Scott County, Minnesota Biographies

Berrisford, Thomas Sr. Thomas Berrisford, Sr. was born December 17, 1813, in Staffordshire, England. His father was a dairyman and carried on an extensive butter and cheese business. Thomas's education was obtained at a private school and completed at boarding school. In this part of England a young man receiving such an education as this was considered very fortunate and expected to fill almost any calling in life. On his return from school, Thomas assisted his father in the dairy business, and under his guidance became very proficient at this work. After his marriage, which occurred April 24, 1837, to Miss Ann Ford of Long Acres, Staffordshire, Mr. Berrisford rented a house and a small tract of land, known as "the Moss Beds," where he continued the dairy business for years. After this, being of an ambitious turn of mind, Mr. Berrisford rented a large tract of land called Fradswell Farm, where he engaged in stock raising and the cultivation of small grain. This undertaking, however, proved disastrous. Disease broke out amongst his stock; the fatal distemper, then prevalent, carried off sixteen of his best cows in one year. This with the failure of the grain crop so crippled Mr. Berrisford's finances that when rent day arrived the necessary funds could not be obtained, and, according to the law of the country, the bailiff took possession of the farm and all it contained, and Thomas Berrisford and his family were sent adrift on the world. Driven frantic by the loss of everything in his possession, Mr. Berrisford determined to make a fresh start in life by going to America, where a brother, William and three sisters had gone four years previous. They had sent back glowing reports of the new world and urgent entreaties for him to follow, so on the first day of March 1856, Mr. Berrisford and family set sail on the sailing vessel Lucy Thompson for America. They landed in New York on the 1st of April and went directly to Credit River township, Scott County, Minnesota, where his relations had settled. Here he preempted 16o acres of land and in time engaged in general merchandise and country produce business. He was much esteemed by his neighbors, and held the office of justice of the peace and town assessor for a number of years. Mr. Berrisford in his youth was a convert to the Methodist church and a firm believer in the teachings of John Wesley. When a young man he was known as a local preacher, and spent much time in propounding the doctrines of his church to others. He died on October 1, 1873. It has truthfully been said of him that, "with kindness to all and malice to none he never had an enemy." Thomas Berrisford is buried at Hamilton Station, in the Protestant cemetery, by the side of his wife, who died March 13, 1866. Of this union twelve children were born, six of whom are now living, viz.: Ann, widow of Wm. B. Bandy, who resides at Jordan, Minn.; John and Enoch F. of St. Paul, Edwin of Watson, N. D.; Sarah E., wife of Frank Coghill of Jordan, Minn., and Paul J. of St. Paul. [Minnesota Territorial Pioneers - Biographical Sketches of Territorial Pioneers - Contributed by Jo Ann Scott]

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