Charles Frank Berry, known as Frank, was the oldest son of William and Caroline (Boone) Berry. He was born in southwest Missouri in March of 1876. In 1900, Frank was boarding with Thad and Maggie Hulsey and working as a teamster in Kansas City (US Census 1900), In 1901 and 1902, Frank worked intermittently back in Ash Grove, earning $1.00 to $1.15 per 10-hour day as a laborer for the Ash Grove White Lime Association (Ash Grove White Lime Association 1901, 1902).
Frank married Kate Boyd Farley in 1904. Like Frank, Like Frank, Kate had grown up in Ash Grove. Kate was born ca. 1867, married Sampson Farley in 1886, gave birth to daughter Edna ca. 1888, and was divorced from Sampson in 1894. Kate married Frank Berry in 1904 in Iola, Kansas. By 1910, Frank, Kate, Edna, and Dillard (Edna's son) were living together in Iola, and both Edna and Dillard were using the Berry surname. Frank worked at the nearby cement plant of the Ash Grove Cement Company. The family lived in a racially mixed neighborhood consisting mainly of the households of other cement plant employees (US Census 1910). In 1920, Frank was working as a laborer at the cement plant while Kate managed a restaurant. Edna and Dillard no longer lived with them, but Frank and Kate had two roomers who worked as porters (US Census 1920). By 1930, Frank was working as a janitor at the cement plant, Kate owned a restaurant, and a restaurant employee roomed with the couple (US Census 1930). Kate died on April 22, 1938 and was interred at the Highland Cemetery near Iola (Iola Register 1938). In 1940, Frank was still living in Iola. By 1950, Frank had moved to Wichita, Kansas and was working as a hotel porter while living with his widowed step-daughter Edna Bland and her son Dillard Berry.
Frank's death date and place of burial are uncertain. According to one unverified report, Frank died in 1962 and was buried in Highland Cemetery in Wichita (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23776621/charles-berry). However, it is also possible that Frank was buried in Highland Cemetery in Iola, where his wife and step-grandson had been interred (Findagrave.com).
Frank married Kate Boyd Farley in 1904. Like Frank, Like Frank, Kate had grown up in Ash Grove. Kate was born ca. 1867, married Sampson Farley in 1886, gave birth to daughter Edna ca. 1888, and was divorced from Sampson in 1894. Kate married Frank Berry in 1904 in Iola, Kansas. By 1910, Frank, Kate, Edna, and Dillard (Edna's son) were living together in Iola, and both Edna and Dillard were using the Berry surname. Frank worked at the nearby cement plant of the Ash Grove Cement Company. The family lived in a racially mixed neighborhood consisting mainly of the households of other cement plant employees (US Census 1910). In 1920, Frank was working as a laborer at the cement plant while Kate managed a restaurant. Edna and Dillard no longer lived with them, but Frank and Kate had two roomers who worked as porters (US Census 1920). By 1930, Frank was working as a janitor at the cement plant, Kate owned a restaurant, and a restaurant employee roomed with the couple (US Census 1930). Kate died on April 22, 1938 and was interred at the Highland Cemetery near Iola (Iola Register 1938). In 1940, Frank was still living in Iola. By 1950, Frank had moved to Wichita, Kansas and was working as a hotel porter while living with his widowed step-daughter Edna Bland and her son Dillard Berry.
Frank's death date and place of burial are uncertain. According to one unverified report, Frank died in 1962 and was buried in Highland Cemetery in Wichita (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23776621/charles-berry). However, it is also possible that Frank was buried in Highland Cemetery in Iola, where his wife and step-grandson had been interred (Findagrave.com).
Frank Berry and family ca. 1950s on the Berry property in Ash Grove. Standing, left to right: Frank Berry, Fred Berry, Ellis Berry, and Dehomer Carlock. Seated, left to right: Lawrence Berry holding unknown child, Delmus Carlock (with cigarette), Norman Carlock (child), and Dillard Berry. (Photo courtesy of the Berry Family)
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Obituary for Kate (Farley) Berry, wife of Charles Frank Berry, in the Iola Register, April 22, 1938.
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Grave Marker: Charles Frank Berry is likely interred in Wichita or Iola, Kansas. However, Frank's name is inscribed on the Berry Cemetery monument, installed in 2017, for individuals interred in unmarked graves. When the monument was created, neither the date of death nor place of burial of Charles Frank Berry were known. Consequently, the decision was made to memorialize at the Berry Cemetery by inscribing his name on the monument.
