Person:Berry Diddle (1)

Biography

History of Caldwell and Livingston Counties, Missouri (1886) Berry Diddle (deceased) (Late of the Vicinity of Easterville). For over quarter of a century the name that heads this sketch was borne by a man who was identified with the interests of Caldwell county in more ways than one. Honest and worthy in every particular, his life was one of great industry, far above the average, spent in striving, as a good man, to bring up his family in a creditable way, and leave a record of his career which would cause no blush of shame to mantle the face of those near and dear to him at the mention of his name. Berry Diddle was born in Augusta county, Va., April 17, 1816, and died in Caldwell county, Mo., August 7, 1882. His parents were John and Charity Diddle, Virginians by birth, and members of the family are remembered as having taken part in the wars with the mother country. Berry Diddle was reared on a farm, but his elemental facilities were extremely limited. He married Miss Sarah Offlighter March 20, 1843, her birth having occurred in Nelson county, Va., September 17, 1825. After this event they continued to make their home in Augusta county about six years, then removing to Western Virginia. In 1855, in company with Job Michael, Mr. Diddle came to Ray county, Mo., and in the spring of 1856 the latter settled on section 27, of New York township, paid for his place and made some improvements his means were quite, or almost, exhausted: but he and his wife were possessed of great fortitude, indomitable energy and will, and these characteristics, combined with economy and perseverance, soon secured for them a comfortable home. To this original tract more land was added from time to time until it comprised about a section of land. Mr. Diddle was one of the hardest working men in the neighborhood in which he resided, but in the midst of it all he had a kind heart and was ever ready to do what he could, not only for his family, to whom he was a most devoted husband and father, but to humanity in general. He was a stanch Union man during the war, and for some time served in the State militia. He left at his death a family of eight children: Elizabeth J., Charity E., Cynthia A., John T., James W., Albert W., Benjamin F. and Bruce N. Mrs. Diddle is a lady of great force of character, and one worthy to have occupied the place she held by the side of her husband during their happy married life. She is now living upon the old homestead.

1. ↑ Transcribed by Karen Walker. Hopewell Cemetery
   11/24/06.

   DIDDLE, Sarah, wife of Berry, Sept. 17, 1825 Oct. 4, 1898
   Berry, Apr. 17, 1816 Aug. 7, 1882 aged 66 ys. 3 ms. 20 ds.
   Infant, dau. of B. & S. Diddle, --1869--

2. ↑ Civil War Service Records
   http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.htm.