Stone Gardens: Former Governor and US Senator James Henderson Berry lies in repose in Bentonville Cemetery
- Dennis McCaslin
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
Born on May 15, 1841, in Jackson County, Alabama, James Henderson Berry was the son of James McFerrin Berry and Isabella Jane Orr.
In 1848, his family relocated to Arkansas, settling in Carroll County, where young James labored on the family farm.
The untimely illness and death of his mother in 1860 curtailed his formal education, forcing him to prioritize family responsibilities over schooling.
Yet, this setback did not deter his ambition.
When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Berry enlisted in the Confederate Army, serving in the 16th Arkansas Infantry.
His service was cut short in 1862 during the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi, where a severe wound necessitated the amputation of his right leg above the knee.
Undeterred by this life-altering injury, Berry returned to Arkansas, where he reinvented himself as a teacher and later studied law. By 1866, at just 25 years old, he was elected as the youngest member of the Arkansas State Legislature, marking the start of a storied political career.
Berry’s rise continued in 1882 when he successfully ran for governor of Arkansas. Serving from 1883 to 1885, he focused on fiscal responsibility and education reform, earning praise for his pragmatic leadership.
In 1885, Berry was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he represented Arkansas for 22 years. Known for his advocacy for veterans and infrastructure development, including levee systems along the Mississippi River, Berry became a respected voice in Washington. His Senate tenure ended in 1907 after losing his reelection bid in 1906.
In 1910, Berry’s commitment to honoring Confederate soldiers led to his appointment by the Secretary of War to oversee the marking of graves for Confederate prisoners who died in Union camps.
his role underscored his dedication to preserving the memory of his comrades, a cause close to his heart.
Berry’s personal life was equally rich. In 1865, he married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Quaile Berry, with whom he had five children: Nelly Frank, Albert Josephine, Jennie Blackburn, Elliott Rosson, and Frederic Hugh.
Despite personal tragedies, including the loss of his mother and several siblings, Berry remained a devoted family man until his death on January 30, 1913, in Bentonville.
Today, Berry’s legacy endures through landmarks like the James H. Berry Memorial in Bentonville and his contributions to Arkansas’s political and cultural fabric.
Historians note his ability to bridge divides in a post-Civil War South, earning him admiration as a “man of integrity and grit,” according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
His gravestone, inscribed with his titles as Governor (1883–1885) and U.S. Senator (1885–1907), stands as a quiet tribute to a life of service in the Bentonville Cemetery.
As Arkansas reflects on its past, James Henderson Berry remains a towering figure--a man who, despite physical and personal hardships, helped shape the state’s history with unwavering resolve.
