# John M. Berry (Minnesota politician) *American politician and jurist (1827–1887) who served in the Minnesota Territorial House, the Minnesota State Senate and the Minnesota Supreme Court* John McDonogh Berry (September 18, 1827 – November 8, 1887) was a Minnesota legislator and a justice of the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]]. He sat on that court from 1865 until he died in 1887.[^1] Berry was a native of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. He was educated at Phillips Academy and earned a bachelor's degree at Yale University.[^1] After reading law, he joined the New Hampshire bar in 1850.[^1] Berry settled in Lanesboro, [[Minnesota Territory]], in 1853, and two years later, in 1855, he relocated to Faribault, [[Minnesota]].[^1] He was a member of the territorial House of Representatives in 1857 and held a seat in the Minnesota State Senate in 1863 and 1864.[^1] His tenure on the state's high court began in 1865. In 1879 he moved his residence to [[Minneapolis]], where he was living at the time of his death.[^1] ## Death Berry died at home on the morning of November 8, 1887.[^1] The cause was an illness described as "creeping paralysis", which the cited account identifies as likely Guillain-Barre syndrome.[^1] He was interred at [[Lakewood Cemetery]] before family and friends. Those present included then-[[governor]] [[Andrew Ryan McGill]], Judge [[George B. Young]], and [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] [[Hans Mattson]].[^1] Both the Minnesota Supreme Court and the state capitol were closed on the day of the services.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - John McDonogh Berry was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire, on September 18, 1827.[^1] - Governor Andrew Ryan McGill, Judge George B. Young and Secretary of State Hans Mattson were among those present at his burial.[^1] ### When - 1850: admitted to the New Hampshire bar.[^1] - 1853: moved to Lanesboro, Minnesota Territory. 1855: moved to Faribault. 1879: moved to Minneapolis.[^1] - 1857: member of the Minnesota Territorial House of Representatives.[^1] - 1863 and 1864: member of the Minnesota State Senate.[^1] - 1865 to 1887: justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court.[^1] - November 8, 1887: died.[^1] ### Where - Berry was born in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. He later lived in Lanesboro, Minnesota Territory; in Faribault, Minnesota; and in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[^1] - He died at his home in Minneapolis and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *John M. Berry (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1373155339, retrieved 2026-10-26) — biographical summary of Berry's education, bar admission, territorial and state legislative service, Minnesota Supreme Court tenure, death and burial. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Berry_(Minnesota_politician)