BIOGRAPHIES: Otto BERG, Barron, Barron County, WI

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Transcribed by Peg Lamkin <brinwood@chibardun.net> Edited and submitted
by Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  11 March 2002	
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Otto Berg, retired saw mill man and merchant of Barron, was born in Norway,
Sept. 16, 1841, son of Martin and Martha (Lee) Berg, who spent their lives
in Norway, the former dying in 1886 and the latter in 1885. Otto Berg
received his education in Norway, and there clerked in a store until 1868.
In that year he came to America and settled in Iowa, the next year he
located in Wisconsin and with headquarters in Chippewa county worked in saw
mills and in the woods. In 1878 he started a general store at Bloomer, Wis.
He built a sawmill at Hawthorn, Wis., in 1880, and two years later one at
Lake Newbagmer. It was in 1902 that he came to Barron and under the firm
name of Berg Brothers & Company erected a building and opened a department
store, which he conducted until 1918. In that year he bought the flour mill
at Barron which he operated for two years, after which he sold to the city
of Barron. He helped to organize the First National Bank of Barron of which
he is now vice-president. It is interesting to note that Mr. Berg has made
no less than six trips to Norway, thus crossing the ocean thirteen times.
At one time he owned 1,800 acres of timber land in that country. He has
also been the owner of considerable real estate in Barron county, including
two good farms. Mr. Berg is one of those men who have gained success in
life entirely by their own efforts. Starting his career as a poor boy he
has worked hard and by native ability, shrewdness and application has
established for himself a position as a leader among his fellow men. He is
a useful citizen in every respect and is highly regarded by all who know
him. Mr. Berg was married Oct. 20, 1872, to Mary Johnson, who was born in
Norway Oct. 20, 1854, daughter of Hans and Mary Johnson, natives of Norway,
who came to America in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Berg have two children: Herman,
born June 6, 1875, who now lives in St. Louis, Mo., and Martin, born June
2, 1881, who is in the automobile business in Barron.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp. 90-91.