Peter Berger, 1899 Biography

BERGER, BEIERSCHMITT, RUSSELL, SCHMICH, TREBON, WIEDEMEIER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/28/2006 at 23:13:31

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Information in brackets and notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Peter Berger

There is hardly a person to be found in this district who enjoys a greater popularity than Peter Berger. There is therefore almost no one in this county who has been so honored, not only in elections and responsible offices, but also in kind support from the citizens in all of his undertakings.

He was born on 16 October 1844 in Herxheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Bavaria. His parents moved to America when he was eight years old, and after living in Pennsylvania for two years, they moved to Stevenson County, Illinois and then to Blackhawk County, Iowa. After he had completed his elementary education, he devoted himself to agriculture and assisted his father on the farm. On 26 December 1867, Mr. Berger married Miss Katharina Beierschmitt, and soon thereafter (1868), the young couple sold a 100-acre farm in Blackhawk County, which Mr. Berger had acquired earlier. In January of the following year, they purchased a 200-acre property in Kniest Township, Carroll County, and in the spring of that year, Mr. Berger came out to break the virgin prairie and build a house. In the spring of 1870, he came with his family from Blackhawk County to establish a home on his farm in Kniest Township, and the Berger family has lived in Carroll County ever since.

Five years later, in 1875, he had the satisfaction of being elected as a county supervisor for Carroll County, and he served so satisfactorily that he was honored with a second term and served the county six years in this capacity. In 1881, he increased his real estate by 80 acres, but two years later he sold his entire property to Philip Heimann, and shortly thereafter, he purchased another 160 acres in the same township. In September 1883, Mr. Berger and his family moved to the town of Carroll where he bought a beautiful home. That fall, he competed for the office of County Treasurer but was defeated with a slight minority. However, when the elected Treasurer absconded the following year, he had the honor of being appointed as Treasurer by the Board of Supervisors until the next election. In all, he was entrusted with the office four times, once through the above-offered appointment, and three times through public election, in each of which he was elected by strong majorities.

In 1884, Mr. Berger purchased a business building on Fourth Street, which he expanded with a two-story addition to Fifth Street. In 1891, he sold the house he was living in and then built a fine residence across from the German Catholic Church. In the same year, Mr. Berger associated with Mr. Russell and formed a business which is favorably known throughout the county, and which primarily operates in real estate loans and insurance. In January 1898, he became a member of the German Bank of Carroll County and was elected to its finance committee.

Getting back to his respected family, this happy marriage was blessed with 12 children, however, five of them died in childhood. The names of those still living are: Maria, married to Mr. Geo. Schmich; Elisabeth, married to Jos. Wiedemeier; Frank, married to Miss Emelie Trebon; Theresia, married to Mr. Charles Schmich; and Helena, Veronika, and Wilhelm, who still live with their parents.