Jens Martin Dahl

DAHL, KNUDSEN, MAURSUND

Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 5/30/2006 at 06:32:50

Dahl, Jens Martin, clergyman -- Ratna -- born 14 Dec., 1836, in Karlsö, Tromsö stift, Norway. He received his earliest instruction at the house of his second father-in-law, Rev. Hans Julius Knudsen, who at that time was pastor at Karlsö.

At the early age of thirteen he began to follow the sea as a fisherman, and for some time commanded a fishing-boat. A general revival passing over that part of the country in 1853, Dahl was awakened to a more earnest Christian life, and began to testify to the faith that was in him by teaching and preaching. The great desire of his early life as a revivalist, however, was to become a missionary among the heathen. Accordingly, he left his native land and studied from 1860 to 1866 at the missionary school at Hermannsburg, Germany, and passed the theological examinations required by the royal consistory of Hanover. Shortly afterwards he was ordained by Rev. Niemand, D.D., in Christ church, at Hanover, and departed for India as a missionary in the service of the Germans. Having devoted some time to the study of English and of the Telugu tongue, at Madras, he proceeded to the Telugu country. At first he met with determined opposition, but was finally received as a physician, having meanwhile cured several patients sent to him by the chief. After this favorable change, Dahl and another missionaary named Mylius went to Veenkatagiri, the residence of the rajah, and were granted land for a station at Naidupet, and another station at the residence of the rajah himself, on condition that Dahl would settle in Venkatagiri. Dahl became a personal friend of the rajah, and the progress of the work of the missionaries was gratifying. But Dahl was sunstruck at two different times, and was compelled to return to Europe to recuperate.

While in Norway in 1873 he accepted a call from a congregation in Winnebago county, Iowa, arriving at his present home in the fall of that year. That part of the state was settled about the time in question, and Dahl as well as his parishioners were not spared from the hardships common to all new settlements. There was rapid growth and progress in every respect, however; the church work expanded so fast that at one time Dahl's charge comprised ten congregations; and from time to time new charges have been organized out of congregations which at one time belonged to his charge. Dahl is a highly influential member of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church, and at present serves as vice-president of the board of trustees of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., and as a member of a committee elected by the United church in 1895, to devise improved methods of transacting the business of the annual meetings of that body. He is a Republican.

The maiden name of his first wife was Catharine Maursund, to whom he was married in 1870, and who died in 1887. In 1888 he was married to Louise Knudsen. He has one son and two daughters living.
_________________________________________
History of the Scandinavians in the U.S.; Compiled & Edited by O.N. Nelson; Vol II; 1897; Biographies of Scandinavians in Iowa; pg 184-186
_________________________________________
Photo of Jens Martin Dahl is from the same book:

Winnebago Biographies maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen