RUTLEDGE T. BERRY. The Berrys were among the earliest settlers of Livingston County. James Berry, subject's grandfather, was born in Virginia, which State he left as early as 1795, immigrating to Tennessee and settling on the Holstein River. Later he moved to Alabama, in which State his death occurred about the year 1825, John Berry, the father of Rutledge, was born in Tennessee prior to 1800. He came to Kentucky in his early manhood, settling in Livingston County, near the town of Old Salem, where he became an extensive farmer. He kept a store at that place also, and from 1829 to 1840 ran a ferry across the Ohio River to Golconda, Ill., which is still known as Berry's Ferry. In 1820 he was elected representative of Livingston County and served several sessions, besides filling other positions of trust, the duties of which he discharged with honor to himself and credit to the county. Mr. Berry succeeded in accumulating a fortune which, during his life, was second to none in the county. He was eminently successful in all his business enterprises and died in the year 1840 full of years and honors. The maiden name of subject's mother was Maria Hodge. She was the daughter of Henry G. Hodge, a native of Virginia, and one of the earliest permanent residents of Salem Precinct. He settled three miles north of that village and died on his home farm as early as 1820 or 1825, at a good old age. Maria (Hodge) Berry was born in Edgecomb County, N. C., and died in Livingston County, Ky., in the year 1870. Rutledge Berry is the eldest of a family of ten children born to John and Maria Berry, his birth occurring March 24, 1816, in Livingston County. His early history was marked by no extraordinary event, but like the majority of the early residents of the new country, his life has been an active one. He attended the common schools for a number of years, in which he obtained the rudiments of a good education, completing his studies later in Princeton College, Caldwell County. His first business on his own responsibility was as a merchant at Salem Village, a business which he followed successfully for a period of five years, closing out about 1860. After retiring from the goods business Mr. Berry commenced farming where he now lives, in Carrsville Precinct. He is one of the substantial yeomen of the land, and is now passing down the shady side of life honored and respected by all who know him. Mr. Berry was married in March, 1840, to Miss Sarah Rondeau, daughter of William and Anna Rondeau, of England. The following are the children born to this marriage: Ann M., wife of Jefferson Greer, C. R., Alice, Emily, Serene, wife of Elder W. M. Weatherford, William (deceased), Pringle (deceased), Julian, Mettie, Jefferson and Lewis. Mr. Berry is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been a life-long Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 809-810.