Columbia-Gilliam County OR Archives Biographies.....Bergersen, Peter October 13, 1865 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com November 10, 2009, 12:44 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 225 - 226
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     One of the most prominent and influential citizens of Columbia county, 
Oregon, is Peter Bergersen, who has not only attained notable success as a 
farmer, but has also rendered distinctive service to his community in various 
official capacities. Mr. Bergersen was born in Norway, October 13, 1865, and 
is a son of Christopher and Pernelle (Rongerud) Bergersen. The family came to 
the United States in 1873 and located in Trempeleau county, Wisconsin, where 
the father bought a tract of brush and oak grub land. This he cleared and 
developed into a good farm and there spent his remaining years. His widow died 
in Oregon about 1912. Of the eight children born to them, three are living, 
namely: Peder, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Charles, of Vernonia, Oregon, and Peter.

     Peter Bergersen received a somewhat limited education in the public 
schools of Wisconsin. His early years were spent on the home farm, where he 
took an active part in clearing the land and cultivating the crops. Later he 
engaged in logging, which he followed there until 1886, when he came to 
Oregon, settling near Condon, Gilliam county, at which time there was but one 
house in the town. He rode the range as a cowboy until 1892, when he came to 
Columbia county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, eight and a 
half miles southwest of Vernonia. It was heavily covered with timber, mostly 
hardwood, such as maple and alder, and much brush, the only improvement on the 
tract being a small log house. He at once entered upon the task of clearing 
the land and now has about sixty acres in cultivation. He has a splendid 
bearing orchard and raises fine crops of hay and potatoes, the former yielding 
from three to four tons of fine timothy hay to the acre on the rich river 
bottom land. His potatoes have always had a high reputation and for several 
years Mr. Bergersen had the contract for supplying them for the dining cars of 
the Northern Pacific Railroad. He gives his principal attention now to raising 
hay, and farms with both tractor and horses. Mr. Bergersen also took up a 
preemption of one hundred and sixty acres in the Nehalem valley. During the 
years he has made many permanent and substantial improvements on his farm, 
which now ranks among the best in this section of the county and, through his 
persistent industry and good management he has attained well merited 
prosperity. In 1920 Mr. Bergersen was one of the organizers of the Bank of 
Vernonia, of which he was elected vice president, and is still serving.

     In 1891 Mr. Bergersen was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Larsen, who 
was born in Norway and is a daughter of Lars and Bertha Larsen, who were 
lifelong residents of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Bergersen have six children: 
Cass is engaged in business in Vernonia; Bessie is the wife of J. E. Tapp, of 
Vernonia, and they have a daughter, Martha Lucille; Lottie is the wife of C. 
Lintner, a construction engineer; Victor lives in Portland, Oregon; Elmer, who 
owns a farm near his father's place, is married and has a son, Ralph; Percy is 
taking the commercial course in the University of Oregon, at Eugene.

     Mr. Bergersen has long taken a commendable interest in the public affairs 
of his county and has been efficient in the discharge of every duty placed on 
him. In 1924 he was appointed road master of the largest district in Columbia 
county and has been diligent in his efforts to improve the highways under his 
control, as may be inferred from the fact that he disbursed ninety thousand 
dollars for road construction and improvement in 1927. He has served for 
twenty-five years as a member of the school board of his district and is a 
member of the high school board of Vernonia. He served for eight years as 
postmaster at Kist, Oregon, which office has been discontinued. He is a member 
of Vernonia Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M., and belongs to the Grange. He is 
regarded as one of the substantial and dependable men of his county, 
throughout which he commands uniform confidence and respect. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/columbia/bios/bergerse993gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/

File size: 4.7 Kb