Person:Berry Horsley (1)

I have no source for him being the father of Dora Horsley except that on the 1860 census her father is listed as B. L. Horsley. I found the name Berry L. Horsley on ancestry.com under Illiinois Land Records and am assuming they are one and the same. Birthplace from census records. Death date from "Petition for Letters of Admin." found at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. That document showed his widow was Mary E. Horsley, petitioner. Children were: Theodore Horsley, one I couldn't make out but looked like it started with "J", Rosella Bidwell, Isadore Akers, Samuel Horsley, Luella S. Jones.

1860 Illinois Census, Coles County, Paradise Township, Mattoon PO, Page 119, Dwelling/Family 825.

B.L. Horsley 37 Ky. Sarah 35 Ky. Joshua T. M 16 Il. William A. M 12 Il. (No Name) F 6 Il. [ Simeon Horsley ] Rosella F 4 Il. Isadore F 2 Il.

1880 Illinois Census, Coles County, Paradise Township, Page 26, Dwelling/Family 219

Berry Horsley 59 Ky. Sarah 57 Ky. Samuel M 18 Il. Lensatha F 14 Il.

My cousin, Joy {Bennett } Robertson, a genealogist in Enid Oklahoma, told me that a family member told her one of those family stories that you often hear, but sometimes carry a germ of truth. Someone was told that someone once overheard that Berry's father's name was Ralph. [ told you it was a story ] Anyway, being the only lead to work from a search of Kentucky for "Ralph's" only brings up one in the correct time frame but not likely father.

1850 Breckinridge County Kentucky Census, District 2, Dwelling/Family 258 Rafael Horsley 48 Ky. [ Ralph in other records and later census ] Delia [Williams] 41 Ky. [ Married 1830 October 1830 - Marriage book of Rev. James Taylor 1827 - 1867 ] Squire M 17 Ky. William M 15 Ky Sally F 13 Ky. John M 10 Ky. Stephen M 7 Ky. Harrison M 5 Ky. Mitchell M 2 Ky. Levi 84 Va. [ Father of Rafael ] Sarah 74 Va. [ Mother of Rafael ]

I propose Levi and Sarah as parents of Berry. Family often tended to move to different areas together. John, son of Ralph and Delia, is buried in the same cemetery as Berry. William is also located in the same area of Coles County Illinois

Coles County Marriage Records shows Berry S. (?) Horsley married Mary Ellen Hart March 26, 1881

1. ↑ Cemeteries of Lafayett, Paradise & Pleasant Grove Twnshps. Coles Co. Vol. 1.