a general merchandise store. Tt was at that place that he so for- tunately met his present wife, who was Miss Emma Merritt, the daughter of John G. and Mary P. (Young) Merritt, of Kentucky and Tennessee, respec- tively. Her parents were married in Davis County, Iowa, and that is where Mrs. Berryhill was born and grew up until she was thirteen. Then her parents moved to Kansas, and later to Rogers, Ark., where her father kept the Rogers House. Failing in business in Arkansas, Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill came to Cal- ifornia in 1885 with their one child, and landed at Selma in a sand-storm, with thirty dollars to their credit. They settled on a rented farm of 240 acres three miles northeast of Selma, which belonged to John G. Arrants, the pioneer merchant. He was two years there and then went to Sanger and rented a section which he farmed to grain. Later he bought forty acres and he was at Sanger for sixteen years. Then Mr. Berryhill went to Dinuba and put eighty acres into vines, and from 1903 to 1911 he cultivated raisins. Selling out, he removed to Madera County, where he farmed for a year and a half ; and then he came to the city of Fresno. He traded for thirty acres southwest of Roeding Park, subdivided the same, sold what he could and has only seven lots left. Now Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill are established comfortably in their ranch- house, on their ranch of 125 acres, west of the Kings River, near Lanare. He bought the place six years ago, and he and his wife moved down in April, 1917. It is river bottom and therefore very rich land, and is situated in one of the finest alfalfa acreages in Fresno County. In their ranching operations they are ably assisted by their sons, one of whom promptly responded for his country's service. Their home is made more attractive by good books and current periodicals. Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill have three children, all sons. Roy married Miss Mary Bills of Selma, who was born in Missouri ; they live in Oakland where Roy is a machinist and works for the Union Iron Works ; they have two children � Romaine and Bernadine. Harry Burrell is in partnership with his father ; and Guy Wendell was a mechanic in the Aero-Squadron at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas ; he was honorably discharged and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill are members . of the Methodist Episcopal Church South ; and Mr. Berryhill is a Democrat.