A. Peter Berg
A. Peter Berg is one of Sweden's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, and his career has ever been characterized by those sturdy qualities which are the birthright of the Swedish race.
He was born on the 9th of July, 1850, a son of Olef and Katherine Berg, both natives of Sweden. The family came to the United States in 1870, locating in Crawford county, Iowa, where the father spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1884. The mother, however, still survives and at the age of ninety years makes her home with the subject of this review, who was the eldest of a family of four children, the others being: Anna and Christina, twins, both of whom are now married; and Maggie.
A. Peter Berg spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native country and there acquired a common-school education. He was a young man of twenty years when, in 1870, the family home was established in the new world, and in the following year, upon attaining his majority, he entered business life independently, following for several years in the miller's trade, which he had learned in the old country. Later he took up farming and has since engaged in general agricultural pursuits. Since 1874 he has also operated a threshing machine, his activity in this direction proving most successful and remunerative. His home farm, which consists of eighty acres on section 5, Stockholm township, is a well improved property, containing fine buildings and all modern improvements and accessories for facilitating farm labor. He is also the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Colorado and his extensive property holdings indicate the life of industry, thrift and perseverance which he has led.
Fraternally Mr. Berg holds membership with the Masons, belonging to Odebolt Lodge, No. 398, A. F. & A. M., and his life record has ever been in harmony with the beneficent principles of that order. Since becoming an American citizen he has given his support to the republican party but has never sought nor desired public office. He has, however, been loyal to the interests and institutions of his adopted country, casting the weight of his influence on the side of those measures and movements which have for their object the welfare of the community in which he resides and the general public at large. He has combined with the sturdy qualities characteristic of his nationality-honesty, thrift, determination and a large capacity for earnest labor-the spirit of progress which dominates the American race, and the combination has not only resulted in substantial success in the business world but speaks for honorable and valuable citizenship.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.