Charles B. Berger, a resident of the township of Pine Creek, is the son of William W. and Annie (Lee) Berger. The former a native of Pennsylvania and was born Jan. 6, 1835; the latter was the son of Samuel and Hannah (Barnes) Berger, who were also born in the Keystone State. They came to Illinois about 1849 and located in Lee County where the mother died. The father of William Berger married Roxey Webster, who was born in the State of New York. They were both living in Polo. William W. Berger was married Sept. 4, 1862, at Milton, Rock County, Wis., and returned with his wife to Ogle county, where they passed the ensuing winter.

In the spring of the next year Mr. Berger went to Pike's Peak with a company, and started from there for New Mexico, and was killed by the marauding Indians on the plains. The bereaved wife returned to Wisconsin, where her son was born in Janesville, Rock County, Aug. 8, 1863. She was still living there when she was married to Mr. John Grush, of Pine Creek Township, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this book. Charles B. Berger came to Ogle County with his stepfather and remained on the farm assisting him in the summer and in the winter attending school at Polo. Later, he attended the college at Mt. Morris, where he was a student until within a few weeks of graduation, when he went to Janesville, to enter upon the duties of a clerk in the store of his uncle, Samuel Holdridge, who was a prominent merchant of that place. Previous to going there he had been for a time in Dakota. In the spring of 1882 he came back to Illinois, and accepted a situation in the clothing store of a business firm at Polo, where he remained until February, 1883. He went then to Ipswich, D. T., and, in company with T. J. Winters, managed the Star Restaurant. After doing business there for the space of a year, he returned to Illinois. He engaged in the capacity of a sewing-machine agent, in the interest of D. R. Rogers of Polo. He remained in his employ until the fall of 1885, when he entered the employ of a merchant in Polo, where he is at present operating. He is a young man of excellent character, and a popular and efficient salesman.

 

--Portrait and Biographical Album of Ogle County, Illinois, Chicago, Chapman Brothers, 1886 (copied courtesy of Byron Grush)

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