Rio Blanco County CO Archives Biographies.....Berg, Hagen R. January 16, 1853 - ?
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Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

Hagen R. Berg 

     All climes and tongues in the civilized world have contributed of their

brain and brawn to aid in settling and developing the Northwest of this country,

and the section enjoys in an unusual degree the benefits of the conglomerate

population which has resulted, having at hand the best elements in the character

of every race, and blessing all in return with a wealth of opportunity almost

unprecedented in modern times.  One of the valued natives of Norway, the land of

great thrift and enterprise, of scientific research and hardy manhood, of

intellectual power and physical force, is Hagen R. Berg, of Rio Blanco county,

who lives on a well-improved and productive ranch of one hundred and sixty acres

in the vicinity of Meeker, five miles west of the town.  Mr. Berg’s life began

on January 16, 1853, and he is the son of Hans and Maren Berg, also natives of

Norway, where they were thrifty and prosperous farmers and devoted members of

the Lutheran church.  They had a family of eleven children, five of whom are

living, Gabriel, Olans, Hagen R., Mary and Julia.  The father died in April,

1891, and the mother in April, 1897.  Hagen was educated at the state schools,

and at the age of fifteen and a half years he was apprenticed to a blacksmith in

Christiania, the capital city of the country.  He worked at his trade in his

native land until 1879, then came to this country and settled in the Black Hills

of South Dakota, where he followed mining, ranch work and blacksmithing.  After

some months of profitable labor there he moved to Deadwood and turned his hand

to the carpenter trade, securing employment in building flumes for the Battle

Creek Mining Company.  In 1881 he changed his residence to Wyoming, and locating

at Cokeville, was there variously employed from July, 1881, to September, 1882,

when he moved to Colorado and settled on a ranch six miles west of Meeker on

White river.  After improving this ranch he sold it and pre-empted another which

he proved up on and sold.  He then bought the one on which he now lives.  Of

this tract one hundred acres are under cultivation and yield abundant crops of

hay, grain and vegetables, and support generously a large herd of cattle, the

stock and hay being the main source of revenue.  The water right is good and the

supply sufficient for the needs of the place, and the land responds kindly to

the persuasive hand of Mr. Berg’s wise and skillful husbandry.  In addition to

running his farming and cattle industries he also works at his trade in the

interest of Harp & Riley, a firm that carries on blacksmithing extensively.  He

is an earnest advocate of the wholesome progress and development of his

community and in political allegiance is a stanch Republican.  When he first

came to the White river valley game was plentiful and Mr. Berg devoted a portion

of his time to hunting and trapping, in which he was quite successful.  He was

married on January 22, 1887, to Miss Bradine Holton, a native of Norway and

daughter of John and Andrenn Holton, who were also born in that country.  The

father was a tailor in his young manhood, but in later life became a successful

farmer.  Both parents were Lutherans, and both have been dead for a number of

years.  Of their four children one, Mrs. Berg, is deceased, her death having

occurred on February 14, 1903.  Andrew, Olie and Mary are living.  To Mr. and

Mrs. Berg two children were born, Herman R. and Olaf M.

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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