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JAMES M. BERRY
Vol. 3, p.1201

In 1907, the year of Oklahoma's admission as a state, Mr. Berry
became one of the organizers of the Central National Bank of Tulsa,
of which he is first vice president at the present time and of which
he was the original cashier. At that time he possessed a wide and
practical experience in banking, and has become a recognized factor
in Oklahoma finance. His skill and integrity as a banker have been
mainly responsible for making the Central National Bank one of the
strongest institutions of its kind in the northwestern part of the
state. Its capital stock is $150,000, and it has an earned surplus
fund of $150,000.

Mr. Berry was born in Giles County, Tennessee, December 27, 1861,
and is the younger of the two children of Rev. Harrison Berry, M. D.,
and Margaret (HUDSON) Berry, the latter of whom died at the age of
thirty-seven years. His older brother is William H., now a resident
of Aurora, Missouri. Rev. Harrison Berry was born and reared in the
State of Illinois, of a pioneer family, and after preparing himself
for the medical profession practiced in Illinois for a number of
years. He then removed to Nashville, Tennessee, and became the
publisher of a newspaper, but eventually entered the ministry of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as a clergyman of which he continued
his faithful and able services for many years prior to his death, at
the venerable age of eighty-two years.

In the public schools of Tennessee and Kentucky James M. Berry laid
the foundations of a liberal education. He attended Sulphur Well
College in Metcalfe County, Kentucky. In 1878 he became a teacher in
the schools of Kansas, and during 1879-80 taught in Anderson County
of that state. Then locating at Cherryvale, Montgomery County, he
entered the employ of the Exchange Bank, and was with it from 1881
until 1887. He then became associated with the First National Bank of
Oswego, Labette County, Kansas, which he served as cashier until
1895, when he resigned and removed to Seneca, Newton County,
Missouri, taking the cashiership of the Bank of Seneca at that place.
In 1906 Mr. Berry disposing of his interest in Missouri and
associating himself with J. G. MCGANNON organized in the spring of
1907 the Central National Bank of Tulsa, of which he became cashier.
Since March, 1912, his effective executive service has been in the
office of vice president. He has become influential in the financial
affairs of this section of the state, with high reputation for
ability and steadfast integrity. Mr. Berry is a democrat in politics
and though he has had no ambition for public office he is loyal and
progressive, always ready to co-operate in the furtherance of
measures projected for the general good of the community. Both he and
his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.

At Horse Cave, Kentucky, July 23, 1884, Mr. Berry married Miss Maude
Isabell MURRAY. Of their five children the first two are deceased,
William having died at the age of twenty years and Harold in infancy.
The surviving children are Ralph H., now in the bank with his father;
Robert G. and James K., both in school.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Earline Sparks Barger, October 10, 1998.