One of Grandpa's sayings, "Can always add another cup of water to the soup for company."
The oldest meat dealer in Hamilton, and one of its most highly esteemed citizens, has conducted his present market for twenty-six years. He was born near Warsaw, Illinois 6 November 1855, a son of George W. and Margaret A. (Howes) Berry.
James H. Berry attended the common schools of the county, and the Georgetown school east of Sutter; in Walker township, and was reared on the farm, which he left in 1877, when he was 21 years old. He went to Nickerson, Kansas and herded cattle for 5 years, but returned to his native county in 1882. On 4 December 1883, he was married to Ella M. Laughlin, a daughter of Robert & Julia (Guymon) Laughlin. Mr. & Mrs. Berry became the parents of the following children: two who died in infancy, Goldie Z. and Myrtle B., both of whom are now teaching, are twins and were born 17 March 1886, Lester Vaughn who was born 13 March 1888, married Anna P. Rose, a daughter of John Rose, the ceremony taking place in September 1913, and they have three children, Louella born in May 1914, James Hurlburt born in January 1916, and Lavaughn born in February 1918; Julia Gladys, who was born 30 September 1891 is the wife of Frank E. Bolt, formerly of Warsaw, Illinois, but now in the U. S. Army, no children. Inez E., who was born 14 July 1894, is the wife of James K. Denholm of Newport News, VA one child, Janet O. born in Feb 1918. Mrs. Berry died 20 August 1913.
After his marriage Mr. Berry established himself in business, and in 1892 founded his present enterprise which he has built up to large proportions. He is a member of the First Christian Church of Hamilton, of which he has been an elder for ten years, has been superintendent of the Sunday school for twelve years, and chairman of the church board for 12 years. A Mason in good standing, he belongs to Black Hawk Lodge No. 238, A. F. & A. M. of which he has been both junior and senior warden, and also to the Eastern Star. He is a Democrat.(History of Hancock Co., Illinois Edited by Charles J. Scofield 1921)
Obituary from the Carthage Gazette 8 June 1932
JOHN ROSE PASSES AWAY SUNDAY AT BURNSIDE
John Rose passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Earl Grotts in Burnside, Sunday, December 27th at 12:50, following a stroke of paralysis.
John, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Rose was born April 1859, in Prussia, Germany, and was at the time of his death 72 years, 8 months and 4 days old.
He came to America at 21 years of age, settled in Sonora and on April 12, 1882, he was united in marriage with Angelia Schilson at Carthage, Illinois. Residing in Sonora 5 years then moving to Connellsville, PA, and in 1908 they moved back to Illinois and since the death of his wife has lived with his sons, Edward and Arthur, and daughter, Mrs. Earl Grotts in Hamilton; until a few weeks before his death, when he went to Galesburg, to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lester Berry. From here he had gone to spend the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Earl Grotts, where he passed away.
Surviving are the following children; Mrs. Lester Berry and Mrs. John Dewald, of Galesburg; Theodore of Wheeling, West Virginia, Mrs. Earl Grotts of Burnside, and Arthur Rose of Hamilton. He had 17 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. His two sisters having preceded him in death.
The funeral was held Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m., at the home of his daughter, Mrs Clara Mahe in Hamilton, and burial was in Oakwood cemetery.
Came to America with her parents when she was 3 years old, which took six weeks in a sailing vessel.
(Source--Schilson Family Genealogy by Delores (Schilson) Piggott at the Hancock Co. Historical Society, Carthage, Illinois.)