Berg, Edmund E. 1880 -
BERG, ALVIG, BRAUER
Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/17/2014 at 10:00:43
Edmund E. Berg is one of the prominent bankers of Decorah and has done much by his quick rise and rapid success to justify the prestige in which he is held. Connected with the Decorah State Bank since 1907, he was soon afterward elected assistant cashier of the institution and since 1912 has held the office of cashier, discharging his duties with ability and his judgment upon matters pertaining to his business is seldom at fault. Born in Freeborn County, Minnesota, April 26, 1880, he is a son of Elmer J. and Gunhild (Alvig) Berg, natives of Norway. The father was trained along mercantile and agricultural lines and for years was employed in the big stores of Christiania, Norway's beautiful capital. Coming to the United States he located in Freeborn County, Minnesota, where for a time he engaged in the mercantile business but later took up farming. He still lives on the farm but his wife died there in 1882.
Edmund E. Berg attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his father's farm and subsequently entered Luther Academy at Albert Lea, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1902. He then taught for three years in schools of Freeborn County, Minnesota, and subsequently followed his profession in western North Dakota. Being attracted by a commercial career he then entered the Bank of Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and after a short time went from that place to Roseau, Minnesota, as bookkeeper and teller in the bank there, remaining for one year. Becoming familiar with the work at hand and showing ability his promotion was rapid and in the next year he became cashier of the Citizens Bank of Barrett, Minnesota, remaining there for one year or until the spring of 1907, when he came to Decorah to become connected with the Decorah State Bank as bookkeeper. At the next meeting of the board he was elected assistant cashier, ably serving in that capacity until 1912, when he was made cashier and was reelected in 1913. The years of his connection with the Decorah State Bank have been years of profitable expansion for the institution and the work of Mr. Berg has been an important contributory factor in extending the bank's interests. The Decorah State Bank is one of the substantial organizations of the city and county and was organized in the fall of 1906 with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. Today it shows a surplus of seventy-five hundred dollars, giving an indication of the sound business policy pursued. The present officers of the bank are: R. A. Engbertson, president; G. E. Soland, vice president; E. E. Berg, cashier; A. R. Johnson, assistant cashier, and Ruby R. Engbertson, bookkeeper and teller. In addition to the president, vice president and cashier, the board of directors consist of E. J. Hook. T. Stabo, L. S. Reque and Borger Hanson.
On April 10, 1907, Mr. Berg married Miss Edith Brauer, a daughter of Ferdinand Brauer, who is a retired farmer of Mabel, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Berg are devoted members of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church of Decorah, the latter being also affiliated with the Ladies Aid Society, while Mr. Berg is serving as church treasurer. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican Party but does not actively participate in public affairs although he keeps well informed upon the issues of the day as they affect the nation, state and his locality. Socially both he and his wife are highly esteemed and they are popular in the younger social set.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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