History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/James G. Berryhill
[James G. Berryhill]
JAMES G. BERRYHILL was born in Iowa City on the 5th of November, 1852. His father, Charles H. Berryhill, became a resident of Johnson County in 1838, before Iowa City had an existence, Iowa Territory having been organized that year. The son attended the public schools and took the collegiate course in the State University, graduating in 1873. He then entered the Law Department from which he graduated in 1876. Removing to Des Moines in 1877, Mr. Berryhill engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1885 Mr. Berryhill was elected a Representative in the Twenty-first General Assembly, and became chairman of the committee on appropriations in which position he did excellent service. He was reëlected at the close of his term and in the Twenty-seventh General Assembly organized and led the movement which resulted in the enactment of laws exercising control over railroad corporations in the interest of the people. A full account of this legislation will be found in Volume III of this history. Mr. Berryhill is a man of affairs, having large business enterprises under his management. In politics he is an active Republican and at one time was strongly supported for Representative in Congress in the Seventh District.