CHARLES SUNBERG.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Audubon county, Iowa, within the pages of this book. Citizens who have figuerd in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests are identified with its every phase of progress. Each has contributed in his special sphere of activity to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its moral and legitimate growth. Among this number is Charles Sunberg, to whose career peculiar interest attaches from the fact that a good part of his life has been spent in Audubon county and that he is now filling one of the responsible offices within the gift of the people of this county, being the present efficient and popular sheriff of Aububon county.
Charles Sunberg was born on a farm in Johnson county, Iowa, on September 9, 1871, son of Henry and Hannah (Ahrend) Sunberg, natives of Germany. Henry Sunberg was born in 1843, the son of a farmer, and with his wife came to America in the spring of 1871, settling on a farm near Iowa City, in Johnson county, this state, where he resided until 1885, a period of fourteen years, after which he came to Audubon county and settled on a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Melville township. In 1907 he moved to a farm south of Audubon and in the spring of 1914 retired and moved to Audubon, at that time being the owner of two hundred and eighty acres. The children born to Henry and Anna (Ahrend) Sunberg were seven in number, namely: Fred C., who lives near the old home place; Charles, the subject of this sketch; Frank, now living retired in Audubon; Mrs. Minnie Owen, living in Viola township; John, living in Hamlin township; Henry, Jr., of Viola township, and Mrs. Anna Leflar, who lives on the old home place.
Charles Sunberg attended school in Johnson county, and on coming to Audubon county assisted his father on the farm until he attained his majority. He then rented a farm in the eastern part of Melville township for four years, after which he took up contracting and building, with headquarters in Audubon. In 1911 he was appointed deputy sherifif, and served two years in that office. In the fall of 1912 Mr. Sunberg was selected sheriff and was re-elected for the second term in the fall of 1914, now filling that office very efficiently.
On June 21, 1905, Charles Sunberg was married to Clemency Leib, the daughter of Ernest and Louisa (Frieberg) Leib, natives of Germany, who settled in Michigan after coming to this country and were there married. From that region they removed to Montgomery county, Iowa, and in 1844 they came to Audubon county, locating on the farm, where Ernest Lieb died in 1902. His widow, who lives in Audubon, was born in Germany in 1838, and emigrated to Michigan with her mother when a young woman and was there married. Mrs. Sunberg is one of ten children, four sons and six daughters, as follow: Leopold, who lives in South Dakota; Robert, of Guthrie county, Iowa; Richard, of Audubon county; Otto, of Guthrie county; Frank, who was killed in Audubon in the spring of 1904; Mrs. Emma Lee, who lives in Guthrie county; Mrs. Dena Lee, of Sac City; Mrs. Anna Brown, of Sac City; Mrs. G. C. Dettmann, of Valley Junction, Iowa, and Clemency, who married Mr. Sunberg.
Charles Sunberg is an ardent Democrat and for many years has been active in the councils of that party in Audubon county. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Sunberg are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are active in the affairs of that church and of the Sunday school.
Sheriff Charles Sunberg naturally is well known throughout the length and breadth of Audubon county, and is a man highly respected for his many good qualities of head and heart, being held in the warmest esteem by all who know him.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 317-318.
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