1. Christian¹ Minier birth date unknown. Christian died 1 Oct 1888.⁽³⁶⁰²⁾

He married Marilla Stanton. Marilla died 19 December 1914 in Ft. D.A. Russell, WY.⁽³⁶⁰³⁾ In her later years she had lived with the Berrys, her daughter and granddaughters caring for her in her old age. The Miniers, originally Minners, had immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania, and later to New York State. Christian Minier served as a New York State Assemblyman. The family lived in Elmira, NY and also Caton where he was a farmer.

Christian Minier and Marilla Stanton had the following child:

2 i. Emily Ross² Minier was born in Caton, NY 14 Apr 1864.⁽³⁶⁰⁴⁾ Emily died 18 Feb 1945 in Palo Alto, California.⁽³⁶⁰⁵⁾ She had previously broken her hip in a fall and did not live thereafter. Her body was interred in Arlington, VA, Arlington National Cemetery.⁽³⁶⁰⁶⁾ She married Lucien Grant Berry in Caton, NY, 28 Oct 1886.⁽³⁶⁰⁷⁾ She may have been a distant cousin.

Lucien was born in Caton, NY 29 Nov 1863.⁽³⁶⁰⁸⁾ Lucien was the son of Samuel Spicer Berry and Olive Elizabeth Reed. Lucien died 31 Dec 1937 in Corning, NY.⁽³⁶⁰⁹⁾ A prayer service was conducted by Dr. Stuart at the Berry home, where Lucien lay casketed in his full dress uniform. After which the body was shipped to Washington, DC for the funeral and burial.

His body was interred in Arlington, VA, Arlington National Cemetery.⁽³⁶¹⁰⁾ A tombstone identical the the one at Arlington was placed in Corning's Hope Cemetery.

He graduated from high school in Corning, NY, 1878. School: Corning Free Academy.⁽³⁶¹¹⁾ He was an outstanding student.

Lucien graduated in West Point, NY, 1886. Institution: West Point.⁽³⁶¹²⁾ Family tradition has it that the congressional appointment to West Point for which Lucien applied was given to another man, but that he reversed the decision by confronting the Congressman with the fact that he had scored higher in the examination than had his rival. He entered West Point on 1 July 1882. While there, on 25 September 1885, his brother died in Corning, and on the first of October his mother also died. There after Lucien wore a black mourning band on the sleeve of his cadet uniform. He graduated ninth in his class. One of his classmates was John J. Persching, who was thereafter a lifelong friend. Lucien's military service number was 0107.

Lucien served in the military in Fort Preble, ME, 30 Sep 1886 to 15 Sep 1887.⁽³⁶¹³⁾ Lucien served in the military in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, Sep 1887 to 4 May 1889.⁽³⁶¹⁴⁾ Lucien served in the military 4 May 1889 to 4 Nov 1889.⁽³⁶¹⁵⁾ He was on sick leave.

Lucien served in the military in Ft. Monroe, VA, 4 Nov 1889.⁽³⁶¹⁶⁾ Lucien was a Army and Navy Club member in Washington, DC, 0.⁽³⁶¹⁷⁾ Lucien graduated 1892. Institution: Artillery school. Lucien received a military promotion 28 Nov 1892.⁽³⁶¹⁸⁾ He was promoted to First Lieutenant.

Lucien served in the military in West Point, NY, 5 Dec 1892 to 1896.⁽³⁶¹⁹⁾ He had been reassigned to the 4th U.S. Artillery. His actual station, however, was as an instructor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at West Point, from 1892 to 1896. It is said that while there he solved a previously unsolved mathematics problem.

Lucien served in the military in Fort McHenry, Maryland, after 1894.⁽³⁶²⁰⁾ During these years, as the large family moved form post to post, taking with them one or more servants (including a black nursemaid the children called "Mammy") and a pet or two (including a dog named "Shep"), they often returned to Corning, NY to see their families and to visit with friends. Occasionally they had family photographs taken there.

