A R Westerberg

WESTERBERG

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 12:33:22

A R Westerberg, who in 1899 establihsed the Madrid Electric Lighting & Power Company in association with this father, is still the manager of the eletirc plant in Madrid, which is conceded to be one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state. He has spent his entire life within the borders of Boone county, his birth having occurred in Garden township on July 6, 1876.
The parents, A P Westerberg and Mrs Emma Lundahl Anderson Westerberg, were both natives of Sweden, the former born in Skaraborg, Westergotland, on July 17, 1840, and confirmed in the Lutheran church in 1856. When a young man of twenty-six years he emigrated to the United States locating in Boone, Iowa on October 9, 1866. He entered the bridge-building department of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and contined with the corporation for nine years. Having carefully saved his earnings, he then bought a tract of 120 acres in Garden township, where he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits, extending the boundaries of his farm by additonal purchase until it embraced 200 acres of valuable land. His last years were spent in Madrid, Iowa where he passed away on September 22, 1909. The period of his residence in Boone county covered more than four decades, and he was widely recognized as one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. The demise of his wife occurred on the old home farm in Garden township, and subsequently he was again married, his second union being with Mrs Christina Westland, by whom he had one child, Lester Rossevelt Westerberg, who is a resident of Madrid. Unto him and his first wife were born eight children, as follows: Mrs Maude Anderson Westerberg Sundberg, living in Garden township, A R of this review, Mrs Ethel Westerstrom of Madrid, Iowa, Frank who is a resident of Boone, Iowa, Mrs Esther Krantz of Mardrid, Edwin living in Longmont, Colorado, Mrs Blache Peterson who makes he home in Garden township, and Zylph deceased. The above named were all born and reared in Garden township.
A R Westerberg grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. Being mechanically inclined, he was given an opportunity to develop this talent in successfully controlling a threshing outfit in the neighborhood. Subsequently he applied himself to the study of electrictiy and mastered the science through his own efforts. In 1899 in assocaiton with his father he established the Madrid Electic Lighting & Power Company of Madrid, in the conduct of which A P Weterberg took a deep and active interest during the remainder of his life, living to see the plant one of the best equipped in centreal Iowa. In 1912 the local plant was abandoned, and our subject has since secured the power from Boone, where it is funished by the Iowa Railway & Light Company, This has given univeral satisfaction and Mr Westerberg has realized his ambtion in making Madrid one of the best lighted towns of its size in the state. He acts as manager of the plant and is one of its heaviest stockholders. He wons an attractive and commodious residence in Madrid and has long been a numbered among the prosperous, enterprising and representative citizens of the community.
O April 5, 1900, Mr Westerberg was united in marriage to Miss Emma Grace Krantz, who was born in Garden township, this county, on April 28, 1875, her parents bing John and Mary Krantz, the former a native of Sweden. They were among the earlier settlers of Boone county, and here Mrs Westerberg grew to womanhood and acquired her education in the common schools. John Krantz passed away in Garden townhisp, but his widow survives, making her home in Madrid. They had three children, namely: C G who was born on June 29, 1873, and resides in Madrid, Mrs A R Westerberg, and G A J Krantz of Madrid. All were born and reared in Garden township. Mr and Mrs Westerberg have one son, Edgar Richard Quinton Westerberg, who was born November 23, 1903, and is now a public school student at Madrid.
In his political views Mr Westerberg is a stanch republican. His religious faith is indicated by his membersip in the Swedish Lutheran church of Madrid, to which his wife also belongs. He is a man of good business abiltiy, of exempary habits and upright character, is worthy the trust of his fellowmen and fully merits the good will which is uniformly extended him.

1914 Boone County History Book