Ulysses Henry Berney was born Nov. 14, 1862, at Vers chez Grosjean in La Vallee de Joux, Vaud, Switzerland. He came to this country in 1881 at the age of 19. He and Anna Lousie Rochat were married in Walla Walla, Wash. in 1887 where he died Nov. 19, 1932.

U. H. and four cousins homesteaded in Bickleton, Wash. U. H. filed his claim and set fence posts on his 21st birthday (1883). In 1900 U. H. and Anna, with their first two children, Alice and Lillian, moved to Walla Walla. In 1893 U. H. and cousin John Thonney co-founded the Walla Walla Produce Co., growers and wholesale shippers of fruits and vegetables.

U. H. and Anna had 9 children, six of which lived to good ages. From the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Feb. 11, 1962. "Berney PTA Will Be Observing Golden Anniversary: Ideals Are Unchanged In Schools"

Mr. Berney was chairman of the former Walla Walla County School district No. 5 for more than 25 years, donated land to the school for a play field and sent his six children to the school ... he also gave the school the large bell still in the belfry.

At some point, Mr. Berney attended the PPIE and took quite a collection of photographs -- some of which are shown here.