Berryhill, Eugene A.

The Berryhill family traces its roots in the United States back to colonial days, boasting a proud Scotch ancestry and a legacy of service in the Revolutionary War. Orlando DeKalb Berryhill, the father of Eugene, moved from Missouri to California in 1875 as a determined teenager with few resources. He eventually settled in the San Joaquin Valley, where he spent fifteen years in grain raising before successfully entering the region emerging raisin industry. Alongside his wife, Angelina Myers, he established a substantial agricultural footprint in Fresno County, while two of their sons later demonstrated family patriotism by serving in the United States Army Aviation Corps in France.

Eugene A. Berryhill, born on October 15, 1884, on his father Fresno County ranch, grew up attending local public schools in the surrounding districts. He dedicated his professional life to ranching, ultimately taking ownership of the historic family property located southwest of Sanger. In 1906, he married Georgia Madsen, and together they raised four children while earning a high standing within their local community. As an enterprising rancher, he further supported the regional economy through his involvement as a stockholder in the California Associated Raisin Company.