Husband of 1)Nannie Jane Smith Berger 2) Nannie Bettie Pullen Berger; Son of Samuel Casper and Hester Ann Roe (Berger) Berger (Note: His parents were first cousins and are buried in the Berger Cemetery at Berger Store, Toshes, VA)

Co.I,53rd Va.Inf.Regt.


Pvt., Company B, Montague's Battalion, Virginia Infantry, Chatham Grays


He already belonged to the Chatham or Pittsylvania Grays in which company he served two years. He was in the first battle that was fought in Virginia, which was Big Bethel. After serving two years in the war, Mr. Keen, a cousin to his wife, secured him a position at Chatham, Va. of issuing rations to soldier`s wives. He paid his substitute one thousand dollars. But the last year of the war no substitutes were allowed, so he had to serve another year. At one time he was on his horse four days and nights without anything to eat. In one battle a ball glanced his ear; another his hand, but didn`t brake the skin. The last battle that he was in was in Amelia Co., Va. All the soldiers were ordered to dismount except every fourth man, he was to hold the horses. He dismounted and the yankies rushed in to capture them, but he slipped under a Holly tree and stayed there until dark. The branches of the tree were so near the ground and thick that he was hid from them, although they walked near him many times that day. After dark he came from his hiding place, some negroes got some food for him. After eating he began to walk to-ward home. He walked all night, reached a preacher`s home somewhere in N. C. the next morning. They gave him food and a good bed to sleep in and mended his clothes which were badly torn. After he rested he went to a Railroad Station in N. C. and asked for a ticket to Danville. The agent refused to give him one. An old mountaineer said, "You give him a ticket. If you don`t, it won`t be good for you," so he gave him a ticket. When he got to Danville he heard that Lee had surrendered. He walked from there to his home on Pigg River in Pittsylvania Co. Someone had brought his horse home and said that they saw him killed. They crossed the river in a boat. When he called for someone to bring the boat, the cook was the first one to recognize his voice. She said,"That is Marse Pomp." The whole family ran to greet him and there was great rejoiceing. From exposure and not having the proper food to eat, He was sick and unable to work the first year after the war. The next two years he lived in the Hollow near Berger`s store and sold goods at Berger`s store and also manufactured tobacco. The next year he went back to his farm on Pigg river, and he and his brother Sam farmed there for four years. From there he went to Museville, Virginia, and sold goods for two years. Then to Callands and sold goods there four years. His wife died the first year that he lived at Callands. April 4, 1876 he married Nannie Betty Pullen. He had moved to Danville in January of that year. He and Mr. Oliver Dudley were partners in Buying tobacco, but on account of his health he stayed there only one year. He then rented his wife`s mother`s farm for four years. In the fall of 1880 he bought the farm on Stinking River and continued farming until he died April 19, 1915. In 1890 and 1891 he worked in a warehouse in Danville during the winter. In 1895 and 1896 he was a representative in Legislature from the fifth Congressional District .
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Obituary for Henry Clay Berger

On the morning of April 29, 1915, Bro. Henry Berger, generally known as "Pomp" fell asleep. He had been in failing health for three years, but the end was not thought so near until a few days before his death. The children were hastily summoned, all reaching his bedside before death came, but some too late to be recognized.

Mr. Berger was born 19th of July 1841, at Berger's Store in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and his long life was spent in the county of his birth.

In January 1861 he was married to Miss Nannie Jane Smith. Four children were given to this union. Mr. S. G. (Samuel Gallatin) Berger of Gretna, Virginia; Mr. H. C. (Henry Casper) Berger of South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Mr. A. S. (Alonzo Smith) Berger of Naurna, Campbell Co., VA., and a daughter (Mary Nannie Berger) who died in her eighteenth year.

April 4th, 1876, he was married to Miss Nannie Bettie Pullen who survives him. Nine children were born to this marriage. Messrs. J. D. (John Daniel) and Jacob Berger of Gretna, VA; D. J. (David Joseph) Berger of Blacksburg, VA, and Misses Christine, Sallie, Diana and Janie Berger of Gretna.

Mr. Berger was a courtly gentleman of ante-bellus days. He served his county during the Civil War as calvaryman under Col. Graham. His broad hospitality, gracious, genial manner made him a general favorite.

In 1896 he was elected to represent his county in the Legislature. His popularity is shown by the fact that not one vote was cast against him at his home precinct. He lived on a high plane, and following him are sons and daughters filling places of usefulness and honor.

Interment was made in the family burying ground near his home. A large crowd of friends and relatives gathered to do honor to his memory. Burial services was conducted by his life-long friend, Rev. A. F. Ramsey.

Poignant is the sorrow in the home, and deep is the sense of loss in the community when one like this is taken. But his seventy four years on earth betoken the harvest time; so loved ones, look not on death and the grave, but beyond to the fuller life of which this is only the preface - the beginning.