Biographies:  Charles H. BERGMAN, Eau Claire, Eau Claire Co., WI 

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Charles H. Bergman, dealer in flour, feed, grain, hay and coal, Eau Claire, 
was born in the State of Saxon, Germany, December 9, 1855.  His father, 
Gotlieb, who was a miller by trade, followed that vocation all his life.  He 
was twice married and was the father of nine children, six by his second 
marriage and three by the first, as follows: William and Herman reside in 
Germany, and Charles H., the subject of this sketch, whose mother died when 
he was two years of age.

Charles H. attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he 
went to work with his father at the milling trade, remaining there for three 
years, after which he was employed in other mills in various parts of Germany 
until he became twenty years old, and then spent three years in the German 
army.  After his term of service expired he worked two years in a flour mill 
and in 1880 emigrated to the United States.  After spending a short time at 
Portage City, this state, he came to Eau Calire, where he arrived the same 
year.  He was first employed here in the Marston sash and door factory and 
planing mill and then worked at carpentering, spent a winter in the woods at 
lumbering, returning to the mill in the spring.  He spent one year as bridge 
carpenter for the Omaha railroad and then went to the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul road in the same capacity.  For eight years he was employed in the 
Shaw flouring mill of Eau Claire as a miller and for five years was manager 
of the Lakeside Elevator Company, then engaged in business for himself with 
John M. Craemer, under the firm name of Bergman & Craemer.  They erected a 
mill and remained together for three years, when Mr. Bergman purchased his 
partner's interest and is now (1914) sole proprietor of the business, and 
is one of the progressive men of Eau Claire.

In 1883 Mr. Bergman married in Eau Claire Emelia Portig, who was also born 
in Germany.  Mr. and Mrs. Bergman are the parents of four children as follows:
William C., who married Amanda King and is a mail carrier in Eau Claire; 
Anna Bertha is secretary for her father; Otto Robert, elevator foreman for 
his father, and Alfred Edward, a student.  Mr. Berman is a member of the 
Lutheran Church and the German Singing Society of Eau Claire.

Mr. Bergman's business was established in 1902 at his present location, where 
he buys grain from the farmers and ships in carload lots.  He handles flour, 
feed, grain and coal, has a yard 250 by 300 feet, with elevator and necessary 
buildings.  His power is obtained from a 20-horsepower gasoline engine, which 
does chopping, etc., but handling of grain is his principal business.

--Taken from "The History of Eau Claire County, 1914, Past & Present",
pages 651-652.