Springfield-Greene
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JAMES BLAINE BERRY. Of the younger business men of Springfield, few seem to have better prospects of large success in future years than James Blaine Berry, who has a diversity of natural gifts and, although it is a far cry from an iron moulder to the music business, he did both with gratifying results, and was for many years a well known traveling man over the Southwest, and now we find him a member of the Ozark Land Company, which his enterprise and keen discrimination is making one of the most successful and important real estate firms in southern Missouri.
Mr. Berry was born on a farm in Franklin township, Greene county, Missouri, April 30, 1882. He is a son of James A. and Elizabeth (McCurdy) Berry a highly esteemed old family of this county, and as the reader will find a complete sketch of these parents on another page of this volume, the record of their lives will not be repeated here.
James B. Berry grew to manhood on the home farm, and there assisted with the general work during the summer months when he became of proper age, and during the winter attended the district schools; also took an academic course in the State Normal School at Warrensburg, Missouri, after which he came to Springfield and learned the iron moulder's trade. Although he became a good moulder, he did not altogether fancy the work, and abandoned the same, and in 1903 went on the road as a salesman for the A. Beste Music Company, of Pittsburg, Kansas, and was assigned to southwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas, in which territory he did much, during his two years of service with this company, to increase the prestige of the same. He then returned to Springfield and took a position as city salesman for the Martin Music Company, which position he held for a year, then went on the road as advertising and demonstrating representative for the Baldwin Piano Company, of Cincinnati, Ohio, covering Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, a part of Arkansas and Illinois, with headquarters at St. Louis. In all these responsible positions he gave his employers eminent satisfaction in every respect and was regarded as one of their most faithful, efficient and trustworthy employees. In 1909 he resigned his position with the Baldwin people and returned to Springfield, Missouri, purchasing an interest in the Ozark Land Company here, and has since been connected with the same and has been a potent factor in making it a large and successful business.
Mr. Berry was married, March 10, 1904, to Marry B. Tedrick, who was born February 25 1884, in Springfield, Missouri, where she grew to womanhood and received an excellent education. She is a daughter of George and Emma Tedrick, a highly esteemed family here.
To Mr. and Mrs. Berry one child has been born, Doris Dolores Berry, whose birth occurred February 3, 1905. She is attending school and is now in the fifth grade.
Mr. Berry is a Republican in his political affiliation. Religiously, he is a Presbyterian. He is a member of the Illinois Men's Commercial Association.
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