Biography - A. W. Berggren
The Honorable A. W. BERGGREN was the first sheriff to occupy the jail
built by Ira K. Stevens in 1874. He also served as a State Senator and was
for a number of years the warden of the State Penitentiary at Joliet.
August Werner Berggren came to Knox county in 1856 from Sweden. He is buried
in Hope Cemetery in Galesburg (1840-1921) with his wife Christine Nasland
(1845-1921).
Source: Unknown
1878 Biography
AUGUSTUS W. BERGGREN, Sheriff; was born in "Amot," Sweden, Aug. 17, 1840. He is the son of Johan and Karin Berggren; he received his education in the country schools of Sweden and by instructions from his father, who was a well-read man. He spent his early life until 14 on a farm. At that time he contracted to serve a five-year apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, the first three for his board, the last two for a very small additional compensation. In 1856, his father, five brothers, and one sister and himself started to America, and after a nine weeks' voyage in a small sailing vessel they reached New York, from whence they proceeded to Oneida, Knox County. The subject of this sketch worked at his trade in Victoria the first year after his arrival, for $8 per month, at the expiration of which he came to Galesburg, where he has lived since, except four years spent in Monmouth, Warren County. He was elected City Justice in 1869, at the age of 29, and while filling that office in 1872, was elected Sheriff by the Republican Party; he was again re-elected in 1874, 1876, and 1878 nominated for the fourth term, and again re-elected. Mr. Berggren has a fine talent for music, and for several years teaching music was his principal occupation; he was leader of a string band at Monmouth and at Galesburg; taught and arranged music for bands. He was married to Christine Naslund, March 10, 1866 [the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index lists a Augustus W. Berggren marrying a Christina Nashlund in Knox County on March 18, 1866], which has resulted in a family of one daughter and three sons; he is a prominent member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders, and a high official in each; he has been a member of the Swedish M. E. Church since 1870, and is president of the Board of Trustees of the church in Galesburg. Politically he is a staunch Republican. P.O. Galesburg.
Contributed by Joan Achille, extracted from the 1878 History of Knox County, Illinois, published by Charles C. Chapman
1899 Biography
AUGUST WERNER
BERGGREN is emphatically a self-made man. He has risen from the service of
an apprenticeship to exalted stations of honor and trust. He was born in
Amots Bruk, Ockelbo Socken, Sweden, August 17, 1840, and is the son of Johan
and Karin (Hanson) Berggren. His father was a self-educated man, winning his
way to success by his shrewdness and native ability. He was a great reader,
but he learned his most valuable lessons in the school of experience. He
held several minor offices and looked after cases in courts, administering
estates and the like. For thirteen years he ran a flouring mill. Afterwards
he purchased a farm on which he lived until he emigrated to this county in
1856.
Mr. Berggren is an example of the accomplishment of much in spite of limited
educational advantages. He attended the village schools in Sweden, until the
was 14 years of age, living at the same time, on a farm.
Then he was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade. The contract drawn by
his father provided that for the first three years he should work for his
master without remuneration; for the fourth year he was to receive
thirty-five riksdaler; and for the fifth year, forty (a riksdaler being
about equal to 27 cents in American money). The father was to furnish the
cloth for the tailor to make the apprentice's clothing. In case of death of
the apprentice during the first year of his apprenticeship the father should
pay the tailor fifteen riksdaler. When the father decided to emigrate to
this country he was obliged to pay the master tailor fifty riksdaler for the
release of his son.
Mr. Berggren, first came to Oneida, and then went to Victoria, where he
found employment in the tailoring establishment of Jonas Hallstrom, at eight
dollars a month and board and washing for one year.
He then came to Galesburg and worked at his trade, where opportunities were
presented. In 1860, he moved to Monmouth, Warren County and worked for
Captain Denman, a merchant tailor of that place. About the close of the war,
he returned to Galesburg and became a solicitor of life insurance.
During this time he devoted considerable attention, with fair success, to
music. He played the violin, became a leader of string bands in Galesburg
and Monmouth, and arranged music for the same.
Mr. Berggren has no military record. At the first call for volunteers to put
down the Rebellion he went to Knoxville and joined the Swedish company,
commanded by Captain Holmberg. Two companies were there: one composed of
Americans; the other, of Swedes. The former was mustered into service; the
latter, disbanded. He then went to Monmouth, where he remained until his
return to Galesburg in 1864.
Mr. Berggren has held many important offices. In 1869, he was elected
Justice of the Peace in the City of Galesburg. While holding that office he
was nominated by the republican convention for the office of Sheriff, and
elected in the Fall of 1872. With great credit, he held the office for four
terms, and his books and reports are spoken of to this day as models worthy
of imitation. In 1880, while yet Sheriff, he was nominated and elected
Senator from the Twenty-second District, composed of Knox and Mercer
counties. Four years afterwards, he was reelected from the new district,
composed of Knox and Fulton counties. When the Senate was organized in 1887,
he was chosen President protempore of that body. On May 1, 1889, the
Governor appointed him Warden of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet,
which position he resigned to take active supervision of the Covenant Mutual
Life Association of Illinois, with principal offices in this city.
His public spirit is fully shown by his connection with various public
enterprises, such as the Galesburg Stoneware Company; The National Perefoyd
Company; The Galesburg Paving Brick Company; the Galesburg National Bank,
having been a Director of the same since its organization. He was a member
of the Berggren and Lundeen firm, later the J. A. Lundeen Company, and still
later the Berggren Clothing Company. From its organization, for twenty
years, he was President of The Covenant Mutual Life Association, and for the
last two years has been its Treasurer, still holding that position.
Mr. Berggren is both an Odd Fellow and a Mason, joining the former order in
1868; the latter, in 1869. He is a member of the several Masonic bodies in
this city, and in the Order of Odd Fellows has taken a very active interest,
filling every office of the subordinate bodies and the principal offices of
the Grand Lodge. He was Grand Master and presided over the deliberations of
the Grand Lodge at Danville IL, in 1880, and represented the Grand Lodge in
the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Baltimore MD.
Mr. Berggren has broadened his life and added greatly to the storehouse of
information by quite extensive travel. He has visited almost every State in
the Union, and in 1882, took an extensive trip through England, France,
Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, and Ireland. His charities have
been of a practical kind. He has given to the Swedish M. E. Church and
parsonage, to several other churches, Knox College, Lombard Gymnasium, and
Cottage Hospital.
His religious affiliations are with the Swedish M. E. Church, although in
1856, he was confirmed in Sweden in the Lutheran Church. He served as lay
delegate to the General Conference in Cincinnati in 1880.
In politics, he is a staunch republican. He is not only a worker, but has
been one of the leaders in the party.
He was married March 8, 1866, to Christina Naslund [the Illinois Statewide
Marriage Index lists a Augustus W. Berggren marrying a Christina Nashlund in
Knox County on March 18, 1866], whose parents came to this country in 1854,
joining the Bishop Hill Colony. Six children were born to them, Capitola
Maud, Guy Werner, Ralph Augustus, Claus Eugene, Jay Valentine, and Earl
Hugo. Ralph Augustus was run over by a train of cars and killed in 1887.
Extracted from the 1899 Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, Munsell Publishing Company. Picture contributed by Jim Ferris.
