Berryman - James Allen - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: 1878 Montgomery County Atlas Beers, J.H.  Chicago p 21

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Neither rain, snow nor sleet kept Dr. James A. Berryman from his duties as postmaster at Potato Creek (where he received two mails/week), nor his many years at Sugar Creek Township's Superintendent of Schools, nor his rounds as one of the most loved doctors Montgomery County has ever known!  For 39 years, he never distinguished between rich and poor. He traveled miles through rain and mud, in all hours of day or night throughout his neighborhood attending all possible calls.  He was quick to see and quick to act, and if "groceries were more needed than his medicine, that is what he gave!"  J.E. Steele reminisced at Dr. Berryman's funeral, portraying the story that when he was young, penniless and afoot, Dr. Berryman had furnished him a horse and buggy telling him to "pay if he could; if not, to ride in his efforts to do good for others."  One hundred and 40 Masons and Odd Fellows took part in the funeral of Dr. J.A. Berryman held on Wednesday, June 18, 1896 at the Darlington Methodist Church.  Hundreds more Montgomery Countians attended as they paid last respects to a public-spirited, patriotic, kind-hearted old gentleman who up to even a few days before his death tottered along feeble in health, but positive in attitude.  He is buried in the Darlington IOOF Cemetery.  Born James Allen Berryman October 25, 1836 to THomas and Mary in New Market, Highland County, Ohio, he married there when he was not quite 10 years old.  He and his wife, Nancy A. Brown Berryman soon left Ohio and settled on the banks of Potato Creek where, "frogs and mnalaria held high carnival during the hot summer months."  Highly civic minded, the good doctor served as Township Trustee for many years.  Active in church matters, Dr. Berryman, along with James Wilson and Alice Kirpatrick Dicks formed the Fairview (later known as Kirkpatrick) Sunday School.  Mustered in as a private in the 135th Indiana Infantry, he was soon promoted to Assistant Surgeon under James A. McClelland.  Bowen said, He was very good and kind to the boys as I can attest!"  Most of his years were spent on his 100 acre farm (see picture, it was grand), but his last 7 years he dwelled in the town of Darlington.  In February of 1889, in the Crawfordsville Star, Dr. Berryman (Sugar Creek TOwnship) offered a $500 reward for information which would lead to the conviction of those persons who set fire to his barn and other buildings between 3 and 4 o'clock on November 12, 1888.  It is not known at the time of printing whether he had any success in this regard.  In 1890, according to an Indianapolis paper, the doctor won $200 against the county because of poor health to his family due to a pond which was created by improper road work.  His wife sued for $5,000 but did not win her case."  Oddly, none of this happened.  Four sons were born to the Berrymans, two, Lancelot and Thomas W., dying just days apart in August of 1860; the others being Perry who moved to Tennesse with his mother after the doctor's death, and Chester who went off to California.

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Source: 19th Century Database of Indiana Physicians # 30580 in database

Berryman, James A.