Dr. Newberry, the successor of Dr. Vertrees as assistant surgeon of the Sixth Regiment, was born near Slick Rock, Metcalfe County, Ky., July 7th, 1833. His  boyhood was spent on his father's farm, with meager educational advantages; but by application to books and by his own efforts to meet the expenses of schools he educated himself in the ordinary branches, and took also the college course necessary to fit him for entering upon the practice of medicine and surgery.

He had located at Hiseville, and made an excellent beginning in his chosen profession before the war began. Then he earnestly and zealously espoused the cause of the Confederacy. He enlisted as a private of Co. F, Sixth Regiment, but was, almost immediately after the organization of the company, given charge of a number of the sick of his regiment, who had been placed for attention at the houses of John Gorin and others, on Jennings Creek, below Bowling Green. He here won the entire confidence of officers and men who had hitherto been strangers to him, and was thereafter almost constantly engaged in the medical department. His fidelity and patient attention, his uniform courtesy and kindness in this capacity, won, in a singular degree, the warm approval of all with whom he was associated. Though advanced only one course of lectures, yet, by hard study and careful observation, he was enabled to fill with honor and success his responsible station.

During the battle of Shiloh he was exposed both days to the fire of the enemy, assisting the wounded, either on or near the line where they fell, and directing their removal, and discharged his trust with conspicuous courage as well as skill. At Stone River, he remained on the field four days, at the end of which time he was relieved, and ordered to report for duty in Dr. Scott s hospital, in town. This was the only time during the war in which he was in field hospital during an engagement being generally at the front, as was the case at Shiloh. He was present on every battlefield of his command sometimes in the trenches with it prepared to render surgical assistance. Three different times, even before he had been promoted, he served in hospital, after engagements were over, as assistant surgeon, in charge of brigade sick and wounded.

At the close of the war he bore with him to his home the esteem of his fellow-soldiers, and a studious-experience qualification to introduce him to an honorable practice of his profession. He completed his course of lectures, and graduated at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the winter of 1865-6, and, returning to Hiseville, reentered upon a professional career, under auspices rendered as favorable as any young physician ever enjoyed, by his own previous manly struggle to overcome difficulties and achieve distinction in the paths of usefulness, and by a moral and Christian character wholly above reproach.

He soon built up a large and lucrative practice, and became recognized as one of the most skillful surgeons in the State. He has probably done more successful work of that kind than any other practitioner in that region of country. Uniformly a close student, he keeps abreast of the times in all that relates to his calling; has acquired a valuable estate; has rejected opportunities for political preferment that he might the better devote himself to his profession and the immediate care of his family; and reared and educated four children, the oversight and education of whom have for about twelve years devolved wholly upon him, his wife having died in 1886.

He became a member of the Baptist Church when a very young man, and has led a thoroughly consistent Christian life. He was admitted to membership in the Graniteville (S. C.) Lodge, A. F. and A.M., in 1865, while a detachment of the Kentucky Brigade was stationed there, and has for twenty-one years been a working Mason in his home lodge.