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Ottesen, Jacob Aall Rev. 1825 – 1904

OTTESEN, DODERLEIN, STUB, CHRISTIAN, CATHINKA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/31/2019 at 14:10:04

Source: Decorah Republican Nov. 3, 1904 Page 4

JACOB AALL OTTESEN

Died in this city last Saturday as the day was verging upon the Sabbath, this venerable citizen of this city passed away, aged 79 years, 3 months and 27 days.
The active years of deceased were spent in pioneer missionary work among the Norwegian Lutheran Churches of Wisconsin. When these were—as it seemed—ended he came to Decorah to be near Luther College and close by friends of his youth with whom he labored shoulder to shoulder, and since 1891 his home has been in our city. He was one of a trio of pastors—Pastor Stub of the Big Canoe church and Pastor Koren of the Washington Prairie church being the other two.
The main events in the life of the deceased we obtain from a sketch of his career written by Rev. John Koren, son of Rev. V. Koren, as it appears in a volume entitled American Lutheran Biographies, that was published in 1890.
Rev. Jacob Aall Ottesen was born in Norway, June 1, 1825, in the country parsonage of Tedt, where his father and grandfather had resided as clergymen for fifty years. The family, which is one of the oldest and best known in Norway, is noted for its many clerical members. Among the near relatives of Pastor Ottesen there have been more than forty clergymen.
Having received a fitting education he completed theological studies at the University of Christiania, where deceased graduated with honors in 1849. Three years of usefulness he spent as teacher at Nissen Latin school and at the Heltborg Preparatory Institute for the University. At about this time the tide of emigration to the United States had set in, and in 1852 some of his countrymen who had settled in and about Manitowoc, Wis., sent him a call to be their pastor. This he accepted. After receiving ordination to the ministry at the hands of Bishop Arup, he took passage for American in a sailing vessel with his young wife Catherine Doderlein of the Christiania Cathedral-school. A few weeks’ journey brought them to New York City. At the request of Ole Bull, who had just founded his short-lived colony of Norwegians—Oleano—in Pennsylvania, Rev. Ottesen went there and preached to his countrymen before setting out for Manitowoc.
It was in this latter place his life work commenced. The charge was made up of three organized congregations in and about Manitowoc and eight or ten missionary stations stretching all the way from Green Bay to Milwaukee. This was doing pioneer work of the most trying kind, requiring in the face of many privations not only an ardent love of the Master’s work, but also great physical endurance. Like the circuit rider of other denominations, his time was spent in unceasing travel, mainly on horseback. From thirty to fifty miles a day would be covered in this manner, sometimes along the shores of Lake Michigan, then through the silent, trackless primeval forests, often in the cold of winter. Here he contracted a chronic rheumatism that has ever afterward reminded him of those first days of toil and travel in his endeavor to bring the gospel of Christ in his countrymen.
But his work was soon to have a wider horizon than was dreamed of, perhaps. In February, 1853, he was found by that heroic little band of Norwegian missionaries which met at Koshkonong, Wis., to consult about the future and welfare of their congregations, and it was there that the Synod for the Norwegian Lutheran Church of North American was founded, then, as now, the representative body of the Norwegian Lutherans in this country. For a number of years Rev. Ottesen served the Synod as its Secretary. Not long after the organization of the Synod he was sent on a most important mission on behalf of that body. In 1857 he, together with Rev. N. Brant, was appointed a delegate of the Synod to visit the Lutheran Theological Seminaries at St. Louis, Columbus, Ohio, and Buffalo, N. Y., with the view of finding a suitable institution for the education of young men among the Norwegians to the ministry, the seminary of St. Louis was chosen and a professorship created that was supported by the Norwegian Synod. Thus were formed the bonds of close fellowship that have ever since existed between the Norwegian Synod and the German Misouri{sic} Synod.
Rev. Ottesen remained at Manitowoc until 1860 when he accepted a call to the congregations in Koshkonong, Wis., until he removed to his final earthly home in Decorah. In addition to his pastoral duties, he accepted in association with Rev. H. A. Preus, the editorship of “Evangelisk Luthersk Mannedstidende,” a religious monthly devoted to the interests of the Norwegian Synod. This he continued for seven years when the editoiral department was transferred to the faculty of Luther College, Decorah. The Synod was soon, however to call him to assume new duties. When the Luther Seminary at Madison, Wis., was erected Rev. Ottesen was called to become its president and a professorship, but declined. Again, in the same year when the Synod was divided into districts, he was elected president of the eastern district, but could not be persuaded to accept. Later he served as a member of the board of visitors for his district for a number of years.
Although having borne for more than a generation the burden of unremitting labor and physical infirmity, Rev. Ottesen still (in 1890) continued to discharge his duties as a pastor to his large congregations, besides rendering active service to the church body, which he helped to found in the days of his youth. With his classical training, keen reasoning powers, ability as a writer and counselor, and above all, his ardent devotion to the truths embodied in the confession of the Lutheran church, he stands, and always has stood, a representative man among his brethren, honored and revered as one of the fathers of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America.
Though the life and work of Rev Ottesen have not attracted the attention of the world, having been carried out in that obscurity which necessarily surrounds one who gives himself up to the welfare of any small community of a foreign tongue in this country, it has nevertheless been one of heroism and self-denial which deserves a wide mention. To men like him who have made it the purpose and aim of life to carry the truths of eternity to their fellow being. Our country owes its noblest achievements of true progress and civilization and their countrymen a lasting debt of gratitude.
This biographer whom we have quoted so freely added another paragraph relating to what he fittingly termed “the happy family life” as it existed at that time (1890.) To this much was contributed by “the charming personality” of the deceased. His “quiet wit” has delighted many, but it was suddenly by the death of four children—three in infancy—and the passing away of a daughter, Didrikke, wife of Prof. H. G. Stub of Luther Seminary, leaving two grandsons. Besides these there survive him one son, Rev. Otto Christian, and one daughter, Hanna Cathinka.

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In 1891 the family then consisting of the parents and two children came to Iowa. In that year he completed his pastoral work, but in the winter of 1894-5 he was persuaded to assume charge of the Synod church in this city, and to it he gave a year and a half of service. On the last Saturday of October, five years ago, his beloved wife, after forty-seven years of devoted communion, quietly fell asleep and awoke in Heaven. It was his wish and prayer that whenever God willed it to be his end might be like hers. His prays were answered in spirit and letter. He, too, passed from this life over into eternal life without a struggle, and with a peacefulness like that of one who lies down to pleasant dreams. The community—especially the circle in which he quietly moved—has lost one whose presence and influence was as a sweet benediction
The Lutheran Jubilee held in this city last year brought into strong light the splendid work Pastor Ottesen and his intimate associates have done. It was the semi-centennial of the organization of the Synod, and King Oscar of Sweden recognized it by sending a special representative to confer upon Rev. Ottesen and Rev. H. A. Stub the degree of Knight of the Order of St. Olaf, and upon Rev V. Koren the degree of Commander of the same order.
The quantity of other service Rev Ottesen has rendered,—who can measure it? For thirty years he served as a member of the board of directors of the Lutheran Publishing House. This was but one of the many ways in which he was constantly aiding and guiding the great body of which he was one of the originators.
Who will rise up and fill all the responsible places which fell to his lot and were accepted so willingly and ably?

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