Their five daughters, the Berry girls, all of whom were attractive, became something of a phenomenon in the Army, giving rise to stories such as the one about an evening away from the post, on the return from which they were challenged by a new sentry who demanded a password. In response to the confident reply, "We're the Berrys," he is supposed to have replied, "I don't care if you are the cat's pajamas, you can't enter without the password". Lucien was a diligent father, who ensured that his daughters behaved with decorum. When a beau called in a carriage to take one of them for a drive, Lucien would appear as well to chaperon the couple, exasperating the young lady involved.

Lucien served in the military in Fort Meade, Maryland, 8 Mar 1898.⁽³⁶²¹⁾ He was transferred to the 7th U.S. Artillery with the advent of the Spanish-American War.

Lucien received a military promotion in Fort Meade, Maryland, 12 May 1898.⁽³⁶²²⁾ He was commissioned assistant Adjutant-General of U.S. volunteers, serving as Brigade Adjutant of General Garretson's Brigade. The only known photograph of this period shows him at Fort Meade, mounted, among a large staff, in fron of the 10th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Lucien served in the military in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1898.⁽³⁶²³⁾ He was sent to Cuba, but the surrender of Santiago having taken place before he could land, his brigade left with General Mile's forces for Puerto Rico.

Lucien served in the military in Puerto Rico, 21 Jul 1898.⁽³⁶²⁴⁾ They landed in Puerto Rico where, among a generally friendly population, there were only a few skirmishes. During the night of 12 August, news of a general armistice arrived.

Lucien served in the military in Camp McKenzie, Georgia, Sep 1898 to 29 May 1899.⁽³⁶²⁵⁾ After his brigade left Puerto Rico, they were stationed here.

He was released from active duty 31 May 1899.⁽³⁶²⁶⁾ He was discharged from the Volunteers.

Lucien served in the military in Fort Slocum, NY, 2 Jun 1899 to 4 Aug 1899.⁽³⁶²⁷⁾ He commanded a detachment of general service recruits.

Lucien served in the military in Fort Adams, Rhode Island, 5 Aug 1899 to 23 Aug 1900.⁽³⁶²⁸⁾ He was with a light battery.

Lucien served in the military in Philippines, 3 Sep 1900 to 2 Jul 1901.⁽³⁶²⁹⁾ On February 4, 1899, the head of the Philippine native government commenced an insurrection against the U.S. authorities by attacking Manilla. Emilio Aguinaldo had previously been an insurrectionary leader against the Spanish, who had bribed him into exile, but after the battle of Manila he had returned and, with the blessing of the Americans, formed a government and raised an army. Lucien was dispatched as a part of the force sent to oppose Aguinaldo, and on 3 September 1900, he was on his way as Quartermaster and Commissary aboard the Transport Frederica, arriving in the Philippine Islands on November 30, 1990. A number of military engagements had already occurred, and Aguinaldo had been forced to move his capital several times. From 1 December 1900 to 13 May 1901, Lucien served under General Frederick Funston with Battery C, 7th Artillery, at Albay Province. Also present in the Philippines was Thomas Watson Brown, who must then have been a new lieutenant. Shortly after his arrival, on 15 December 1900, Lucien was promoted to Captain of Artillery, commanding Battery C, 7th Artillery and, on Februrary 21, 1901 he was assigned to the 43rd Company of Coast Artillery. On 23 March 1901, Aguinaldo was captured at Palawon, Luzon; he took the oath of allegiance to the United States and retired to private life. From 14 May to 2 July, 1901 Lucien was aboard ship enroute to the United States.

Lucien served in the military 6 Jun 1901 to 5 Jun 1907.⁽³⁶³⁰⁾ He had been transferred to the 21st Battery, Field Artillery, and from 3 July to 10 August 1901, he was on detached service and leave. From 11 August 1901 to may 1905, his battery was at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. From May to 30 October 1905 it was at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but from 1 November 1905 to 27 June 1907 it was back at Fort Sheridan again.

Lucien received a military promotion 25 January 1907.⁽³⁶³¹⁾ Lucien served in the military in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 6 Jun 1907 to 16 Jul 1910.⁽³⁶³²⁾ He was assigned to the 3rd Field Artillery and went on leave from 28 June to 12 Jul 1907. On his return, on 15 July, he took command of the 1st Battalion at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he remained until 16 Jul 1910.

