[1][2] Newberry attended Michigan Military Academy before graduating from Yale College's Sheffield Scientific School, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall in 1885.

After college Newberry became superintendent of construction, paymaster, general freight and passenger agent, and eventually manager of the Detroit, Bay City & Alpena Railway from 1885 to 1887.

[3] In 1893, Newberry joined with others to organize the Michigan State Naval Brigade, serving as landsman in 1895; lieutenant and navigator in 1897 and 1898.

He was commissioned lieutenant (junior grade) in the United States Navy in May 1898 and served on the USS Yosemite during the Spanish–American War.

He was replaced in the Senate by James J. Couzens, whose candidacy received the approval of then Governor Alexander Groesbeck.