Scarvie, S. A., Rev. 1863 - 1918

SCARVIE, VRAALI, IVERSON

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 10/25/2004 at 21:21:46

Taken from The History of Winneshiek County
Vol. ll

Rev. S. A. Scarvie is a minister of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran synod of America, now in charge of the Glenwood congregation. Almost his entire life has been given to the holy calling, in which he now labors, and his efforts have been of marked influence as a factor in the development of its success. He was born at Telemarken, Norway, July 16, 1863, and came to the United States with his parents in 1872, settling in Fairbault county, Minnesota. He is a son of Aslak and Sigrid (Vraali) Scarvie, who were also natives of Telemarken, the former born August 29, 1825, and the latter on the 7th of February, of the same year. They were married July 9, 1846 and in 1872 came to America. The mother died in 1875 and the father, who had made farming his life work, passed away September 7, 1902. In their family were eight children of whom two died in Norway, while six came to the United States and five are now living.

The Rev. S. A. Scarvie, who is the youngest, was reared upon the home farm in Minnesota, pursuing his education in the graded and high schools of Winnebago. He afterward took up the profession of teaching at the age of twenty-one years and was thus engaged both in his home county in Minnesota and in Winnebago county, Iowa. In 1884 he went to Norman county, Minnesota where he engaged in teaching until appointed county superintendent of schools. Later he was elected to that position, serving for two and a half years. He then returned to Faribault county where he married Miss Magdalena Iverson, who was born in Nicolett county, Minnesota.

For a year after his marriage the Rev. Scarvie and his young wife resided upon a farm which he had purchased and then removed to Delavan where he edited and published the Delavan Herald for four years. For three years of that time he also served as postmaster of the town. Wishing, however, to devote his life to the ministry, he entered the Luther Seminary at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1898, there pursuing a three years' course which he completed by graduation in the class of 1901. He then went to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he took charge of the East and West Paint Creek congregations of the Lutheran church, continuing in that position for four years, until he came to the Glenwood congregation in October, 1906. He also acts as minister for the congregation at Canoe Ridge, in Pleasant township. His labors as a minister of the gospel have been far-reaching and beneficial and his zeal is untiring while his consecration to the work makes him one of the strong and able representatives of the Lutheran ministry.

Unto Rev. and Mrs. Scarvie has been born eight children, Stella R., Arla O., Stanley M., Walter B., Norman G., Theresa C., Esther V. and Vivian C.M., all yet in school. Aside from his active work in the church Mr. Scarvie labors earnestly and untiringly along various lines for the public benefit. He has always been an active temperance worker and is president of the Law and Order League of Winneshiek county. In politics he was a republican until 1912, when he joined the progrssive wing of the party. This was characteristic of him for his life has been actuated by a spirit of progress, advancement and improvement and he does everything in his power to promote the moral, intellectual, political and social as well as material welfare of the community in which he makes his home.

Glenwood Lutheran Cemetery
 

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