Preus, Christian Keyser 1852 – 1921

PREUS, KEYSER, HJORT

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/23/2015 at 18:22:56

CHRISTIAN KEYSER PREUS.

Among the foremost educational institutions of the state of Iowa, perpetuating the clean spirit of the mighty and righteous man whose name it bears, is the Luther College of Decorah, and Christian Keyser Preus as its president has done much to uphold the wide reputation which the institution enjoys. Moreover, President Preus is the vice president of the synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church and as such is a power for good in preserving the sturdy faith in which the ancestors of his people found salvation. He follows the footsteps of his worthy father, who was one of the six founders of the synod and who for thirty-two years served as its president.

Christian Keyser Preus was born in the Spring Prairie parsonage, twenty miles north of Madison, Wisconsin, on October 13, 1852. His father, Herman Amberg Preus, in 1853, with five other ministers, took part in the founding of the synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church, and becoming its president in 1862, served in that important office until 1894 or the time of his death, consecrating his life to the extension of church affairs and being a powerful factor for good among his countrymen. The father was born in Christiansand, Norway, on June 16, 1825, and at the age of twenty-three was graduated from the theological department of the University of Christiania. For several years he held a position as teacher at the Nissen School, Christiania, Norway, and also at the military school. When twenty-six years of age, in 1851, he received and accepted a call from Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, and other congregations in that state. In the same year he was married to Miss Caroline Dorothea Margarethe Keyser. From 1861 to 1868 he did valuable work in extending the influence of the synod by editing, in company with Rev. J. A. Ottesen, the official organ "Maanedstidende." In 1862 he was elected president of the synod for the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran church in America and as such served to his death, which occurred on July 2, 1894. He held, in addition to this, his first pastorate at Spring Prairie until his death.

Christian Keyser Preus was reared amid the influences of a cultured home in an environment conducive to the development of the highest qualities of manhood. He received his early education in the public schools and by private instruction and in 1865 came to Decorah and entered Luther College, but on account of illness had to discontinue his studies for about two and a half years. In 1866-67 he accompanied his father on a tour to Norway and in 1868 he was confirmed. In the fall of that year he again took up his studies at the Luther College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1873. The following three years he spent in the study of theology at Concordia Seminary at St. Louis, Missouri, from which he graduated in 1876 and was later in the same year ordained to the ministry. Thereupon he was called to be his father's assistant at the Spring Prairie charge. He was installed the eighth Sunday after Trinity, just twenty-five years after the installation of his father in the same charge. Before entering upon his duties at Spring Prairie, however, he had already served Our Savior's congregation in Chicago temporarily for two months, and after seventeen years he again served the same congregation, this time for about one and a half years.

President Preus has been a stanch friend and warm supporter of the synod and early was recognized as a man of ability and executive force. He has served on various standing committees and has three times been elected vice president namely in 1893, 1896 and 1911. On the two former occasions he declined the office, and had he accepted when first elected he would have become president, as his father, who was then president, died the following year.

Rev. Preus was married in 1877 to Miss Louise Augusta Hjort, a daughter of Rev. Ove Jacob Hjort, then minister at Paint Creek, Allamakee county, Iowa. Of this union eleven children were born, of whom two daughters and five sons are living. The daughters, Henrietta and Kathinka, are at home. Ove, the eldest son, is a minister in Los Angeles, California. Carl has charge of the Norwegian Lutheran church at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Jacob is a commissioner of insurance of the state of Minnesota. Paul is employed as a bank clerk at Stanley, North Dakota. Ove, Carl, Jacob and Paul all are graduates of Luther College and Herman, the youngest son of the family, is a student there.

In 1897 President Preus was compelled, on account of ill health, to retire from the active ministry, whereupon he removed to Decorah in order to afford his children the best educational advantages possible. He became, in 1898, an instructor at Luther College and in 1902, upon the resignation of Dr. Laur Larsen, then president, was elected to that distinguished position. President Preus has spared no effort to promote the welfare of the institution. He has strengthened the faculty during his administration and it was principally due to him that the fine new dormitory, Laur Larsen Hall, was erected in 1906-07 at a cost of sixty-five thousand dollars. In accordance with a resolution passed by the synod President Preus was present as a representative of Luther College at the centennial anniversary exercises held in Christiania, Norway, in September, 1911, to commemorate the founding of the University of Norway. On this occasion a distinguished honor was conferred upon him by the sovereign, King Haakon VII, who made him a commander of the Royal Order of St. Olaf of the second class. That the work of Rev. Preus has been of inestimable value to Decorah and to the extension of his church is apparent without further comment, and that he has contributed toward raising the standard of citizenship is evident in itself. Mr. Preus is not only beloved by his students and the faculty but is highly esteemed and respected by the general public, who esteem him as a man who through sincere efforts has accomplished a distinct advancement along intellectual and moral lines.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Decorah Lutheran Cemetery gravestone
 

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