Olof Berg

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Olof Berg

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

There are no rules for building character, and there is no rule for achieving success. The man who can rise from the ranks to a leading position in any line is he who can see and utilize the opportunities which are presented to him. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differ but slightly. And when one man passes another on the highway to reach the goal of prosperity before others who, perhaps, started out before him, it is because he has the power to use the advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. It is this power which has made Mr. Olof BERG, of Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, one of the leading contractors and builders of that section of the State. He is the son of Nils and Mary BERG, of whom the latter is still living. Nils BERG was a carpenter and died in his native land, Norway.

Olof BERG was born in Trondhjen, Norway, May 2, 1862. His education was a practical and good one, four years being spent in the military school, and this was supplemented by a course in a school of architecture. At the age of twelve years he commenced practical labors in the carpenter shop of his father, and later worked for a building concern. After the death of his father he came to the United States, this being about 1890. He had difficulty in finding employment upon his arrival in this country, a few months being spent in the employ of the L. Loomis & Company, of Brooklyn. He resigned this position in order to accept one with the Dover Car Shops, with whom he remained for a period of seven years. Upon leaving this concern he established himself in the contracting business, with which he has been identified successfully since that time. In connection with this he utilized his knowledge as an architect, and the excellence of his ideas and the fine manner in which he has executed the orders given him, have gained a large clientele, and he has designed and built some of the finest buildings in Dover. Among these may be mentioned the brick residence of W. H. BAKER, and the Paul GUENTHER house on the Rockaway road, one of the finest residences in Morris county. He has also remodeled the Dover Hotel and the Dover Trust Company’s building, the latter for W. H. BAKER.

Mr. BERG married, 1887, Anna OSBERG, born in Sweden, and they have had children:

Emile H., in the employ of his father;
Nils H., also with his father;
Raymond O., a student in the Dover High School of the class of 1914, has never missed a day at school;
Anna Laura and Edward Albert, also at school.

The family live at No. 33 Depew avenue, while the workshop is at No. 76 East Blocknell street. Mr. BERG has resided in Dover for almost a quarter of a century, and his political affiliations have always been with the Republican party. He is a member of the Order of Vaso, district secretary for New Jersey, an office he has filled for the past nine years, and is a member of the Grand Fraternity and Improved Order of the Red Men; was an active member of Engine Company, No. 1, Dover, was captain of this company, and is now an exempt fireman, he was a charter member of the Carpenters and Joiners Association, which was founded in 1900. One of the leading characteristics of Mr. BERG is an indomitable perseverance in whatever he undertakes. He respects the opinions and theories of others, and listens to them with a reasonable amount of respect, but he prefers to think for himself, and results usually show that he has thought to some good purpose.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)