Johan Olsen (pastor)
Johan Olsen (July 3, 1834 – September 11, 1911) was an American pioneer Lutheran minister and church leader. Olsen served as the second president of the Conference of the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.[1][2] BiographyJohan Olsen was born in Helgeland, Norway on July 3, 1834.[3] Olsen was the only son of Ole and Anne Jacobson. He graduated from Tromsø Seminary in 1854, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Christiania.[3][4] Johan Olsen married Rakel Johanna Rodli on August 15, 1858. Together they had eleven children.[5][4] In 1866, Olsen immigrated to the United States. He moved to Paxton, Illinois, where he became a teacher at Augustana College.[3] In 1867, Olsen was ordained, and became a pastor at Lutheran churches in Neenah and Fort Howard, Wisconsin.[3] On April 19, 1867, Olsen began serving the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Denmark, Wisconsin.[6] In 1870, Olsen became the first vice-president of the Conference of the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.[3] In 1872, he became the second president of the Conference serving until 1881.[4] In 1873, Olsen moved to St. Ansgar, Iowa, and began serving First Lutheran Church.[5] During this time, Olsen also served as vice-president and trustee of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. In 1883, Olsen became the editor of the Norwegian Lutheran church newspaper, Lutheraneren of Mission-Blaldet.[5][1] Olsen died on September 11, 1911, and was buried in the cemetery of First Lutheran Church.[1] References
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