He received a Lieutenant Colonet military promotion 11 Mar 1911.⁽³⁶³³⁾ Lucien served in the military in Washington, DC, 16 Aug 1911 to 1 Jul 1912.⁽³⁶³⁴⁾ Where he was a student at the Army War College.

Lucien served in the military in Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming, 4 Sep 1912 to 23 Feb 1913.⁽³⁶³⁵⁾ He commanded the 4th Field Artillery Regiment returning to school as a student at the Field Artillery School of Fire, Fort Sill, Oklahoma from 12 Nov to 14 Dec 1912. On 17 Dec he returned to the regiment.

Lucien served in the military in Ft. D.A. Russell, WY, 28 Feb 1913 to 20 Apr 1914.⁽³⁶³⁶⁾ Lucien received a military promotion in Texas CityTexas, 16 Mar 1913.⁽³⁶³⁷⁾ Lucien served in the military in Veracruz, Mexico, 6 May to 26 Nov 1914.⁽³⁶³⁸⁾ On 21 Apr 1914 in response to a perceived slight by the Mexican government, a U.S. naval force seized Veracruz, Mexico. On 6 May, Lucien, now Colonel Berry, commanding the 4th U.S. Artillery Regiment, landed at Veracruz to garrison it. He enjoyed bathing on the beaches as a contemporary photograph illustrates. On 23 November the occupation ended, and on 26 November the regiment left.

Lucien served in the military in Ft. D.A. Russell, WY, Dec 1914 to 2 Sep 1915.⁽³⁶³⁹⁾ Lucien served in the military in El Paso, Texas, 24 Sep 1915 to 12 Mar 1916.⁽³⁶⁴⁰⁾ Brigadier General John J. Pershing was in command.

Lucien served in the military in Hawaii, 27 Apr to 3 Sep 1917.⁽³⁶⁴¹⁾ By now the ranking Field Artillery colonel in the Army, from 27 Apr to 5 May 1917 he was enroute to Hawaii and from 6 May to 5 August he was at Schofield Barracks with the 1st Field Artillery. He was on detached service in Honolulu when he returned to the mainland.

Lucien received a military promotion in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 5 Aug 1917.⁽³⁶⁴²⁾ The National Army was the entity established to fight the first World War, as distinct from the United States Army.

Lucien served in the military in Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, 16 Sep 1917 to 13 May 1918.⁽³⁶⁴³⁾ He commanded this camp while he formed and commanded the 60th Field Artillery Brigade of the 35th Division. It was made up of the 128th, 129th, and 130th Field Artillery Regiments, a trench mortar battery and an ammunition train. The regiments were National Guard units from Missouri (the 129th), Kansas, and Arkansas. The 129th contained two notable officers, Lieutenant Edward S. Garner, Jr., later a son-in-law of Lucien, and First Lieutenant Harry S. Truman, from who we know something of that period. (Contrary to family tradition, Truman never served on Lucien's brigade staff.)

Camp Doniphan, named after a militia officer in the Mexican War, was created at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for the purpose. A tent city on a flat prairie, it was a drab, unattractive place thick with soldiers, batteries, and airplanes, and out-of-bounds to women. There Lucien worked to turnthe brigade into a competent fighting unit. Harry Truman found out how hard he could be when, on 7 November 1917, packed and ready to go home, Truman waited for his regimental commander to secure lealvle for him. When Lucien refused to give it, Truman wrote Bess that "He's a hard-boiled cookie and sure loves to sit on a national guard officer. I think he's going to make artillerymen out of us though it work counts for anything. I'm off him, he's no friend ofmine, but I reckon it's a lot he cares. I have been ... downhearted ever since." But in fact, leave was scarce for the new officers.

The Guard included political appointees, who irritated Lucien by their continued polotical activities. Perhaps one of these was Truman. From beginning to end, Truman was terrified of him, and no wonder. As a Truman biographer descrbied him, Lucien was a "hard-bitten old Army martinet who, with his big moustache, looked like a figure out of a Frederick Remington painting," and his six-foot height only amplified that impression. On 15 January 1918m, Truman wrote, "General Berry told us yesterday that we would have to learn the drill regulations by heart and do several other impossible stunts." On 16 February, he wrote, "I went out to fire the other day along with the rest of the regiment's officers and by some hook or crook I was unlucky enough to observe more shots correctly than anyone else, and now I have to fire next time. I'm scared green because General Berry always east 'em alive after they fire. He's very expert at making a person shake in his boots."

