Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah July 15, 2020

Among the men who have been active in promoting the growth of Carroll should be named Peter Berger who for seventeen years past has been prominently connected with real-estate interests. He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born October 16, 1843, a son of Adam and Theresa (Knoll) Berger. The father came to America in June, 1853, and engaged in farming at Allentown, Pennsylvania. He came to Carroll county, Iowa, and established his home in Kniest township where he lived for thirteen years, passing away in 1883 at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife died two months previously, being also in her seventy-eighth year. Both were devout members of the Catholic church. Their children were Jacob, Mary, Theresa and Peter.

Peter Berger came to America with his parents in his boyhood and has been a resident of Carroll county since 1856. He received his education in the public schools and followed farming until 1884, becoming the owner of two hundred and eighty acres in Kniest township. Seventeen years ago he moved to Carroll where he has ever since successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business.

Mr. Berger married Miss Katharina Beierschmidt, a daughter of John and Mollie Beierschmidt. She was born at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, her parents being natives of Germany. Her father was one of the early settlers of Blackhawk county, Iowa, and died in that county at the age of seventy-five years. The mother is now living with her son John on a farm near Fairbanks, Iowa, and is eighty-one years of age. There were six children in the family: Katharina, who married Peter Berger; Mary; Tillie: Susie; Veronica; and John. The following children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Berger: Mary, now the widow of George Schmich and the mother of six children, William, Anna, Albert, Florence, Catharine and Lorena; Elizabeth, the wife of Joseph Wiedermeier and the mother of the following children, Linus, Elizabeth, Louisa, Loretta, Augusta, and John and Nicholas, who died from diphtheria in early childhood; Frank P. who married Amelia Trieben and has three children living, Paul, Leo and Helen; William J., who is in partnership with his father in business; Theresa, who married Charles Schmich, the city marshal of Carroll, and has one child living, Marie: Helen; Veronica, the wife of Nicholas Wille, an express agent at Omaha, and the mother of one child, Louis; and Augusta, who died at the age of one year.

Mrs. Berger, the beloved wife and mother, was called from earthly scenes in 1903, having then arrived at the age of fifty-four years. She was a lady of many estimable qualities who attracted friends wherever she was known. In religious belief she adhered to the Catholic church of which her husband is also a member. Mr. Berger has been prominent in public affairs and served as county treasurer for five and one-half years, and as supervisor for two terms. He gives his allegiance to the democratic party. He is a man of unsullied character and his straightforward course in business as well as in private affairs fully warrants the great esteem in which he is held by the people of the city and county.

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