Herman BERG

Biography


HERMAN BERG.

Probably no citizen of Benton county, Minnesota, has a more thorough appreciation of the needs of his community and takes a more active part in promoting the welfare and growth of his home town and county than the gentleman above named. Mr. Berg has been identified with the financial interests of that locality many years, and he has gained a host of friends and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his fellowmen. His home is in Sauk Rapids, where he is engaged in the real estate business. He operates an extensive farm, and is one of the substantial businessmen of that city.

Our subject was born in Germany, July 12, 1844. His father, Edward Berg, was born in Germany, April 5, 1817, and died September 3, 1898. The mother of our subject, Minna (Dicko) Berg, was born in Germany, July 7, 1807, and died in 1870. Herman Berg was reared in a small town in his native land and received a High School education. At the age of twenty-two years he came to America and went direct to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was engaged in clerking in the hardware business and later traveled selling hardware. In 1881 he came to Sauk Rapids and established a hardware business, and after five years his store was destroyed by a cyclone. He was then elected county treasurer and served in this capacity faithfully for eight years. He then engaged in the real estate business and began the operation of a grain and stock farm. He now has two hundred and eighty-two acres in section 3 of Sauk Rapids township. This is well improved and one hundred acres is under plow. He keeps fifty head of cattle and five horses. He has erected exceptionally good farm buildings, including a barn 30 by 74 feet, 23 feet in height with a stone basement. He has a seven room residence, a large granary, horse barn, hog house and machine sheds, and a complete outfit of farm machinery, and a windmill which pumps an abundance of water from a forty foot well. He has cut one hundred and fifty tons of hay from his meadow and has a good supply of timber. He owns a half block of city property in Sauk Rapids, and has a modern house, valued at $2,500 and equipped with electric light, steam heat and city water. His office is on the main street of the city. At the time Mr. Berg took up his residence in Sauk Rapids the town had but six hundred inhabitants. The population is now fourteen hundred and to Mr. Berg is due much credit for the part he has taken in bringing about this most satisfactory condition. He is a wide awake, energetic business man and is deservedly popular in his home community.

Mr. Berg was married in 1872 to Helen Strasburger, who was born in Ozaukee county, Wisconsin, October 19, 1849. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Berg, two of whom, Clara and Ella, were killed in a cyclone at Sauk Rapids. The surviving children are named Lillian and Meta. Mr. Berg is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Sons of Herman. He served as recorder in Sauk Rapids for many years and has been president of the village council for the last three years.

Compendium of History and Biography of Central and Northern Minnesota (1904) p. 579

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Updated 27 Oct 2019 by William Haloupek

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