REV. PETER RASMUSSEN.
The Rev. Peter Rasmussen, who is a native of the little kingdom of Denmark, in his native land, was a farm hand. In fact, he worked at this occupation until he was twenty-three years of age, when he decided to come to America.
After Mr. Rasmussen's arrival in America, he decided to prepare himself for the ministry, and began his preparation for this profession at the Trinity Seminary, at Blair, Nebraska, which is under the control of the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran church of America. He was a student at this institution for six years, after which he was ordained to the ministry in the Danish Lutheran church. His first pastorate was in the parish at Fresno, California, where he remained for nine years. He then served as the pastor of the parish at Eugene, Oregon, for five years. On April 1, 1913, he came to Exira, Iowa, and has been in charge of the religious work of the Danish Lutheran church of Exira for more than two years.
Peter Rasmussen was born on May 5, 1865, in Denmark. His father and mother were Rasmus and Hannah (Olsen) Anderson, both natives of Denmark. Rasmus Anderson was a farm hand in his native country, and spent all his life there. He died more than a quarter of a century ago, in 1876. His wife, however, survived him many years, and died in 1906. Rasmus Anderson was a soldier in the War of 1848-50 between Denmark and Germany and served during the entire period of this great war. Peter Rasmussen was one of six children born to his parents, the others being Christina, Carrie, Anton, Nels and Ole, all of whom are still living in Denmark, Peter being the only one of the family who came to America.
Peter Rasmussen received his early education in the schools of Denmark, and after leaving school worked as a farm hand in his native land
until his twenty-third year, when he came to this country.
On June 27,, 1894, shortly before he was thirty years of age and several years after his arrival in America, Peter Rasmussen was married to Mary Bartelsen, the daughter of Lars Bartelsen, and to this union nine children have been born, namely: Lawrence, Lona, Minnie, John, Martha, William, Carl, Marie, Helen, all living at home with their parents.
Rev. Peter Rasmussen is identified politically with the Republican party, but has never participated actively in politics, his preaching and pastoral duties having demanded most of his time and attention. He is not only a fluent and powerful speaker, but he has successfully discharged his duties as the pastor of an important parish, and is popular among the congregation of the Danish-Lutheran churches at Exira, Hamlin and Atlantic.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 616-617.
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