Berryman- James Allen (Dr) - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

“Dr. Berryman has just died,” were the words that rang through our ears Tuesday near 11 o’clock in the forenoon. No man will be more missed than he. Who now will we call when in need of a physician?” He is gone, can’t realize the fact, yet we know ‘tis true, were the expressions we heard on every hand. One week ago yesterday we saw him tottering on the street feeble in health, yet cheerful as ever, a good word for all he met, a smile on his countenance, yet we are positive he realized his condition and knew the end was near, yet all seemed well with him. No one heard him complain or murmur, perfectly reconciled as to his condition. He continued to administer to the wants of others until within five days of his death. Surely no one could do better. For thirty nine years he practiced medicine, through all kinds of weather, at all hours of the day or night in this immediate neighborhood, attending all calls in his power. We have been very intimate with him all these years and we can truthfully say we have seen him tired, weary and worn out, but we never saw in him a disposition to in the least discriminate between the rich and the poor. He would travel miles through rain and mud just as cheerfully without any hope of recompense as he could have done had he been called to attend a millionaire. We today think of the many scenes we have with him witnessed. Some were pleasant and happy, others sad, so sad. How many times we have been called to stand by the bedside and witness the death of friends, how often we have seen him administer to the wants of the living, especially among the poor, where the necessaries of life were as needful as his medicines. He was quick to see, and to see was to act with him, and if a bill of groceries were more needful than his medicines, groceries were what he gave. As a citizen he was public spirited, patriotic and generous. Could we but find the many subscription papers that have passed these forty years his name would appear oftener than any other and that with a liberal amount attached. Gather up the old notes in business affairs all over this part of the county and you will find him as surety oftener than any other. His natural desire was to help. Is it any wonder we hear words of praise for his kindness and regret now that he is gone?

The attendance at his funeral was the largest ever seen in this part of the county, and was conducted by his brother Masons, one hundred being in line, assisted by the Odd Fellows to the number of forty. Rev. Rayle had charge of the services at the house assisted by Bro. John Stafford and Rev. J. E. Steele, Bro. Steele paying a beautiful tribute to his memory, as he had known him some seventeen years and being one of his many beneficiaries, as the doctor had given him his first horse and buggy when he first came to the Potato Creek charge almost penniless and afoot, telling him to pay if he could, if not to ride in his efforts to do good to others. As assistant surgeon of the 135th Reg. he has been instrumental in assisting his worthy comrades in procuring pensions and at all times was he willing to assist all those of us that have come under his care since the war. By his death he leaves a widow and two sons, Perry and Chester, both manly men, who will care for their mother and his niece, Grace Berryman, who became an orphan seven years ago and has made her home with the family ever since.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 19 June 1896

A number of Masons from this city attended the funeral of Dr. J. A. Berryman which was held at the Methodist Church in Darlington Wednesday at 3 o’clock. The funeral was in charge of the Masonic Lodge of Darlington. The funeral oration was delivered by Rev. John Steele, pastor of the Methodist Church.