JOHN D. BERRYMAN. Among the citizens of Charleroi who have achieved pronounced success and attained a worthy place in public esteem because of their success and their strength of character, none takes precedence over. John D. Berryman, one of the leading merchants and most public-spirited citizens of this community. Mr. Berryman was born in Allenport, Washington county, on the 6th of November, 1867, and is the son of John W. and Ann (House) Berryman. The father was born at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1834, and died at Charleroi, December 31, 1914, in the eighty-first year of his age. In early life he followed farming; was at one time engaged in the meat business at Coal Center, and then for a number of years was engaged in the general mercantile business at Coal Center in partnership with his son. He came to Charleroi in 1896 and bought the interest of L. H. Reeves, who had been a partner of the subject of this sketch under the firm name of Reeves & Berryman, the business being thereafter conducted under the name of J. W.Berryman & Son, the same style as was used in the business at Coal Center, which he had disposed of. He remained in business in Charleroi up to the time of his death and commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was a man of great strength of character, marked business ability and sterling integrity, being a stalwart supporter of all movements for the betterment of the communities in which he lived. He was a democrat in his political affiliation and held a number of local offices while living in Coal Center. He was a member and elder of the Christian church. On October 6, 1860, he was married to Ann House, who was born near Beallsville, Pennsylvania, November 11, 1840, and who died at Charleroi, January 27, 1914, at the age of seventy-four years. She was the daughter of Joseph W. and Catherine A. (Deems) House, who lived near Beallsville. Her father was a carpenter and well-to-do farmer, having owned several farms in that locality. John W. Berryman was the son of Duncan and Hannah (Grimes) Berryman, the former of whom was a boat builder at West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.
John D. Berryman received his elementary education in the public schools of Coal Center and later entered the Southwestern Normal School at California, where he was graduated in 1887. He then taught a five-months term of school at Allenport, for which he received thirty-five dollars a month. With the aid of this money he made a payment on the purchase of the one-fourth interest of his father's partner, John G. Glason, the firm name being changed to that of J. W. Berryman & Son. They continued the general mercantile business at Coal Center until 1896. Our subject worked for Rea & Company, a wholesale packing company of Pittsburgh for one year and at the end of that time he left that position to take charge of a dry goods store at Tarentum, Pennsylvania, where he remained about a year. In March, 1896; Mr. Berry-man came to Charleroi and on April 8, 1896, opened a general dry goods store in partnership with L. H. Reeves, of Coal Center, under the firm name of Reeves & Berryman, an association which continued for about one and a half years, when Mr. Berryman and his father sold their store at Coal Center and the father bought Mr. Reeves' interest in the Charleroi business and remained identified with it until his death. At first the business occupied one room in the Masonic building, but later they added a two-story building erected by Mr. Reeves, fronting on McKean avenue. For a number of years they also owned branch stores at Monessen and Donora, which were run under the same firm name, and after the father's death, on December 31, 1914, our subject bought his brother's interest in their father’s estate, becoming sole owner of the business. He disposed of his interest in the Monessen store in 1919 and sold the Donora store in 1925. In the spring of 1926 a new and modern three-story building is to be erected on five lots, ninety-five by one hundred feet, which will be the largest piece of property in Charleroi. Mr. Berryman is also a director of the Charleroi Iron Works.During the World war he took a most active part in advancing all local war measures, serving as a chairman during the Liberty Loan drives and was a Four Minute speaker, and a strong supporter of the Red Cross. He is now chairman of the Charleroi chapter of the American Red Cross, and is a director of the Charleroi Chamber of Commerce. He is a democrat and at the age of twenty-one years was elected a member of the school board at Coal Center. Fraternally he is a member of Charleroi Lodge, No. 615, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; a life member of Monessen Chapter, No. 290, Royal Arch Masons; Syria Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pittsburgh; McKean Commandery, No.80, Knights Templar; Charleroi Lodge, No. 494, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the Senior Order of United American Mechanics at Coal Center. He also belongs to the Monongahela Valley Country Club, the Nemacolin Country Club, of Beallsville, the United States Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania State Chamber of Commerce, the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. He is an active member and a deacon of the Christian church and teaches the young women's Bible class in the Sunday school.
Mr. Berryman was married October 9, 1895, at California, to Miss Mary Jane Paxton, of that place, where she was born on June 26, 1869, the daughter of Captain Samuel and Harriet (Phillips) Paxton. Captain Paxton was born at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, was a boat builder during practically all of his active life, and is now living retired at California. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served throughout that conflict, and he rose to the rank of captain. He is a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife was born at California and spent her entire life there, her death occurring in May, 1925. Mrs. Berryman was educated in the public schools of California and entered the State Normal School there, where she was graduated in 1869. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in the work of the various church societies. She is a member of Charleroi Chapter, No.122, Order of the Eastern Star, and the White Shrine, and is president of the Athenia Club of Charleroi. Mr. and Mrs. Berryman are the parents of the following children. (1) William Duncan, born July 31, 1896, was educated in the public and high schools of Charleroi, and then entered Bellefonte Academy, at Bellefonte, F Pennsylvania, where he was graduated in 1915, after which he had two years in the University of Pittsburgh. He enlisted for service during the World war, on September 5, 1918,was in training at Camp Greenleaf, Georgia, and served at Base Hospital No.3, Railway, New Jersey. He married Rebecca Lowman, of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, and they have two children, William and John. (2) Esther, born July 28, 1898, was graduated from the Charleroi high school, and also from Smith College, at Northhampton, Massachusetts, after which she taught in the Charleroi high school prior to her marriage in September, 1924, to E. W. Billick, of Monongahela. (3) Margaret, born September 16, 1900, was graduated from the Charleroi high school and from the Pennsylvania College for Women, at Pittsburgh. She taught one year in the junior high school of Charleroi but is now the wife of Allison Lanstuter, of Lock No. 4. (4) Mary, born December 7, 1902, was graduated from the Charleroi high school and from Smith College, and is now a teacher in the Charleroi high school. (5) Eleanor, born June 11, 1905, after graduating from the Charleroi high school attended the Pennsylvania College for Women at Pittsburgh. (6) John Paxton, born July 25, 1907, at Library, Pennsylvania, is now a student in the Charleroi high school.
John D. Berryman's life history exhibits a career of unswerving integrity, indefatigable private industry and wholesome home and social relations-the record of a well balanced mental and moral constitution, strongly marked by those traits of character which are of special value in such a state of society as exists in this country. His success in life has been the legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled by good judgment and correct principles. He is a genial and companionable man, keenly alive to the best interests of the community in which he lives, and all who know him bear for him nothing but the highest confidence and respect.