Ellis Yarnal Berry
Encyclopedia
Ellis Yarnall Berry was an attorney, newspaper
publisher and politician, elected to the United States House of Representatives
.
, and graduated from Philip High School in Philip, South Dakota
.
He was a student at Morningside College
from 1920 through 1922. He transferred to the University of South Dakota
, where he completed his undergraduate work and studied law, graduating with a law degree in 1927. He was admitted to the bar that same year.
; two years later, he moved to McLaughlin
. He was elected as state's attorney, probate court judge for Corson County, and mayor of McLaughlin. He served as the publisher of the newspaper Mclaughlin Messenger beginning in 1938. He was editor of the State Bar Association Journal from 1938 through 1950.
In 1950, Berry was elected as a Republican
to the United States House of Representatives
, and reelected nine consecutive times, retiring in 1971. Beginning in 1952, he also published the McIntosh News and Morristown World.
After retiring from Congress, Berry he settled in Rapid City, South Dakota
. He lived there until his death in 1999.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
publisher and politician, elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Early life and education
Berry was born in Larchwood, IowaLarchwood, Iowa
Larchwood is a city in Lyon County, Iowa, United States. The population was 788 at the 2000 census. Its main employer is the Novartis Animal Vaccines plant located southwest of the city.-History:...
, and graduated from Philip High School in Philip, South Dakota
Philip, South Dakota
Philip is a city in Haakon County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 779 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Haakon County.-Geography:Philip is located at ....
.
He was a student at Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
from 1920 through 1922. He transferred to the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
, where he completed his undergraduate work and studied law, graduating with a law degree in 1927. He was admitted to the bar that same year.
Career
Berry started his law practice in Kennebec, South DakotaKennebec, South Dakota
Kennebec is a town in Lyman County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 240 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lyman County.-Geography:Kennebec is located at ....
; two years later, he moved to McLaughlin
McLaughlin, South Dakota
McLaughlin is a city in Corson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 663 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.-History:...
. He was elected as state's attorney, probate court judge for Corson County, and mayor of McLaughlin. He served as the publisher of the newspaper Mclaughlin Messenger beginning in 1938. He was editor of the State Bar Association Journal from 1938 through 1950.
Politics
Berry was elected to the South Dakota State Senate from 1938 through 1942, a total of two terms.In 1950, Berry was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and reelected nine consecutive times, retiring in 1971. Beginning in 1952, he also published the McIntosh News and Morristown World.
After retiring from Congress, Berry he settled in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. He lived there until his death in 1999.
Legacy and honors
- After retiring from Congress in 1971, he donated his papers to Black Hills State UniversityBlack Hills State UniversityBlack Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 5,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton,...
. The Berry Collection is housed at the E. Y. Berry Library-Learning Center of Black Hills State University and consists of more than 500 boxes of manuscript materials. - BHSU's Library-Learning Center is named for Congressman Berry.