James A. Berrian
Contributer: Charlott Wells Jones src#40


Though James Augustus Berrian ended up on the west coast, he was a part of the Berrian family of Peoria County, Illinois.  He was born in Binghamton, Broome County, New York to James Berrian and Sarah Reed on 7 June, 1828.  His father had migrated to Broome County, New York from probably Westchester County, New York.  Prior to his death on 15 April, 1848 James Berrian moved his family to Jubilee Township, in Peoria County.  He left his wife, Sarah, who was born about 1801 in Rhode Island with the family to finish raising.  She remained put and died after February of 1861.

James Augustus Berrian was their second son and grew to his adulthood in the Jubilee Township area.  However, gold was discovered in California and he decided to head west to seek his fortune.  Like so many others, he didn't find the mother lode he sought and returned to Illinois.

On 10 June 1852 he wedded Sarah B. Powell, the daughter of Thornton Powell , who had come from Virginia and his wife Julia.  

With Sarah at his side he followed the farming industry.  Two daughters were forn to them, Francis Elizabeth, born 2 April 1853 in Brimfield, later to become Mrs. Richard Huntley.  After a move to Mendota, Illinois a second daughter, Emma Mary would enter the world on 22 March 1858.  Emma would later marry Rev. Jonathan Wood.

Emma was not too old when Sarah died, probably around 1860, leaving James with two small daughters.  They were left in the care of family relatives and knowing he had to support his children, went to Chicago, Illinois where he became a conductor on the horse drawn trolley line.

Eventually he met a young school teacher, Imilda Leona Wendell, 11 years his
junior and they were married on 17 August 1865 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin by Rev. Comfort Waller.

Imilda had been the last child born to the two marriages of her father Jacob Wendell, which totaled 20, three dying infancy.  Her mother, Nancy Fox had also been married briefly before and had two children.  Imilda, who preferred the name Leona was born on 29 September 1840 at  Wilsie Hill, Warren, Herkimer County, New York.

Sometime after their marriage Emma went to live with them in Chicago.  Over the ensuing years they would reside in various places.  Their first daughter, Ada Louisa was born in Neillsville, Clark County, Wisconsin on 21 October 1866, to be joined on 21 January 1871 when they resided in Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois.  After the have relocated in Clitherall, Otter Tail County, their third child, George Arleigh joined the family.

Apparently things were either not going too well for the Berrian family or James just needed to move on.  He had been to the west and once again he decided to set out.  His older daughters Francis and Emma were given their choice of whether they wished to go, but Francis who was on her late teens opted to remain in Wisconsin.  Emma was probably left due to schooling.  Imilda Berrian put high value on education, boys and girls alike.  Emma did eventually re-join her family.

By train, James, Imilda, Ada, Jimmie and baby Arleigh set out for San Fransisco.  Upon arrival they they took a steam ship up the coast, into the Columbia River and Portland, Oregon.  James found that upriver beyond The Dalles, Oregon in Washington Territory there was lots of land and he set out in that direction.

They arrived in the newly being formed community of Goldendale, not knowing a soul and with no place to live.  He went to the general store of a man by the name of Thomas Johnson to inquire about a house.  Mr. Johnson took the entire Berrian family home with him to live with him and his family until housing could be found.  They eventually went to live in the home of Mr. Jenkins.  Mr. Jenkins, and elderly man eventually re-married a Mrs. Cram and the Jenkins' lived on the second story of the home and the Berrian's on the first floor.

Tragaedy would soon befall the Berrian's as little George Arleigh had contracted whooping cough on the trip and died after their arrival in Goldendale on 20 February 1874.  He is buried in the Columbus/Maryhill Community Cemetery.

Eventually the Berrian's took up a homestead east of Goldendale.  In spare time James would go up into the Simcoe Mountains and pan for gold.  He had the knowledge from his time in California and thought since there was gold he might do well.  He never found much of anything and in the end it caused him great pain and agony, eventually it is thought to have caused his death.  He started to become paralyzed to a degree in his legs.  Imilda took him to Portland to the best doctors of the day and the report was that his heavy working days must come to an end.  

James Berrian purchased 80 acres of land just below and west of the cemetary in what was then called Columbus, Washington, now Maryhill, Washington.  Beings there was no house on it he rented one from Mr. Presby in Columbus.  The family was still growing, with the birth of Lulu Jennie on 26 October 1875 (later to be Mrs. Edwin Hill of Durfur, Oregon), George Waller born 14 January 1880 in Columbus.

The growing family desperately needed a house, so Leona accepted a teaching position at a school up over the hills from Columbus called #6.  She rode daily back and forth to school to earn the money that was needed to build their home.

James' health progressingly got worse and on 15 May 1883 he passed away, leaving Leona with  the children, plus an infant, Howard Clarence who had been born  on 24 January 1883.  He was layed to rest in the cemetery by his small son George Arleigh.

Times were difficult for her, but James' nephew James Edwin Lucius Clark had come out from the mid-west to start a new life.  Lucius as he was known was the son of James' sister Mary Caroline Clark.  He pitched in to help the family and fell in love with James and Leona's eldest daughter, Ada.  In the fall after James' passing, Lucius and Ada were married in the Umatilla House, in The Dalles, Oregon.

Leona remained on the Columbus property for many years, supporting herself with canning fruit, which would eventually wind up in the Idaho gold fiends

When it became time for Leona to dispose of her holdings in Columbus, she spent a good deal of time with her daughters,  Ada Clark, who resided first in Biggs, Oregon just across the river from Columbus, later moving to Wasco, Oregon and finally settling permanently on a sizeable fruit ranch in Hood River, Oregon.  Leona also spent time with her other daughter Lulu  Hill in Dufur.  For a period of time she lived in Portland, where she owned a home near Reed College.

Eventually she spent a good share of her time in the Long Beach area where the Clark family wintered.  It was there that she passed away on 12 July 1933 and her ashes were later placed with her son, Howard's body, in the Inglewood Cemetery.

Her last words in this world were....."Oh James, you have come for me at last."
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James and Imilda Berrian were my great-great grandparents.  Their daughter Ada Louisa Berrian and James' nephew, James Edwin Lucius Clark were my great-grandparents.  Charlott Wells Jones src#40