Berrien County MI Archives Obituaries.....Berrick, Dr. Francis H. February 9, 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Ellen Drolet MaryDrolet@comcast.net January 19, 2009, 1:54 am Niles Daily Star, Wed. Feb. 10, 1897, p. 2 Niles Daily Star, Wed. Feb. 10, 1897, p. 2 THE END CAME WITHOUT WARNING, DR. F.H. BERRICK IS STRICKEN WITH PARALYSIS WAS A SHINING CHARACTER Buchanan Loses a Citizen Who Was Ever Interested in Her Progress and Welfare—Review of his Noble Career. Deprived of life, force and vigor, the profoundest sorrow prevails at Buchanan, and in fact throughout this enteire section. Dr. F. H. Berrick has gone beyond. Death came peacefully; each breath grew shorter and fainter until the end. Dr. Berrick had always expressed a desire to die in the harness, and his wish has been granted. At Buchanan the Berrick residence is one of the best, and the doctor left home at 10 o’clock Sunday morning to visit a patient at the home of John Graham. Before leaving, Mrs. Berrick noticed that he appeared to be ill, that there was a twitching of the face, and when asked about it he complained of headache, saying he would return shortly and lay down for a rest. She urged him not to make the call, but with an affectionate “good-bye,’ as was always his custom, the doctor started on this professional mission to the Graham home. There, going upstairs, he sat down in a char, when his head drooped and he was speechless. From that time on he was unable to speak. His last words were the ‘good-bye” to his wife. Disabled from almost complete paralysis, the doctor was removed to his home where, surrounded by loved ones, the last life-park went out a 3:20 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Dr. Berrick had never once intimated, and it is believed he did not think at any tim that he would ever be afflicted with palsy. The fatal shock came so suddenly that it can scarcely be realized. Last August the doctor had his left hand amputated, the reason being that blood poisoning ad set in. The fatal moment is traced directly from the time of amputation. Ever since then his left leg has gradually swollen and it required careful and almost constant nursing. Exemplary in all things, no man will be more missed than Dr. Berrick. A multitude will mourn. Arrangements are made for all friends to view the remains Thursday from 10 to 12 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Short funeral services, private, will be held at the house Friday morning at 10:30. The members of the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 68, of Buchanan, to which the deceased belonged, will have charge. Sketch of His Life Hon. Francis H. Berrick, M.D. of Buchanan, was born in Middlesex, Middlesex county, Mass., on the 18rth of September, 1823. His father, Harmones Berrick, was a native of Germany, and fought for six years under the immortal Bonaparte. Having been taken prisoner by the English, he was brought to America when about 25 years old. After being released from captivity he established his home in Middlesex county, Mass., where he followed his trade of a glass manufacturer. The mother of our subject was of Irish descent and was born and reared in Maine. She bore the maiden name of Margaret Brewer, and was a lady of pleasant disposition and sunny ways. She was especially devoted to the welfare of her children, of whom there were eight, as follows: James H., Deceased; Jane O., the widow of Joseph Dale, residing in Richmond, Me.; Margaret, who is the wife of Edwin Stearns, of Lowell, Mass.; Francis H., of this sketch; Edward, a business man of Boston; Anna G., who married John Collins, now deceased; and Charles M., who enlisted in defense of the union during the civil and was active service from 1861 to 1866. In his father’s home, Francis H. Berrick grew to manhood, meanwhile becoming through study and extensive reading a well-informed man. In 1847 he entered the ministry of the Second Advent church and for a number of years was engaged in preaching the Gospel, holding pastorates at various places in the Bay state. In 1861 he entered the law department of Harvard college, where he prosecuted his legal studies and from which institution he was graduated. He was admitted to the bar in Essex county, Mass., in 1864 and practiced his profession for two years in Boston. Realizing, however, that the great west offered opportunities which the east could not, he determined upon establishing a home in the Mississippi valley. In 1868 our subject removed to Minnesota and accepted a pastorate of a church in the northern part of the sate, near Minneapolis, where he remained until 1869. From that state he removed to Indiana, and while serving as pastor of a church in LaPorte county he commenced the study of medicine. In 1869 he removed to Buchanan and here opened an office for the practice of his last –chosen profession. Four years afterward he took a course of lectures at the Hahnemann Medical college, graduating form that institution in 1873. Upon his return to Buchanan he resumed his duties as a general practitioner. All matters relating to the welfare and progress of Buchanan and the surrounding country were deeply interesting to the doctor. He had mingled considerably with the public affairs of the county and had been called upon to fill various posts of trust. In 1874 he was elected senator and served with credit to himself, representing his constituents with ability and discretion. He also filled the position of president of Buchanan and served as a member of the board of school directors. Socially, he was a Mason, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 68, and was also identified with the Knights Templar, holding membership at Niles. Dr. Berrick had been married three times. Of his first union three children were born, viz.; Charles S., now residing in Chicago; Frank, who was in the United Sates service for eight years; and Adelaide A., who married Henry Croup, now deceased. The second wife fo the doctor was Lucy A. Jarvis, daughter of Barton[sic] and Elizabeth Jarvis. After her death he was married on the 8th of March, 1890, to Mrs. Mae Tremmel, who by her former union has one child, Gertrude. His Religious Work He became interested in the subject of religion in 1839, during the delivery of the first course of lectures on the prophecies in Lowell, Mass., by Elder Wm. Miller, and united with the Christian church of which Elder Timothy Cole was pastor. In 1842 he commenced his public ministrations in Vermont, lecturing in Morrisville, Johnson, Hyde Park, Stow, Cambridge, etc. After 1844 he did but little preaching until 1847, from that date he devoted most of his time to the ministry, traveling in New Hampshire, Vermont and Canada, in company with Elder Edwin Burnham. He subsequently visited the west in company with Elders Couch, Howell and others, holding meeting at Union Mills, Plymouth, Ind., Buchanan and Adrian, Mich. It was during a conference at Lowell, Mass., that a few brethren met at his house and after mature deliberation resolved to start the World’s Crisis, among whom were Elders Grant, Hemenway, Boutell, Couch and others. In 1853 he came to Union Mills, Ind. where he remained in charge of the Advent Christian church three years. Then retuning to Massachusetts he took charge of the church at Salem, during which time he attended Harvard law school where he graduated was admitted to the bar. During 1862-3 and part of 1864 he had the oversight of the church at New Bedford, Mass., and also the church in Newark, N.J., supporting them in person or by proxy. In November 1864 he went to Minnesota and preached in Brooklyn and Minneapolis. While there he studied medicine with Dr. Hatch. In the spring of 1867 he settled at Union Mills again, and began the pratice[sic] of medicine, at the same time preach-[sic] occasionally at Union Mills and Stillwell Prairie, Ind., and Buchanan, Mich., and a few times at Harvard, Ill. Notes Memorial services for the family will be held in about two weeks in one fo the churches at Buchanan. By special request of Mrs. Berrick, all Niles Physicians, and any others, are specially invited to view the remains and attend the funeral. Mrs. Adelaide Croup, a very estimable lady, sister of Dr. Berrick, having been notified by wire, arrived at her brother’s bedside Monday evening. Mrs. Anna Collins, a sister, who has been seriously ill with pneumonia at Dr. Berrick’s home, although unable to sit up, is much better, and he speedy recovery is hoped for. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/berrien/obits/b/berrick690nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 8.8 Kb