Otto Christopher Berg was one of the most prominent and influential citizens in South Dakota during the early 1900s. He was born in Brottum, Norway. His parents were Christian T and Christence Berg. Mr. Berg was educated in Norway and began his adult career with a clerkship in a general store in Lillehammer, and later was a bookkeeper at a wholesale business in Drammen. He came to the United States in 1873 and lived in Wisconsin, becoming one of the prominent citizens of Norwalk where he served as postmaster and county clerk. He came to Dakota territory and lived in Northville in Spink County, building a prosperous general merchandise business. He served for six years as clerk of the circuit and county courts and became an early leader in the Republican party. In 1900 he was elected as Secretary of State and re-elected in 1902. Shortly before his death, he was considered a serious contender to win the election for Governor.
Otto and his wife Edith Rowe Berg married on May 1, 1879 and were members of the Lutheran Church. Otto was a member of many fraternities including Masons; Royal Arch Masons; SD Consistory, Scottish Rite and United Workmen. They had three children, Edna Matthea Berg who died on January 8, 1904, at the age of 23; Christene who died in infancy and Paul Burnham Berg who died in 1935. Edith died in 1930.
Bio from "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 953.
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.
Contributor: Heather Hall (48030601)
Otto and his wife Edith Rowe Berg married on May 1, 1879 and were members of the Lutheran Church. Otto was a member of many fraternities including Masons; Royal Arch Masons; SD Consistory, Scottish Rite and United Workmen. They had three children, Edna Matthea Berg who died on January 8, 1904, at the age of 23; Christene who died in infancy and Paul Burnham Berg who died in 1935. Edith died in 1930.
Bio from "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 953.
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.
Contributor: Heather Hall (48030601)
Otto Christopher Berg was one of the most prominent and influential citizens in South Dakota during the early 1900s. He was born in Brottum, Norway. His parents were Christian T and Christence Berg. Mr. Berg was educated in Norway and began his adult career with a clerkship in a general store in Lillehammer, and later was a bookkeeper at a wholesale business in Drammen. He came to the United States in 1873 and lived in Wisconsin, becoming one of the prominent citizens of Norwalk where he served as postmaster and county clerk. He came to Dakota territory and lived in Northville in Spink County, building a prosperous general merchandise business. He served for six years as clerk of the circuit and county courts and became an early leader in the Republican party. In 1900 he was elected as Secretary of State and re-elected in 1902. Shortly before his death, he was considered a serious contender to win the election for Governor.
Otto and his wife Edith Rowe Berg married on May 1, 1879 and were members of the Lutheran Church. Otto was a member of many fraternities including Masons; Royal Arch Masons; SD Consistory, Scottish Rite and United Workmen. They had three children, Edna Matthea Berg who died on January 8, 1904, at the age of 23; Christene who died in infancy and Paul Burnham Berg who died in 1935. Edith died in 1930.
Bio from "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 953.
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.
Contributor: Heather Hall (48030601)
Otto and his wife Edith Rowe Berg married on May 1, 1879 and were members of the Lutheran Church. Otto was a member of many fraternities including Masons; Royal Arch Masons; SD Consistory, Scottish Rite and United Workmen. They had three children, Edna Matthea Berg who died on January 8, 1904, at the age of 23; Christene who died in infancy and Paul Burnham Berg who died in 1935. Edith died in 1930.
Bio from "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904), p 953.
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.
Contributor: Heather Hall (48030601)
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
