FRANKLIN COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHIES - Michael Weeks Berryhill ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Donna Cooper donnac55@hotmail.com ==================================================================== Michael Weeks Berryhill served in the Civil War as a 2nd Lieut as a Confederate Soldier. He was in the Battle of Pea Ridge in AR. Michael Weeks Berryhill, born at Winchester, Franklin Co., TN., is buried near Washburn, Barry Co., Missouri, next to his wife K Catherine Broyles Berryhill on the Berryhill farm. Lieut. M W Berryhill Veteran of the Florida War and the Southern Confederacy M W Berryhill, or "Uncle Mike", as he is generally called, was born near Winchester, Franklin Co., Tennessee on the 8th of May 1815. His father was killed at the famous battle of New Orleans. He had no brother and but one sister. His mother bound him to a Mr. Bridges and then joined the "peculiar" Quaker section. His adopted father was kind to him and he lived with him until he was 21 years of age. The object of our sketch left home about this time and if all the trials he has endured, the dangers he has encountered the narrow escapes from death he has had, in time of peace as well as war, were written it would make quite a volume. In 1838 he volunteered in the Florida War, and joined Company B with Isaac Roberts in Command. At one time he with ten other men started from Tampa Bay to New Orleans. The captain disobeyed orders and did not ballast the ships, they were caught in a storm, which broke the steering wheel and tore the rails and they were left to the mercy of the wind and waves for eight days and drifted in sight of Cuba. To use his own words: "We were scared half to death at first, our captain was killed for about three hours and give up in despair afterward. In fact, not a single one of us would " a give a chew of tobacco for the chance of our lives." Uncle Mike served about three months as a teamster to have provisions from Tampa Bay to different forts in Florida. He was driving a wild our horse team in a train of about 300. He said "My team and about a hundred more ahead of me got frightened and I never saw so much running nor since. Several men beside myself got dangerously hurt and we lost about a dozen wagons and teams too. They were running across the prairie as far as we could see and we never heard of them again." He then went to Alabama and was married shortly afterward to Miss K C Broyles whose obituary appeared in the Republican a short time ago. He with his companion moved to Mississippi then with a few other families to Camden, Arkansas, and formed a settlement where they lived about eight years. From Arkansas they moved to Barry County in 1852 they settled for life on the same farm, ¾ mile west of Washburn where he has since continually resided. Uncle Mike was a firm believer in Jefferson Davis and state rights (but denounces in strong terms the present Democratic Congress.) And when the struggle came he espoused the Confederate cause and serve four years. In the last year he was engaged in thirteen battles. He was 2nd Lieutenant under Lieut. Winton, but never in his life received a bullet wound. "Although," he said, "I have had my clothes shot full of holes, it seems like a kind of a Providence interfered on my behalf many times. But the saddest sight I saw and one that aroused my sympathy most was a Federal Soldier with both arms off, carrying water to a dying comrade." Our hero as we will call him for he has proven himself such many times, has been subject to epileptic fits about thirty-four years. And on one occasion fell in the fire and was badly burned about the head, causing the loss of one eye and much suffering, which he endured with much patience and fortitude. Uncle Mike is near the eighty first birthday and very feeble. But he has many friends and is kind and courteous to everyone. For his service in the Florida War he is drawing $8.00 a month. Written by Clara Berryhill, April 16, 1896, Cassville Republican, Barry Co., MO, April 16, 1896. Obituary Died Dec 15, 1899 at his home near Washburn, Michael Weeks Berryhill age 84 years, 7 mos., and 7 days. A sketch of his life appeared in the Republican on April 16, 1896. His companion and four daughters have already crossed the "dark river". Father had been very feeble for several years and often wished he could close his eyes to sleep the "sleep that knows no waking." When the parted steams of life Join beyond all jarring strife, And the flowers that withered lay, Blossom in immortal May -- When the voices hushed and dear Fill once more the rapture ear We shall feel and know and see God knew better far than we. Clara Berryhill Obituary Passed to the Great Beyond On Tuesday Morning Jan 14, 1896, at her home near Washburn, MO, Mrs. K C Berryhill breathed her last. She was 72 years, 6 months, and 9 days old. Her companion still survives her and is in his 81st year. In she had lived three days longer they would have been married just fifty-seven years. They had been residents of Barry County about 41 years. To them eleven children were born four boys and seven girls. Four daughters had already crossed the cold Jordan and mother had gone to meet them. Her life was spent in service for her loved ones and in all her sickness and suffering she was very patient and uttered no word of complaint. She professed faith in Christ in her youth and lived a faithful Christian till the time of her death. May the Great Father of all mercies comfort her aged companion, whose greatest consolation is to know that he will soon follow her? They laid her gently to rest in the family graveyard and Heaven is nearer than it ever was before for mother is there. "We only know that she has gone, And that the same relentless tide, Which bore her from us still glides on And we who mourn her with it glide. Dear is the spot where Christians sleep And sweet the strains that angels pour, O" why should we in anguish weep? She is not lost, but gone before." Clara Berryhill Berryhill Cemetery, Barry County, Missouri Located Near Washburn and is in a cow field on private property. Told there is a court order that allow public access to the cemetery. These were all of the stones in the cemetery when it was transcribed by Donna Cooper Name Born Died Note or Inscription Anderson, Isabelle J. April 1, 1853 Aug 11, 1900 wife of J.L. Anderson Berryhill, M.W. May 8, 1815 Dec 15, 1899 ssw K.C. Berryhill, K.C. July 5, 1823 Jan 14, 1896 ssw M.W. Berryhill, Martha E. Oct 5, 1857 May 15, 1944 --- Berryhill, Leander R. June 15, 1851 Dec 3, 1934 --- Berryhill, Harriett T. Dec 26, 1856 April 17, 1862 Daughter of M.W. and K.C. Berryhill Berryhill, Orlando W. --- Nov 22, 1884 6 months, 24 days, son of L.R. and N.E. Berryhill Gurley, Josie May 26, 1883 Nov 27, 1906 ---