Hon. Charles P. Berry of Portsmouth, NH Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915)

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Source: A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
         by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill, 1915

Page 883

     HON. CHARLES P. BERRY, formerly one of Portsmouth's best
known and most popular citizens-a man well known not only in the
political, business and social life of this city, but also of the cities of
Lynn and Boston, Mass.-was born October 16, 1840, in Lynn, Mass.
     His father, John W. Berry, was an esteemed resident of Lynn.  He
was a man of deep religious convictions, exemplifying in his daily life
the teachings of the Congregational Church, of which he was a deacon
for many years.  Deacon Berry died in 1852 while yet in the prime

Page 884

of manhood, leaving his widow, whose maiden name was Annie W.
Gale, with six children, among them the subject of this sketch.
     Charles P. Berry, the fourth child born to his parents, was but ten
years old when he had the misfortune to be deprived of his father's
care and guidance.  As his older brother was naturally weak and deli-
cate in health, upon him devolved the duty of helping his widowed
mother support her little family.  On this account he was obliged to
leave the day school, where he had already made good progress in
his studies, and complete his educational course in the evening schools.
Making good use of his time in the latter, he acquired a practical knowl-
edge of the various branches of learning there taught, and with his
subsequent course of reading became a well informed man, well fitted
for a business career.  When but eleven years old this manly boy en-
tered the shoe shop of his uncle, Charles P. Gale, and there obtained
the rudiments of his extensive knowledge of the shoe and leather busi-
ness.  Two years later he began work for S. M. Bubier, who owned
one of the largest shoe factories in Lynn, and while there Mr. Berry
became thoroughly conversant with the various branches of shoe manu-
facturing.  While yet in his minority he was offered the position of
foreman of the cutting room in the large factory of Bancroft & Purin-
ton, in the same city, and this he filled acceptably until his promotion
to the office of superintendent of the factory.
     In 1870 Mr. Berry resigned the place he had so long occupied to
become vice-president and general manager of the Davis Shoe Com-
pany, which he managed successfully for some fifteen years.  In 1885
he became associated in business with the Hon. Frank Jones, Charles
A. Sinclair and Charles H. Mendum, and formed what is so extensively
known throughout the country as the Portsmouth Shoe Company, of
which for years he was one of the principal stockholders.  Under his
energetic and sagacious management the affairs of this corporation
prospered, until it became one of the leading industries of the city,
turning out more work in women's, misses' and children's footwear
than any other factory in this country, and it is thought at times, in
the world.  When running at full capacity the factory produced 10,500
pairs of shoes per diem; and at no time was the output less than 6,000
pairs.  Twelve hundred hands were employed and they were kept busy
most of the year.  Mr. Berry had the reputation among business men
of being more thoroughly acquainted with the details of the different
departments of his business than any other shoe manufacturer in the
country, and his phenomenal success in this line was attributed solely
to his natural capacity and his close attention to business.
     A man of Mr. Berry's caliber, push and progressive spirit neces-
sarily occupied a place of pre-eminence in any community.  Being often
called upon to aid in the guidance of civic affairs, he held many offices
of trust, serving with distinction in each.  As one of the leading mem-
bers of the Democratic party, he was no unimportant factor in for-
warding its interests.  While a resident of his native city he served
as alderman two years; and he occupied the same position in the
municipal government of Portsmouth for two years.  For two years
he was mayor of this city and in 1890 he represented his district in the
State Legislature, serving with credit to himself and to the honor and
advantage of his constituents in each office.

Page 885

     He was also well known and influential in financial circles, being
a director of one of the New Hampshire National banks of Portsmouth,
N. H.  He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, be-
longing to Golden Fleece Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Lynn; to Royal
Arch Chapter, R. A. M., of Lynn, and to DeMolay Commandery, K. T.,
of Boston.  He was also a member of Bay State Lodge, I. 0. 0. F.,
of Lynn, in which he held all of the chairs.  He likewise belonged to
the Boston Board of Trade.  Religiously he was identified with the
Congregational Church at Lynn, and he attended the church of the
same denomination when residing in Portsmouth.  Mr. Berry died
June 30, 1907, his loss being mourned by a wide circle of friends and
acquaintances, among whom were numbered many prominent people,
both in this county and elsewhere.

     Mr. Berry was twice married; first to Sarah M. Bradley, of Lynn,
now deceased.  Twelve years after her death he married Miss Annie L.
Church, daughter of Daniel Church, of Portsmouth.  Of this happy
union was born one child, a son, Frank J., who is now a resident of
Toronto, Canada.