Berry Paul
April 25, 1870
October 14, 1879
Son of T.N. and Balsie Berry
Died at age 9. Born in Alabama, he, his parents and 2 siblings, Willie Washington and Mary came to Texas in 1872 from Alabama. They settled in Johnson County first, then two years later, the family moved to Mills County and settled into a log cabin near Simms Creek.
Paul's shooting death was a case of mistaken identity, as was written in the book "Mills County, The Way It Was", recounted by his brother Willie's granddaugher:
"One morning in October of 1879, Tom Berry hooked his team to his wagon and prepared for a trip to Waxahachie to buy supplies for the winter. It was his custom to go there twice each year. Usually some menfolk stayed home to protect the women and children, and on this trip Tom Berry traveled alone. The trip took about seven days to complete.
In the year 1879, the mobs were active in all communities of Mills County, and when a new settler came to this area he was soon felt out to see what kind of stand he would take as far as the mobs were concerned. (Fence cutting over cattle ranging had caused these mobs comprised of large cattle ranchers to form.)
When Tom Berry left his log cabin that morning in October, his two sons, Willie, age 12, and Paul, aged 9, were playing in a nearby ditch. He was always to remember that scene He told his wife afterwards that he felt very apprehensive as he drove away.
On the second morning after the father's departure, the boys begged their mother to permit them to go to Center City, 7 miles away, to get the mail. She was reluctant to let them go, but finally relented, and the two boys rode away.
Somone else was out on that fatal morning. He was waiting for a member of the mob to come his way, and was hiding in ambush. The two boys were over half way home when suddenly a shot rang out. Paul, riding behind Willie, was shot in the chest area. He lived long enough to speak a few words."
She goes on to say that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Paul was buried beside his young sister, Mary, who was the first person to be buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
April 25, 1870
October 14, 1879
Son of T.N. and Balsie Berry
Died at age 9. Born in Alabama, he, his parents and 2 siblings, Willie Washington and Mary came to Texas in 1872 from Alabama. They settled in Johnson County first, then two years later, the family moved to Mills County and settled into a log cabin near Simms Creek.
Paul's shooting death was a case of mistaken identity, as was written in the book "Mills County, The Way It Was", recounted by his brother Willie's granddaugher:
"One morning in October of 1879, Tom Berry hooked his team to his wagon and prepared for a trip to Waxahachie to buy supplies for the winter. It was his custom to go there twice each year. Usually some menfolk stayed home to protect the women and children, and on this trip Tom Berry traveled alone. The trip took about seven days to complete.
In the year 1879, the mobs were active in all communities of Mills County, and when a new settler came to this area he was soon felt out to see what kind of stand he would take as far as the mobs were concerned. (Fence cutting over cattle ranging had caused these mobs comprised of large cattle ranchers to form.)
When Tom Berry left his log cabin that morning in October, his two sons, Willie, age 12, and Paul, aged 9, were playing in a nearby ditch. He was always to remember that scene He told his wife afterwards that he felt very apprehensive as he drove away.
On the second morning after the father's departure, the boys begged their mother to permit them to go to Center City, 7 miles away, to get the mail. She was reluctant to let them go, but finally relented, and the two boys rode away.
Somone else was out on that fatal morning. He was waiting for a member of the mob to come his way, and was hiding in ambush. The two boys were over half way home when suddenly a shot rang out. Paul, riding behind Willie, was shot in the chest area. He lived long enough to speak a few words."
She goes on to say that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Paul was buried beside his young sister, Mary, who was the first person to be buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
Berry Paul
April 25, 1870
October 14, 1879
Son of T.N. and Balsie Berry
Died at age 9. Born in Alabama, he, his parents and 2 siblings, Willie Washington and Mary came to Texas in 1872 from Alabama. They settled in Johnson County first, then two years later, the family moved to Mills County and settled into a log cabin near Simms Creek.
Paul's shooting death was a case of mistaken identity, as was written in the book "Mills County, The Way It Was", recounted by his brother Willie's granddaugher:
"One morning in October of 1879, Tom Berry hooked his team to his wagon and prepared for a trip to Waxahachie to buy supplies for the winter. It was his custom to go there twice each year. Usually some menfolk stayed home to protect the women and children, and on this trip Tom Berry traveled alone. The trip took about seven days to complete.
In the year 1879, the mobs were active in all communities of Mills County, and when a new settler came to this area he was soon felt out to see what kind of stand he would take as far as the mobs were concerned. (Fence cutting over cattle ranging had caused these mobs comprised of large cattle ranchers to form.)
When Tom Berry left his log cabin that morning in October, his two sons, Willie, age 12, and Paul, aged 9, were playing in a nearby ditch. He was always to remember that scene He told his wife afterwards that he felt very apprehensive as he drove away.
On the second morning after the father's departure, the boys begged their mother to permit them to go to Center City, 7 miles away, to get the mail. She was reluctant to let them go, but finally relented, and the two boys rode away.
Somone else was out on that fatal morning. He was waiting for a member of the mob to come his way, and was hiding in ambush. The two boys were over half way home when suddenly a shot rang out. Paul, riding behind Willie, was shot in the chest area. He lived long enough to speak a few words."
She goes on to say that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Paul was buried beside his young sister, Mary, who was the first person to be buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
April 25, 1870
October 14, 1879
Son of T.N. and Balsie Berry
Died at age 9. Born in Alabama, he, his parents and 2 siblings, Willie Washington and Mary came to Texas in 1872 from Alabama. They settled in Johnson County first, then two years later, the family moved to Mills County and settled into a log cabin near Simms Creek.
Paul's shooting death was a case of mistaken identity, as was written in the book "Mills County, The Way It Was", recounted by his brother Willie's granddaugher:
"One morning in October of 1879, Tom Berry hooked his team to his wagon and prepared for a trip to Waxahachie to buy supplies for the winter. It was his custom to go there twice each year. Usually some menfolk stayed home to protect the women and children, and on this trip Tom Berry traveled alone. The trip took about seven days to complete.
In the year 1879, the mobs were active in all communities of Mills County, and when a new settler came to this area he was soon felt out to see what kind of stand he would take as far as the mobs were concerned. (Fence cutting over cattle ranging had caused these mobs comprised of large cattle ranchers to form.)
When Tom Berry left his log cabin that morning in October, his two sons, Willie, age 12, and Paul, aged 9, were playing in a nearby ditch. He was always to remember that scene He told his wife afterwards that he felt very apprehensive as he drove away.
On the second morning after the father's departure, the boys begged their mother to permit them to go to Center City, 7 miles away, to get the mail. She was reluctant to let them go, but finally relented, and the two boys rode away.
Somone else was out on that fatal morning. He was waiting for a member of the mob to come his way, and was hiding in ambush. The two boys were over half way home when suddenly a shot rang out. Paul, riding behind Willie, was shot in the chest area. He lived long enough to speak a few words."
She goes on to say that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Paul was buried beside his young sister, Mary, who was the first person to be buried in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
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