as well as the privilege of every American citizen to exercise his right of franchise in support of the measures which he deems will prove of greatest good. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as trustee, while Mrs. Berry is a teacher and earnest worker in the Sunday school. Mr. Berry belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in the blue lodge at Pleasant Hill and in the chapter at Pittsfield. He is a past master of the lodge, and has represented the local organization in the grand lodge of the state at several sessions. His good qualities are many, and have gained him favorable regard with those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. Through many years he has been an interested witness of the growth and development of the county, and is classed with the substantial farmers and influential men of Pleasant Hill township. His integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his career, and his business capacity is manifest in his capable management of his large farming interests. The consensus of public opinion concerning Mr. Berry is favorable, and that his entire career is worthy of respect is indicated by the fact he is best liked where best known.                                                          ______________                                                    ROBERT  BONIFIELS        Robert Bonifield, interested in general farming and stock-raising, is a native of Barry township born on the 6th of April, 1861, his parents being Mareen and Elizabeth (Hampton) Bonifield. The father was born in Kentucky, July 31, 1827, but spent the greater part of his life in Pike county, whither he came with his parents in 1843, the family home being established near the village of Kinderhook, where the paternal grandfather of our subject died. The maternal grandfather, Martin Hampton, came to Pike county from Ireland, at an early day in the settlement of this part of the state, and his daughter Eliabeth was born here on the 21st of October, 1834. Her girlhood days were spent amid pioneer surroundings, and she was carefully trained to the labors of the household, as were all girls in those times. On reaching early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Mareen Bonifield, who provided for his family by following agricultural pursuits; and by the careful control of his business interests he prospered, becoming owner of more than six hundred acres of valuable lad. He had had no educational privileges whatever, and could not read nor write; but he possessed much native intelligence and keen sagacity, and displayed excellent business qualification in the management of his affairs. He voted with the republican party, taking some interest in politics; and held membership in the Kinderhook lodge, No. 353, A. F. & A. M. His many admirable qualities and the success which he accomplished in the face of seemingly insurmountable difficulties, won him the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He died in April, 1896, having for many years survived his wife, who passed away August 21, 1873. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living, namely: Robert; John, who resides near his elder brother; and Mrs. Matilda Lewton, who is also living in the same neighborhood. It was in this same locality that the father had his farm, which was rich bottom land.      In his boyhood days Robert Bonifield acquired the usual country-school education, and when a young man of twenty years, he started out in life on his own account, and has since given his attention to farming. He first went to Macon county, Missouri, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a year on land owned by his father. He made the first purchase of land in 1897, becoming the owner of one hundred and forty acres, of which he still has one hundred and seventeen acres. His wife also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Kansas which she rents. Her farm is well improved, having good buildings upon it, while the fields have been carefully tilled. The home property of Mr. Bonifield in Barry township is also well developed and is lacking in none of the accessories of the model farm of the twentieth century. Mr. Bonifield is also a railroad contractor and has done considerable work in railroad grading, usually keeping several teams for this purpose. At the same time he carries on the work of the fields, and also raises stock upon the home farm, and in both branches of his