When his battery commander submitted an efficiency report filled with praise of Harry and recommending promotion, Lucien sent it back with the comment that "No man can be that good." However, in the hour of greatest panic for Truman, he was examined for promotion on 22 February 1918, in a mess hall, by Lucien and three colonels. A few days earlier Truman had almost been set home because of his vision, and had had to talk his way through the crisis. On this occasion, after standing outside inthe cold long enough to imperil his health, he was called in and examined for an hour. He wrote Bess, "I think I failed miserably because General Berry was so gruff and discourteous in his questions that I forgot all I ever knew and couldn't answer him." As he recalled the incident in 1934, "his object was not find out what we knew, but how much we did not know. When we could answer, it displeased him. But when we couldn't, he'd rattle his false teeth, pull his handle-bar moustache, and stalk up and down the room yelling at us, 'Ah, you don't know do you? I thought you were just ignorant rookies! Now you aspire to be officers and generals, sure enough, by becoming captains in the United States Army. It will be a disaster to the country to let you command men.' " Truman was misled in thinking that Lucien hated all Guard officers. The result of the examination was that he recommended Truman for promotion, which was acted upon when the brigade was in France: General Berry must have recognized him for the able officer that he was, perhaps because of Truman's efficiency and dedication as regimental canteen officer. Several weeks later, the sugject of promotions from second to first lieutenant arose. Asked by a Major Waring (of the Missouri guard) if the Guardsmen were expected to know as much as regulars, Lucien answered yes. But when the major said that in that case he would fail them all, the Genral "told him to fix up any kind of exam he saw fit." Truman also observed that Lucien was "fond of privates and corporals" and that he would not let anyone outside of his outfit find fault with any of his officers or men. The most telling comment came in 1938 when Truman and a friend form the 60th named Snyder were drilling as reserve officers, teaching young men the secrets of the Field Artillery. Snyder observed, "We are now the General Berrys of our time, I guess." Lucien had died six months earlier, and perhaps they knew it.

Lucien served in the military in Europe, 14 May 1918 to 19 Apr 1919.⁽³⁶⁴⁴⁾ The formation of the brigade completed, from 14 May to 18 May 1918, Lucien was at Camp Albert L. Mills, New York, awaiting transport. On the 18th the brigade sailed for France. In JJune the brigade was in Angers, France, equipping with guns, horses, and materiel, and from 7 Jul to 31 Jul it was a Coetquidan training. It depended on horses both as mounts and as drayage for the guns. During Lucien's deployment with the American Expeditionary Forces, Emily lived with some or perhaps all of her daughters in Washington, D.C., including the period of the great influenza epidemic. The brigade joined the 35th Division in the Vosges Mountains, Gerardmer Sector, chiefly in the defense. During the St. Mihiel operation, the brigade was held in reserve at Nancy. When that attack was abandoned, the brigade moved rapidly by night marches to the Meuse-Argonne sector, where Lucien was Acting Chief of Artillery of the 35th Division, with one, later ltwo, regiments and two battalions of French artillery attached to his brigade. Perhaps these were the "Napoleon" cannon which Truman mentioned. The French ran them up ramps for firing, after which they recoiled down the ramps for reloading. In this sector, the German troops were in a thoroughly prepared, deep network of defensive positions which were thought to be impenetrable. However, the fresh American troops were able to force their way through it, changing the relative advantage ofthe opposing forces. The strong advance of the 35th Division put it ahead of an adjacent division, allowing it to advance: on the 26, 27, and 28th of September the division gained twelve kilometers against two, and later three, Prussian Guard divisions. This advance demoralized the German army, leading the German General Staff to conclude that the war was lost. After the withdrawal of the division, the brigade remained in the sector until 3 October 1918 when it rejoined the division in the Sommedieu sector east of Verdun. After the division was relieved, the brigade remained to support the attack of the 81st Division on the 9, 10, and 11th of November. On 11 November it was ordered to cease fire at 11:30a a.m. and the Armistice went into effect at noon. The artillery brigade had taken many casualties, but had fewer losses from disease than had any comparable unit. After the Armistice, the brigade remained in this sector until January, 1919. It was then billeted in the Bar-le-Duc and Le Mans areas, where Pershing and the British Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) inspected it. Sometime during this period Lucien was awarded the Croix de Guerre, but he said, he mailed it back because the French were passing it out indiscriminately in field hospitals. After considerable delay, on 19 April the brigade embarked from Brest for the United States aboard the former German liner Zeppelin, arriving in New York on 19 April 1919.

