Martin Bergh Biography


	This biography appears on pages 733-734 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MARTIN BERGH.  

	Martin Bergh, attorney at law of Sioux Falls, whose practice has 
brought him prominently before the supreme court of the state, while he 
has also been connected with much important litigation heard in the 
district courts, was born in Christiania, Norway, September 16, 1862, a 
son of Erik and Anna (Westen) Bergh, who came to America in 1867, 
settling in La-Crosse, Wisconsin.  

	There Martin Bergh was reared and in the public schools pursued 
his early education, passing through consecutive grades until he was 
graduated from the high school at the age of eighteen years. He 
afterward entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, in 
which he prepared for the bar and then passed the required examination 
before the supreme court, after which he returned to La Crosse for 
active practice. He continued a resident of that city until 1902 and 
his ability won him recognition as an able and progressive lawyer. He 
was called to the position of city attorney of La Crosse in 1894 and 
occupied that position continuously for five years. He continued 
successfully in private practice there until 1902, when, believing that 
there was a still better opportunity in the growing city of Sioux 
Falls, he removed to South Dakota and has since been a representative 
of the bar of this state.  

	No dreary novitiate awaited him here. Within a brief period he 
has gained a large and distinctively representative clientage and has 
been connected with much important litigation. He is known as a strong 
advocate and wise counselor and is well versed in the basic principles 
of the law and in precedent. The thoroughness with which he prepares 
his cases has been one of the strong elements in his success and he 
marshals the facts in evidence with the precision of a military 
commander, bringing forth each point with its most telling effect. His 
name appears as attorney in connection with a large number of cases 
which have been heard in the supreme court of Wisconsin as well as some 
in Minnesota and many in South Dakota. He is now serving for a second 
term as states attorney of Minnehaha county, discharging the duties of 
his position in a most capable manner, his course winning him the 
approval of the general public and of the profession. Among the 
important cases which have been successfully conducted by him as states 
attorney in the supreme court of South Dakota may be mentioned the 
following: Bank taxation cases; the tax ferret case, compelling estates 
of insane persons to pay the expense of state hospital charges; the 
dental practice law case; the drainage law case; the notable 
oleomargarine case and others which have attracted widespread interest 
and attention.  

	At La Crosse, Wisconsin, on the 4th of June, 1890, Mr. Bergh was 
united in marriage to Miss Hannah C. Fleischer, a daughter of Frederick 
and Josephine Fleischer, and they have become the parents of three 
children: Harold F., who was born in 1893; Robert F., whose birth 
occurred in 1896; and Inga A., born in 1902.  

	The religious faith of the parents is that of the Lutheran church 
and Mr. Bergh gives his political allegiance to the republican party, 
which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of 
franchise, and aside from the offices which he has held in the strict 
path of his profession he served as alderman of Sioux Falls from 1905 
to 1907. He has an interesting military chapter in his life record, 
having for five years been a member of the Wisconsin National Guard, 
during which time he attained the rank of lieutenant in the La Crosse 
Light Guards. Mr. Bergh is prominently known in fraternal circles. He 
is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, a member 
of the Modern Woodmen, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Red 
Men, the Eagles and the Sons of Norway. In several of these 
organizations he has been honored with official preferment and for 
three years, from 1901 until 1904, he was national president of the 
Independent Scandinavian Workingmen's Association of America, a large 
mutual benefit society. For the past ten years he has held the position 
of secretary of the Scandinavian Republican State League of South 
Dakota. Nature has well fitted him for leadership and his endorsement 
of a cause usually wins to it a large following, especially among those 
of his own nationality. He ranks as an able lawyer and progressive 
citizen and one whose course in connection with any cause which he 
espouses is marked by intense loyalty.