Nels 0. Berg

BERG, HALVERSON, NELSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 8/20/2007 at 15:56:23

Nels 0. Berg, proprietor of the only exclusive grocery store in Thompson, Iowa, was born in Norway on the 3d of February, 1865, and is a son of Ole and Anna (Nelson) Berg, also natives of that country, where the family continued to reside until June, 1865, when they emigrated to America. Locating in Winneshiek county, Iowa, the father purchased land nine miles east of Decorah and engaged in farming there until 1902, when he retired from active labor and removed to Decorah, making his home in that city until he passed away in April, 1915. The mother of our subject died in 1869.

It was during his infancy that Nels 0. Berg was brought to the new world and he was reared and educated in Winneshiek county, Iowa. After leaving home he learned the carpenter's trade in Decorah and later followed that occupation in St. Paul, Minnesota, for three years. During the autumn season he engaged in threshing in North Dakota for three years and in the fall of 1891 came to Forest City, Iowa, but soon afterward returned to his old home in Winneshiek county, where he spent one year. In 1892 Mr. Berg again came to Winnebago county and settled in Thompson before the railroad had been built to this place. Here he engaged in contracting, erecting many of the early buildings of the town, but later spent two more years in Winneshiek county. On his return to Thompson he bought an interest in a general store, which he conducted for a time, and subsequently engaged in the restaurant business for eight years. Since then he has given his attention to the grocery business and now carries a large and complete stock of staple and fancy groceries, for which he finds a ready sale, having built up an excellent patronage. Mr. Berg is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company and in the Town Mutual Telephone Company and is the owner of two store buildings besides his fine home in Thompson.

On the 1st of January, 1895, Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Halverson, and they have become the parents of three children: Millard, born October 21, 1898; Hattie Lucille, born March 16, 1913; and the latter's twin sister, Nettie Luella, who died August 8, 1914.

In his political affiliations Mr. Berg is a republican and is a recognized leader in the local ranks of that party. He is now efficiently serving as a member of the town council and has also filled the office of school treasurer. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He gives his hearty support to all measures calculated to advance the moral, educational or material welfare of the community and is regarded as one of the leading citizens of Thompson as well as one of its most enterprising business men.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 301.