Manfred History & Preservation, Inc.
Issac L and Gina Berge
Husband's Full Name: Issac L. Berge
Husband's Place of Birth: Forest City, Iowa
Husband's Father's Name: Lars Anderson
Husband's Mother's Name: Kerstine Gurine
Husband's Siblings' Names: Peter and Lauritz Berge
Wife's Full Name: Gina Maria Arnston
Wife's Place of Birth: Blackhammer, Minnesota
Wife's Father's Name: Halvor Arnston
Wife's Mother's Name: Guro Rask Arnston
Wife's Siblings' Names: Sigrid Quarve and Christian Arnston
Children's Names: one foster daughter Mrs. Osten Kvaalen
In 1900, Issac and Gina were married in Fessenden, ND. They then moved to Manfred, ND where he had a grain elevator and managed the hardware store owned by Timan Quarve. T. L Quarve was married to Gina’s sister Sigrid. The store was located in the lot known as the triangle, just south of the church. They are listed on the 1900 Census of the James River Precinct along with other people who then lived in Manfred.
Issac was also the second postmaster in Manfred; this was in the year 1900. The hardware store changed hands in 1902.
From Manfred, the Berge’s moved to Fessenden staying there for a couple of years. Then they moved to Velva, and lived in Velva for 15 years and proved up a homestead in McLean County. Isaac was one of the church founders in Velva. Issac developed the Berge Grain Elevator Company with elevators in Velva, Ruso, Max, Parshall, Butte, Elgin, Golden Valley, and Mercer. Eight years of depression and draught, however, was too much. In 1938 he lost his entire company – eight elevators across North Dakota. In 1922 they were living in Bismarck, and later they moved to Minneapolis.
