Bio: Bergman, Charles H. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bergman, Craemer, Portig, King

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 651-652

Charles H. Bergman, dealer in flour, feed, grain, hay and coal, Eau Claire, was born in the State of Saxon, Germany, December 9, 1855. His father, Gotlieb, who was a miller by trade, followed that vocation all his life. He was twice married and was the father of nine children, six by his second marriage and three by the first, as follows: William and Herman reside in Germany, and Charles H., the subject of this sketch, whose mother died when he was two years of age.

Charles H. attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he went to work with his father at the milling trade, remaining there for three years, after which he was employed in other mills in various parts of Germany until he became twenty years old, and then spent three years in the German army. After his term of service expired he worked two years in a flour mill and in 1880 emigrated to the United States. After spending a short time at Portage City, this state, he came to Eau Claire, where he arrived the same year. He was first employed here in the Marston sash and door factory and planing mill and then worked at carpentering, spent a winter in the woods at lumbering, returning to the mill in the spring. He spent one year as bridge carpenter for the Omaha railroad and then went to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road in the same capacity. For eight years he was employed in the Shaw flouring mill of Eau Claire as a miller and for five years was manager of the Lakeside Elevator Company, and then engaged in business for himself with Joln M. Craemer, under the firm name of Bergman & Craemer. They erected a mill and remained together for three years, when Mr. Bergman purchased his partner's interest and is now (1914) sole proprietor of the business, and is one of the progressive men of Eau Claire.

In 1883 Mr. Bergman married in Eau Claire Emelia Portig. who was also born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bergman are the parents of four children as follows: William C, who married Amanda King and is a mail carrier in Eau Claire; Anna Bertha is secretary for her father; Otto Robert, elevator foreman for his father, and Alfred Edward, a student. Mr. Bergman is a member of the Lutheran Church and the German Singing Society of Eau Claire.

Mr. Bergman's business was established in 1902 at his present location, where he buys grain from the farmers and ships in carload lots. He handles flour, feed, grain and coal, has a yard 250 by 300 feet, with elevator and necessary buildings. His power is obtained from a 20-horsepower gasoline engine, which does chopping, etc., but handling of grain is his principal business.