William Wells Berry, (Jr.) (Nashville, TN)

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William W. Berry, (Jr.) ca.1920

William Wells Berry, (Jr.) (January 1, 1849 – July 30, 1922)

Biography

  • Name: William Wells Berry, (Jr.)
  • Birth: January 1, 1849 Nashville, TN
  • Death: July 30, 1922 Nashville, TN
  • Spouse: Alice Mary (Allen) Berry (1851-1928) (m.1881)
  • Son of Wm. Wells Berry, Sr., President of Third NB of Nashville, Charter 1296.

Williams Wells Berry Jr. was born on January 1, 1849 in east Nashville, Tennessee, to William Wells Berry and Jane Eliza (White) Berry. The senior Berry was a partner in a large and successful drug wholesale business, as well as one of the organizers of the Third National Bank of Nashville, charter 1296. William Wells, Sr. served as President of the Third National Bank from 1865 until his death in June, 1878. At his death, his wealth passed to his wife and children, including William, Jr.

William W. Berry, Jr. was educated locally, including the Campbell School for his preparatory work. He attended Bethany College in Kentucky, but did not graduate due to failing eyesight. He went to work for his father's drug business, known as Berry, Demoville and Company, after leaving school. His father gave him 1/2 of his interest in the firm in 1873, and he became a partner in the firm when his father died. William Jr. inherited his father's stock in the Third National Bank of Nashville, and became a director of that bank on January 12, 1882.

William married Alice Mary Allen on June 28, 1881, in Gallatin, Tennessee. He was one of the early members of The Hermitage Club in Nashville, and he was an avid fisherman. On February 18, 1884, a merger was announced between the Third National Bank and the American National Bank of Nashville, charter 3032. The American National Bank had only been open for a few months, and Third National was a larger bank, but the capitalization of American National was larger, so the name chosen for the combined bank was the American National Bank, charter 3032.

William became a director of the American National Bank at the merger, and was named a director of the Equitable Insurance Company of Nashville in 1885. He was also a director of the Nashville Trust Company, and later a director of the Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company. On March 25, 1891, he was elected President of the American National Bank, and he served as President until October 4, 1918.

William Wells Berry, Jr. died at home on July 30, 1922. His death certificate lists his cause of death as chronic nephritis, but he had also been suffering from a heart condition. He was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Nashville.

The Berry family home, south of Nashville, was known as Elmwood. Today, the city of Berry Hill exists where the family home and land once was. Berry Hill is named after the Berry family, and is located within Davidson County, Tennessee.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, William W. Berry was involved with the following bank(s):


Series 1902 Date Back $5 bank note with stamped signatures of N.P. Le Sueur, Cashier and W.W. Berry (Jr.), President.


References

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