Conducting the largest independent grocery and meat market in East Greenwich, George A. Bergstrom has built up the business to this point within less than half a dozen years by a close attention to every detail of the work and an unflagging industry. Mr. Bergstrom’s interest in all progressive movements of the community has been notable, and indicates the highest type of citizenship, as does his military record during that period when our country needed all its manpower to overcome the common enemy, and sent millions of soldiers overseas for that purpose. He has also shown a spirit of comradeship by his affiliation with many popular organizations and has through that attitude made a great circle of friends. He is one of the vt important elements of the commercial and social body of the State, contributing through his enterprise largely to the general prosperity.
He was born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, March 7, 1894, a son of John A., a native of Sweden and engaged here as a farmer until his death, and Mary (Benjaminson) Bergstrom, also a native of Sweden and now deceased. He was educated in the public schools of his birthplace and then entered business as a clerk in the grocery and market of F. O. Bergstrom, in East Greenwich. Here he continued until 1924, when he became proprietor of the enterprise which became the firm of George A. Bergstrom and Company. On April 27, 1918, Mr. Bergstrom enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to 310th Infantry, 78th Division. He served overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces for one year, taking part in the St. Mihiel offensive, September 12 to 16, 1918; and other actions in that sector, including the Meuse-Argonne, October 11 to 16, 1918, where he was wounded in action; he returned to the United States and was honorably discharged and mustered out, with the rank of private, first-class, May 29, 1919. He is a member of the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce, being treasurer of the retail division; and belongs to the Nautilus Club and to East Greenwich Post, No. 15, American Legion. He is a Republican in politics, attends the Swedish Lutheran Church, and enjoys fishing and touring as recreations. Fraternally, he is affiliated with King Solomon Lodge, No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons; and with Narragansett Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and other bodies within the organization.
George A. Bergstrom married, in 1919, Alice Jensen, of Granville, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of four children:
- Barbara Ann Bergstrom.
- David Allan Bergstrom.
- George Alfred Bergstrom, Jr.
- Dorothy Alice Bergstrom.
Source: Carroll, Charles. Rhode Island: Three Centuries of Democracy, vol 3 of 4. New York: Lewis historical Pub. Co., 1932.