I went to visit Gerald Dobler when I went to Germany in the 1990s. Gerald took me to the old Berg farm where George Berg immigrated to the US from....Gerald took me to the two Catholic Churches that were within 2 to 4 miles of the original Berg farm in Germany and said our ancestors most likely went to one of these Catholic churches. In this area of Germany, there are no graves from the 1800s or before, and I asked Gerald why, because I wanted to look for names on the head stones to find our Berg ancestors. Gerald told me something about in the 1800s and before, all the dead people's bones were put together in an area near the church or something like that, so there are no individual head stones from long ago in this area of Germany. It was very interesting.
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George Berg
(1858-1927)
George Berg was born on 17 December 1858 in Bavaria, Bayern, Germany. He married Margaretha Henningsmith in 1882.
In 18881, George and Margaretha emigrated from Germany to the United States where they settled in Michigan. A family story tells us:
Having been unfairly gypped out of their last five dollar coin when they arrived at the train station in Bay City, Michigan, George and Margaretha found themselves in a foreign country, penniless, and barely able to speak the language. Furthermore, the individual who was to meet them at the train was nowhere to be found.
A stranger who spoke German secured George and Margaretha a position working on a farm. Eventually, members of the community helped them purchase their own farm in Williams Township, Bay County, Michigan.2
We do not know his literacy prior to what was recorded in the 1900 census. But, by that year, he was able to read, write, and speak English.
George became a naturalized citizen in 1895.
George remained a farmer in Williams Township until his death of influenza in 1927. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Auburn. He was also a member of the A.U.V.3 in Frankenlust, Michigan.
Funeral services where held at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery in Kawkawlin, Michigan with Fr. William Walsh officiating.
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