NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME III 1804-1926 J. A. Berg Progress and improvement may well be said to have formed the keynote to the character of John A. Berg, who was a well-known merchant of Ruthven and one of Palo Alto county's representative citizens. Though devoted to the advancement of his own interests, he endeavored in straightforward manner to perform the duties of progressive citizenship, his support being always depended upon in the furtherance of any laudable movement for public betterment. Thus his worth as a man and citizen was realized and his death, which occurred September 26, 1928, was the occasion of widespread regret. Mr. Berg was born in Norway on the 18th of November, 1863, son of Andrew and Christina (Stokke) Berg, both of whom were lifelong residents of that country, but are now deceased. The father was a stonecutter by trade. John A. Berg attended the public schools of Norway and then took a high school course at a private school. In March, 1883, when in his twentieth year, he came to the United States, and joined an uncle in Webster county, Iowa, near Fort Dodge. The uncle was a farmer, but Mr. Berg did not care for that line of work and during the first summer he ran a cream wagon, while during the winter he attended school. In the following year he drove a delivery wagon for a grocery store in Fort Dodge and later secured a position as clerk in a shoe store in that city. In 1892 he established a mercantile business in Callender, Iowa, but in 1895 sold out there and, in January, 1896, he came to Ruthven, Palo Alto county, where, in partnership with E. L. Furlong, he bought out the business of J. E. Mulroney & Company, which they conducted under the firm name of Furlong & Berg. Later Mr. Berg bought his partner's interest and carried the business on under his own name until his demise. By close and intelligent attention to his trade, he won a large and representative patronage, the community thus expressing its appreciation of his square dealing, his courtesy and his excellent service. In 1894 Mr. Berg was united in marriage to Miss Christina Haatvedt, a native of Webster county, Iowa, and to them were born eight children: Arthur E., who was graduated in electrical engineering at the Iowa State College in 1920, is a veteran of the World war. He was sent to the artillery officers' training school at St. Louis, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant of field artillery, but the Armistice was signed before he received orders to go overseas. He is now associated with the General Electric Company at Chicago, Illinois. Lucille H., who graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1918, is now teaching in a private school of music in Chicago. Olga E., who attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated from Drake University in 1924, is a teacher of music in the public schools of Waukon, Iowa. Kathleen, who is a graduate of Iowa State College, is a teacher in the consolidated schools at Luana, Iowa. John H. is assisting in the store. Cyril N. is a student in Iowa State University. Harold is also in the State University. Robert Q., in the grade school, completes the family. Politically Mr. Berg was a republican and in 1920 was his party's candidate for the legislature, but was defeated by a narrow margin. He was a member of Highland Lodge, No. 487, A. F. and A. M.; Clay Chapter, No. 112, R. A M.; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, A. A. S. R.; and Za-Ga-Zig Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Des Moines. He was actively and effectively interested in local public affairs, having served as a member of the school board for fifteen years, with one short interval, while he was also a member of the town council two terms. He was vice-president and a director of the First National Bank of Ruthven. He belonged to the Lutheran church, to which he gave liberal support. His career was characterized by duty faithfully performed in all the relations of life and because of this, and his generous and kindly nature, he long enjoyed the good will and esteem of all who knew him. Debbie Clough Gerischer