Lucien served in the military in Camp Grant, Illinois, 19 Apr 1919 to 1 Sep 1920.⁽³⁶⁴⁵⁾ Lucien commanded the 60th Field Artillery Brigade. He was returned to the rank of colonel U.S. Army on 125 June 1919.

Lucien was a Corning City Club member in Corning, NY.⁽³⁶⁴⁶⁾ Lucien was a Rotary Club member in Corning, NY.⁽³⁶⁴⁷⁾ Lucien was listed as a leader of a group in Corning, NY.⁽³⁶⁴⁸⁾ He was an examiner in horsemanship.

Lucien retired from the military in Camp Grand, Illinois, 16 June 1921.⁽³⁶⁴⁹⁾ For disability.

He resided in Corning, New York after 1921.⁽³⁶⁵⁰⁾ In their retirement, Lucien and Emily made their home in Corning, New York, where they built a three-story wooden house of Lucien's design (very much on the plan of army quarters) on the Hayt plot at 210 Delevan Avenue. The house was designed "to accomodate his many children and grandchildren," as the Corning Evening Leader put it. It was a large wooden structure on very large grounds, with a cellar and cellar garage. On the first floor a vestibule and entry hall containing (after 1930) Lucien's oil portrait and two small hanging oriental tapestries, a kitchen complex with a small utility porch, a large dining room, a living room, a side porch, and an office behind the living room. The living room had a black horsehair settee with congenital prickles that caused an occupant to feel, after a while, as though his nether region had been sandpapered, and several antique lounging or occasional chairs. Lucien had his own special "card-playing" chair, near which was a formidable tuned-radio-frequency receiver that could only be operated by a compentent engineer (but which was later mercifully replaced by a superheterodyne set which almost anyone could tune).

On the second floor there was a master bedroom suite, with a sitting room, a bedroom, and a bath, two bedrooms and another bath, and a bedroom for a servant. On this third, there were four bedrooms, a bath, and a storage room, and above those an attic reached by a stairway. The servant's room was often occupied by a farmgirl, who helped around the house and obeyed strict conduct rules, until she married or left. At other times there were servants from a small black shanty town nearby, who seem to have immigrated from the South (and were distinct from the city's rather small black citizenry). There were day workers only. The home telephone number was "Corning 1500", which, because it was easy to remember, tortured the local taxicab company with envy. That firm waited patiently for the Berrys to give it up. The house was situated in the highest part of Corning, overlooking the Chemung River Valley, in which a large part of the city was located, and facing a hill in the distance on which a cross was burned on one occasion, though there was no other evidence ofKlan activity in the area. In the back and to one side of the house, Lucien cultivated a garden containing green and red grapes and quinces. During prohibition, Lucien made wine of the grapes and for years Emily put up especially delicious quincy jelly. Father back and to the other side, within easy walking distance, was Spencer Hill, wooded and featuring on the near side a large, abandoned, and alluring stone quarry, where one could find fossilized fish in the stony debris.

He received a Brigadier-General, Retired military promotion in Washington, DC, 21 Jun 1930. Lucien was honored in Corning, NY, 28 Oct 1936.⁽³⁶⁵¹⁾ There was a particularly large reunion on the Berry's Golden Wedding Anniversary. A commemorative dinner was held at the Baron Steuben Hotel during which Nita Berry, with reference to Sue Sherwood, who was present, gave a long disquisition on the practice of the Nazis of sending young women to camps to make babies for the Fatherland. (See Lucien Grant Berry for the continuation of this line.) She was active in the Daughters of the American REvolution, as were her daughters.

Emily was 4-feet 11-inches tall.

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