Biography of Otto C. Berg

	This biography appears on page 953 in "History of South Dakota" 
	by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited 
	by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. An engraving of Mr. Berg and his 
	signature appears on page 952. 

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	OTTO C. BERG, who is now serving his second term as secretary of state of 
South Dakota, is one of the prominent and influential citizens of the commonwealth 
and has here maintained his home for more than a score of years, so that he is entitled 
to the distinction of being classed among the pioneers of this favored section of our 
great national domain. Mr. Berg comes of stanch Norseland lineage and is himself a native 
of Norway, having been born in Brottum, Ringsager, on the 10th of September, 1849 and 
being a son of Christian T. and Christence Berg, who are both now dead. The subject 
secured his educational training in the excellent national schools of his native land 
and instituted his independent career by securing a clerkship in a general store at 
Lillehammer, later becoming bookkeeper in a wholesale establishment at Drammen. In 1873 
he came to America and located in Wisconsin, becoming one of the prominent citizens of 
Norwalk, Monroe county, where he served as postmaster and also held the office of county 
clerk. In 1883 he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and took up his abode 
in Northville, Spink county, where he engaged in the general merchandise business, 
building up a prosperous enterprise in the line. For six years he served as clerk of the 
circuit and county courts, manifesting an active concern in public affairs and early 
becoming one of the leaders in the ranks of the Republican party of the state. In 1900 
he was elected secretary of state and was chosen as his own successor in 1902 so that 
he is incumbent of this responsible and exacting office at the time of this writing. 
He is a leading Republican and takes a deep interest in the furtherance of the principles 
and policies of the party. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, while Mrs. 
Berg and family are devoted members of the Congregational church. Fraternally he is 
affiliated with Redfield Lodge, No. 34, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Redfield; 
Redfield Chapter, No. 20, Royal Arch Masons; South Dakota Consistory, Ancient Accepted 
Scottish Rite Masons, in Aberdeen; and Northville Lodge, No. 36, Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, at Northville.

	On the 1st of May, 1879 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Berg to Miss Edith O. 
Rowe, who was born at Coldspring, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, being a daughter of David 
R. Rowe, an influential citizen of that place. Of this union have been born three children, 
Edna Mathea, who died January 8, 1904 at the age of twenty-three years; Christine, who died 
in infancy, and Paul B., who is sixteen years of age at the time of this writing, in 1904 .