SYVERUD, Nils K. 1825-1896

SYVERUD, PEDERSON, PAULSEN

Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 10/5/2012 at 19:03:25

Saturday morning at 9 o'clock, August 15th, 1896, the death of Nils K. Syverud suddenly occured at his home in St. Ansgar, Iowa. Mr. Syverud was born May 9th, 1825, in Nalders, Norway. At the age of 22 years he married Ingeborg Pederson and two years later early in the spring 1849 he emigrated from his native valley and came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 4th, after a long and troublesome voyage during which they had for a time lost their course and were drifting on the ocean. He preceeded directly to Bluemont, Dane county, Wis., where he purchased land and lived twenty years. September 27th, 1857, his beloved wife died leaving him alone to care for five motherless children, the oldest of whom was nine years and the youngest only six weeks. In 1859 he married Berith Paulsen, with whom he had two children. Ten years late, 1869, he sold his farm at Bluemont and moved to Rock Creek, Mitchell county, Iowa, where he bought a farm and resided till 1887, when he sold it and moved to St. Ansgar, Ia, at this place he resided since. Mr. Syverud has for a long time been a patient suffered from heart disease which so suddenly put an end to his suffering.

The last few days his health had apparently been rather improving and even that very morning on which it pleased the merciful Father to call him away, he was about as usual. Though death seemed to come unexpectedly upon him, yet he realized its nearness and was prepared whenever the heavenly summons should come, for he had heeded the Lord's command. "Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die." Mr. Syverud generally acted his long and eventful life, the part of one of the "peaceful in the land," he took an active part both in the matters of state and church. He was a trusted and honored man; he affliated himself readily with the interests of his adopted country and threw all his infuence in its favor. For several years he was township treasurer and tax collector at Bluemont during the civil war though he himself could not enlist, yet he wished to do something for his country, he was commissioned for several townships to enlist substitutes and volunteers for the cause of the Union. In Mitchell county, Mr. Syverud was widely known for he was County Supervisor for two terms and was three years postmaster at Meroa. He discharged faithfully and with ability the duties of the various public offices he held and did all he could for the public welfare. In matters pertaining to church he was no less active; he was deeply interested in all kinds of church work and held various offices of trust and influence in the church. Those congregations both that of Rock Creek and the Norwegian Lutheran Congregation of St. Ansgar, the latter of which he has been a member since he came to this place will cheerful bear him testimony of his anxious care to the welfare not only of the several congregations, but also of the Lutheran church in general; even to such a degree that when he could no longer contribute sums of money to the church it really grieved him that he was unable to do so; therefore he become so much the more an active worker.

These congregations will cherish his membory for along time. Having been a pioneer in two settlements his influence for good will long endure in those communities of which he was a member.

The funeral srvices was held Monday, August 17th, at Norwegian Lutheran church, Rev. Olsen officiating. A large number of people both from Rock Creek and from Osage attended. He was placed at his final rest in the Norwegian Lutheran cemetery of this place. He leaves a widow, aged 74 years, four sons and three daughters to mourn his loss. All of whom were present at the funeral except his son, Knut, who lives at Ossiabrock, N.D.

St. Ansgar Enterprise