# Charles H. Berry *American politician and jurist; first Minnesota Attorney General after statehood* Charles Henry Berry (September 12, 1823 – August 21, 1900), also called C. H. Berry, was an American politician and jurist. He was the first person to hold the office of [[Minnesota Attorney General]] after [[Minnesota]] became a state, and he was among the last justices of the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court.[^1] He won the attorney general's office as a Democrat in 1857 and held it from May 24, 1858, to January 1860.[^2] Berry lived in Winona from 1855. He later sat in the [[Minnesota Senate]] from 1874 to 1876 and was resident director of Winona State Normal School from 1885 to 1887.[^2] President Grover Cleveland nominated him to the Idaho territorial bench in 1888. He stayed on that court until Idaho's state supreme court justices were elected in October 1890.[^2] ## Biography Berry was born in Westerly, Rhode Island. His parents were Samuel Foster and Lucy (née Stanton) Berry. At age four he relocated to Caton, New York. In 1838 he went to Maine, New York, to study at an academy.[^2] From 1843 to 1846 he was a student at Canandaigua Academy. He then read law with Elbridge G. Lapham and gained admission to the bar in 1848. He kept a law practice in Corning, New York, until 1855. In 1850, in Corning, he wed Frances Eliza Hubbell, and the couple had one daughter.[^2] In 1855 Berry settled in Winona, then part of [[Minnesota Territory]]. Running as a Democrat, he won election in 1857 as the new state's first attorney general. He held the post from May 24, 1858, until January 1860. From 1874 to 1876 he was a member of the Minnesota Senate.[^2] The Wikipedia account describes Berry as instrumental in founding Winona State Normal School. He was the school's resident director between 1885 and 1887.[^2] Cleveland put Berry forward on July 9, 1888, for an associate justiceship on the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court. The Senate gave its confirmation ten days afterward. When Idaho became a state, the Idaho Constitution kept him on the bench until state supreme court justices were chosen by election in October 1890.[^2] Berry died on August 21, 1900, in Winona.[^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Charles Henry Berry, also called C. H. Berry, was an American politician and jurist.[^1] ### What - He was the first Minnesota Attorney General after statehood.[^1] - He was a member of the Minnesota Senate.[^2] ### When - He was elected as a Democrat in 1857 and served as attorney general from May 24, 1858, to January 1860.[^2] - He was a state senator from 1874 to 1876.[^2] - He was resident director of Winona State Normal School from 1885 to 1887.[^2] - He was nominated to the Idaho Territorial Supreme Court on July 9, 1888, and confirmed ten days later.[^2] - He died on August 21, 1900.[^2] ### Where - He was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, and practiced law in Corning, New York.[^2] - He moved to Winona, Minnesota Territory, in 1855, and he died in Winona.[^2] ### How - He was admitted to the bar in 1848 after reading law with Elbridge G. Lapham.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles H. Berry*, lead section (revision 1377903301; retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes Berry's name, dates, and identification as the first Minnesota Attorney General after statehood and one of the last Idaho Territorial Supreme Court justices. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Berry [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Charles H. Berry*, "Biography" section (revision 1377903301; retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes Berry's birth, family, schooling, bar admission, marriage, move to Winona, attorney general election and term, state senate service, Winona State Normal School role, Idaho appointment, confirmation and tenure, and death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Berry