Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT BERRY
ROBERT BERRY.—A master of an important
industry of the capital city is Robert Berry, the experienced proprietor of the
well-equipped Berry’s Foundry, located at 1817 Twenty-ninth
Street, in Sacramento, one of
the most essential establishments in Sacramento
County, and one always serving both
town and country folk in the most up-to-date fashion. Robert Berry was
born at Chorley, Lancashire County, England, on September 9, 1863, the son of
Miles and Helen (Brewer) Berry, substantial people in the district in which
they lived; and he enjoyed the educational advantages of his locality,
attending the district schools. After a while, in accordance with the
excellent custom in the older countries, of having a boy learn a trade or otherwise
enter upon a career when he is old enough to do so, Robert learned the
founder’s trade; and when he was ready to break away from home and country, he
had a pretty good idea of the foundry business.
When forty-three years of age, he came to the United States,
reaching Sacramento, Cal., in 1907. He worked at his trade here, and ten years
later, in April, 1917, to took over the Elliott
Foundry at 1908 R Street,
and conducted it until June, 1920. Then he built his own foundry, located
at 1817 Twenty-ninth Street, where in the busy season he employs five men, and
with a full complement of machinery such as only the best-arranged foundries
afford, he is every ready to be called upon by the community for exceptional service. The capacity of the foundry is a thirty-inch
cupola, and it would employ sixteen men if fun at full capacity. It is the
only foundry in the city that makes brass and aluminum castings. The
product of the plant is shipped all over northern California,
and the concern does a very large and satisfactory business. Mr. Berry
built a comfortable residence at 2914 S Street, where he resides with his
family. He is independent in his political affiliations. Loyal and
public-spirited, during the World War he took an active part in the Liberty
Loan drives.
In
the year 1892, in Northampton, England,
Mr. Berry was married to Miss
Martha H. H. Eales, by whom he has one child, a son
named Robert Henry Berry. This son went to the State
University at Berkeley,
where he studied electrical engineering; and then he served for three years in
the British navy as a wireless operator. He is now a Senior
at the University of California. Mr.
Berry, like most Englishmen, is
fond of football and other manly sports. He is treasurer of the Sacramento
Valley Soccer league, which had its inception sixteen years ago and now has
1,500 training in the schools here. In 1922 they took the California
soccer ball championship with their boys’ team. He also belongs to the
Sons of St. George and to the Moulders’(sic) Association of Sacramento.
Transcribed 5-21-07
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County, California
With Biographical Sketches, Page 810. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.