Erland Carlsson
Encyclopedia
Erland Carlsson was a Swedish-American Lutheran Minister. He was one of the founders and served as President of the Augustana Lutheran Synod.
parish, Uppvidinge Municipality
, Kronoberg County
, Småland
province, Sweden
. He was one of three children born to Carl Jonsson and Stina Lisa Carlsdotter. His father died when Carlsson was 10 years of age. His mother remarried Erland Danielsson with whom she had three additional children. He graduated from the University of Lund in 1848 and was ordained at Växjö
Cathedral into the Diocese of Växjö of the Church of Sweden
. He was minister to congregations in Vexio, Härlöv, Öjaby and Lessebo
between 1849–53.
which destroyed the church buildings and the homes of 90% of the congregation. Pastor Carlsson served at Immanuel Lutheran Church until 1875. He then moved to historic Andover Swedish Lutheran Church (now Augustana Lutheran Church ) in Andover, Illinois
where he would serve until 1887.
The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod in North America (later known as Augustana Lutheran Synod) was established in 1860. The organizing meeting was held at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement
near Clinton, Wisconsin
. A group of Swedish Lutheran pastors including Jonas Swensson
, Lars Paul Esbjörn
, Tuve Hasselquist
, Eric Norelius
and Erland Carlsson pioneered development of the Augustana Lutheran Synod. Carlsson would serve as President of the Augustana Lutheran Synod from 1881–1888. He would also be the Business Manager of Augustana College and Seminary
in Rock Island, Illinois
as well as the editor of the Missionaeren.
Background
Erland Carlsson was born on the Suletorp farm village, ÄlghultÄlghult
Älghult is a locality situated in Uppvidinge Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 481 inhabitants in 2005....
parish, Uppvidinge Municipality
Uppvidinge Municipality
Uppvidinge Municipality is a municipality in Kronoberg County, southern Sweden, with its seat in the town of Åseda.The present municipality, which took its name from a hundred, was formed by the local government reform of 1971 when Lenhovda, Nottebäck, Åseda and Älghult were amalgamated. The...
, Kronoberg County
Kronoberg County
Kronoberg County is a County or län in southern Sweden. It borders the counties of Skåne, Halland, Jönköping, Kalmar and Blekinge. Its capital is the city Växjö.- Province :For History, Geography and Culture see: Småland...
, Småland
Småland
' is a historical province in southern Sweden.Småland borders Blekinge, Scania or Skåne, Halland, Västergötland, Östergötland and the island Öland in the Baltic Sea. The name Småland literally means Small Lands. . The latinized form Smolandia has been used in other languages...
province, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He was one of three children born to Carl Jonsson and Stina Lisa Carlsdotter. His father died when Carlsson was 10 years of age. His mother remarried Erland Danielsson with whom she had three additional children. He graduated from the University of Lund in 1848 and was ordained at Växjö
Växjö
Växjö is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 64 200 inhabitants in 2010. It is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö. It has a population of about 64 200, out of a...
Cathedral into the Diocese of Växjö of the Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
. He was minister to congregations in Vexio, Härlöv, Öjaby and Lessebo
Lessebo
Lessebo is a locality and the seat of Lessebo Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 2,623 inhabitants in 2005.- References :...
between 1849–53.
Career
During 1853, Pastor Carlsson and a party of 17 members of his parish departed for the United States. He became the minister of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois. Carlsson would lead Immanuel through the terrible 1854 cholera year during which one-tenth of the congregation’s members died and the Chicago Fire of 1871Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
which destroyed the church buildings and the homes of 90% of the congregation. Pastor Carlsson served at Immanuel Lutheran Church until 1875. He then moved to historic Andover Swedish Lutheran Church (now Augustana Lutheran Church ) in Andover, Illinois
Andover, Illinois
Andover is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 578 at the 2010 census, down from 594 at the 2000 census. -Geography:Andover is located at ....
where he would serve until 1887.
The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod in North America (later known as Augustana Lutheran Synod) was established in 1860. The organizing meeting was held at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement
Jefferson Prairie Settlement was a pioneer colony of Norwegian-Americans located near the village of Clinton, in Rock County, Wisconsin. This site and the nearby Rock Prairie settlement outside Orfordville, Wisconsin served as a center for both Norwegian immigration and developments within the...
near Clinton, Wisconsin
Clinton, Wisconsin
Clinton is a village in Rock County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,162 at the 2000 census . The village is located within the town of Clinton...
. A group of Swedish Lutheran pastors including Jonas Swensson
Jonas Swensson
Jonas Swensson was a noted minister of the Lutheran Church and president of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church....
, Lars Paul Esbjörn
Lars Paul Esbjörn
Lars Paul Esbjörn was a Swedish-American Lutheran clergyman, academic and church leader. Esbjörn was a founder of Augustana College and of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church.-Background:...
, Tuve Hasselquist
Tuve Hasselquist
Tuve Nils Hasselquist was a Swedish American Lutheran minister and church leader.-Biography:Hasselquist was born in Hasselröd, Osby Municipality in Skåne County, Sweden....
, Eric Norelius
Eric Norelius
Eric Norelius was a Swedish-American Lutheran minister, church leader and author.-Background:Eric Norelius was born on October 26, 1833 in Norrbäck, Hassela parish, in Nordanstig Municipality, Gävleborg County, Sweden. He received his early education at Hudiksvall's allmänna läroverk...
and Erland Carlsson pioneered development of the Augustana Lutheran Synod. Carlsson would serve as President of the Augustana Lutheran Synod from 1881–1888. He would also be the Business Manager of Augustana College and Seminary
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
in Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
as well as the editor of the Missionaeren.