ALMA M. NEWBERRY

ALMA M. NEWBERRY has been identified with the history of Shelby County, Iowa, since 1875. He was born in Lee County, Iowa, December 25, 1846, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Haskins) Newberry, who were the parents of six children - Joseph H., Heber, Mary Elizabeth (deceased), Jolana, Daniel (deceased), and Alma M., the subject of this sketch. Elizabeth Newberry, the mother of A. M., was born in Locke, Cayuga County, New York, March 9,1815, and died February 28,1855. James Newberry was born May 29, 1791, in Warwick, Orange County, New York, and died July 19, 1880. He was married to his first wife, Mary Smith, August 24, 1811, and there were ten children born to them - Jane, John S. (deceased), Abraham B., James W., Sally Ann, Hannah Maria, Harriet, Lecty Louisa, Esther and Patty. Mr. Newberry was married to Sible Pulsipher, but no children were born to them. She died January 6, 1870. He was married to his second wife, and separated from her, and little of her history is known. His last wife is now living in Harrison County, Iowa. Mr. Newberry settled at Traders' Point in 1847, and in Kanesville in 1848, and was residing there when the city of Council Bluffs was laid out. He was a member of the old Latter-Day Saints church, and was all through the Mormon war. He was taken prisoner with Joseph Smith and others. Alma M. Newberry remained under the parental roof until he was twelve years old and at that early age began supporting himself. He worked a greater part of the time, until he was twenty-one years old, on a farm; and then he began renting land, and continued this until 1875. He then bought forty acres in Shelby County, and has since made additions to it until he now owns 240 acres, all in an advanced state of cultivation. He devotes considerable time to the raising of live-stock, shipping one carload of hogs annually, besides fattening some cattle. He owns a store building in Panama, lot 2, block 11. Mr. and Mrs. Newberry are members of the Latter-Day Saints church. Mrs. Newberry was a Miss Philena S. White, a daughter of Valentine and Martha Ann (Trout) White, and she and Mr. Newberry were united in marriage May 22, 1884. She was born in Sandwich, De Kalb County, Illinois, August 29, 1864. They are the parents of two children-James Vernon, born July 10, 1885, and Paul Alma, born December 10, 1887. Mr. Newberry affiliates with the Democratic party. He has served as road supervisor for three terms, also as constable for one term.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 622. Transcribed and submitted by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs