Representative from Winnebago county, was born in Calumet, Michigan, on the twenty-seventh day of December, 1875, of Norwegian parentage. Moved to La Salle county, Illinois, in 1879, and to Worth county, Iowa, in 1889. After having finished the graded school he attended St. Ansgar Seminary, St. Ansgar, Iowa, and later on St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1898. Took up the study of theology in 1898 and was graduated from the united Church Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1901, and was ordained the same year a pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Served for three years as pastor in Chickasaw county, Iowa. In 1904 he moved to Forest City to take up the work as pastor of the Lutheran church and president of the Waldorf Lutheran College. Elected Representative in 1908. A Republican in politics.