Biography - John W. Beery
JOHN W. BEERY, a prominent and successful farmer residing on section 5,
Ridge Township, Shelby County, and a man who is ever active in political and
church circles, is the son of Josiah Beery, a native of Rockingham County,
Va., where his mother, Ann Jacobs was also born. They had thirteen children,
and our subject was among the older members of the family, being born
September 9, 1844, in Rockingham County, where he was reared upon a farm.
At the time of the breaking out of the war, this young man was conscripted
when only sixteen years old, into the rebel army. He served in the ranks but
a few days, and then was detailed to work in a shoe shop, where he served
between three and four years. When Gen. Hunter made his famous raid up the
Shenandoah Valley, all the detailed men were called out and given guns. The
enemy was routed and our subject took leave of his brethren in arms against
the Union without the consent of his commanding officer, and coming to
Fairfield County, obtained employment at farm labor.
Here Mr. Beery remained until his marriage September 2. 1869, to Miss
Rebecca Swartz, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Beery) Swartz, both of whom
were natives of Fairfield County, Ohio. The mother died in that county, and
the father in Pickaway Township, Shelby County, Ill., where he had settled
in December, 1870. The wife of our subject was one of the younger members in
a large family of twelve children, and was born in Fairfield County, July
22, 1847.
The young married couple continued to reside in Fairfield County until the
fall of 1872, when they removed to Shelby County and made their home in
Pickaway Township for ten years, after which they removed to Ridge Township,
and settled on section 5, where Mr. Beery owns a farm of eighty acres upon
which he has placed good improvements.
The children who have come to bless the home of our subject are: Thomas C.,
Mary A., Laura C., Elmer C., Docie E., Lulu E., John O. and Onie B. Elmer,
John and Onie have passed to the better world. The father of these children
is an intelligent and public-spirited man, who has always taken an active
part in public affairs, and is an ardent and progressive Republican, he has
been School Director for five years, and in this capacity has done much to
forward the educational interests of the Township. In the spring of 1890 he
was elected Highway Commissioner, which office he has filled to the
satisfaction of his constituents and the benefit of the roads, he has always
been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has made them a success. The
Evangelical Association is the religious body with which he and his good
wife are connected, and in its work they are ever ready to take part, and to
do good. He has been in this connection Class Leader, Trustee, Sunday-school
Superintendent and exhorter. Mr. Beery is a member of the Modern Woodmen,
and is also identified with the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 288.
