# Albert Berg (politician) *Swedish-American farmer, educator and Minnesota politician who served as Secretary of State and as a state representative* Albert Fredric Berg (June 25, 1861 – February 13, 1920) was a Republican officeholder in [[Minnesota]]. He held the office of [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] for three terms, from 1895 to 1901, and was the eleventh person to hold it. He then sat for one term in the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]], from 1901 to 1903. Before entering politics, he was a farmer and an educator, and he was of Swedish descent.[^1] Before his statewide service, Berg was a teacher in Chisago County schools and the county's register of deeds. As Secretary of State, he served under two [[governor]]s, [[David Marston Clough]] and [[John Lind (politician)|John Lind]].[^1] ## Early life and career Berg's parents were Swedish, and he was born in Center City, Minnesota, on June 25, 1861. After common school in Chisago County, he attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota (1877–1878), and then Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota (1878–1880).[^1] He was employed by the *Daily Argus*, a newspaper in Fargo, North Dakota, until 1884. Between 1884 and 1886 he taught in the schools of Chisago County.[^1] Berg's first public office came in 1886, when he was made register of deeds for Chisago County. He held that post until 1894.[^1] ## Secretary of State In the 1894 race for Secretary of State, Berg stood as the Republican nominee. His opponents were Charles J. Haines of the Minnesota [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Peter J. Seberger of the Populist Party and Charles Winger of the Prohibition Party. Berg received 52.71 percent of the vote and won by a margin of 28.85 percent.[^1] Voters returned him to office in 1896 and again in 1898. His six years in the office spanned the governorships of Clough and Lind. [[Peter E. Hanson]] followed him as Secretary of State.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives Berg next served one term in the state House as a Republican. He represented the 63rd District, made up of Kittson, Marshall and Roseau counties.[^1] ## Later career and death From 1904 to 1906, Berg was a director of the State Bank of Warroad in Warroad, Minnesota, and he also worked as a cashier.[^1] Berg died of pneumonia on February 13, 1920, at the age of 58. His death took place at the Mounds Park Sanitarium in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]. He was buried in Center City, in the Chisago Lake Cemetery.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Albert Fredric Berg, a Swedish-American farmer, educator and Republican politician.[^1] ### What - Eleventh Minnesota Secretary of State, three terms; won the 1894 election with 52.71 percent of the vote.[^1] - Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 63rd District, one term.[^1] ### When - Born June 25, 1861; died February 13, 1920, aged 58.[^1] - Register of deeds, Chisago County, 1886–1894.[^1] - Secretary of State, 1895–1901.[^1] - House of Representatives, 1901–1903.[^1] ### Where - Born in Center City, Minnesota; buried in Chisago Lake Cemetery, Center City.[^1] - Died at Mounds Park Sanitarium, Saint Paul.[^1] - State Bank of Warroad, Warroad, Minnesota.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Albert Berg (politician)*, English Wikipedia (revision 1375862876, retrieved 2026-10-25) — biographical account of Berg's education, offices, elections, later career and death. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Berg_(politician)>