California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 CLARENCE J. BERRY, of Selma, was born June 23, 1S67, in Mendocino county. Coming to Fresno 
county with his parents in 1874. he received such educational advantages as were afforded by 
the district schools. At the age of twelve years he began working with his father on the home 
farm, in the River Bend district, and also assisted him in operating a threshing machine 
throughout this section of the county, remaining at home until after attaining his majority. 
During the great excitement that followed the first discovery of gold in Alaska. Mr. Berry was 
among the first to go to that region, arriving at Dawson, on the Yukon river, in 1894. Locating 
fifty miles further down the river, at Forty Mile Creek, be bought several claims, but they 
proved to be worthless. In the fall of 1895 he returned to California and the following spring 
March 15, 1896, was married. Subsequently he made another trip to Alaska. After prospecting a 
few months near Forty Mile Creek he went into the Klondike district, locating on Eldorado 
Creek, and later bought eight adjoining claims on the side hills, besides owning claim Xo. 5 on 
the Bonanza creek, and a half interest in claim No. 42 in the Hunker district. He likewise owned 
for awhile a third interest in a claim on Damon creek, but this he sold at an advantage. From 
1897 until 1902 be made frequent trips between California and Alaska, and has still heavy 
interests in various placer mines of the Klondike region. 

Investing his money freely in California lands, Mr. Berry has a large cattle and stock ranch lying 
north of Grants ; owns a farm of six thousand acres south of Selma, in Fresno county, where he 
raises alfalfa and salt grass, and keeps two thousand head of cattle ; in Stockton he owns 
twelve hundred acres of garden land, known as the Wakefield ranch, which he leases; and has 
one thousand acres of oil land in Kern county. Mr. Berry has other interests of great 
importance, being a director of the Eldorado Oil Company, incorporated with a capital of 
$100.000 ; and also a director of Our Own Oil Company, which has twelve wells in operation, 
with a capacity of two thousand barrels daily. He likewise owns valuable city property in Selma, 
owning seven store buildings on Front street. In 1900 and 1901 the Berry Improvement 
Company, of which he is president, was incorporated, with a paid up capital of $100,000, the 
Berry family being the stockholders of the company. Mr. Berry was also one of the organizers 
and is the president of the Farmers' National Bank, which has a paid up capital of $50,000. 

In Selma Mr. Berry married Ethel D. Bush. a native of California. Politically he is an adherent of 
the Democratic party, and fraternally he is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West 
and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.