Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson
Encyclopedia
Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson (April 4, 1815 – October 15, 1883) was a Norwegian Lutheran minister who played an important role in the initial establishment of the Lutheran Church
in Wisconsin
.
in Smaalenenes Amt
, Norway
, as a son of Fredrik Dietrichson (1787–1866) and Karen Sophie Henriette Radich (1794–1867). Through his sister he was an uncle of Johan Scharffenberg
, and he was a distant relative of Wilhelm Dietrichson.
In November 1839 he married Jørgine Laurentze Broch (1816–1841). She was a daughter of Johan Jørgen Broch and a sister of Ole Jacob Broch
og Jens Peter Broch. His wife died in childbirth in 1841, and Johannes Dietrichson then married Charlotte Josine Omsen Müller (1819–1903) in June 1846.
. He took his examen artium
in 1832 and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
in Christiania
in 1837. He worked in Christiania from 1839, and was present at the Norwegian Missionary Society
national convention in 1843. He was ordained
a Lutheran minister on February 26, 1844, immigrating to the United States in July that same year. Dietrichson was called to be a Lutheran pastor in Wisconsin during 1845. A log church was built on a half acre of land purchased by Dietrichson. The first home to the East Koshkonong
Lutheran Church was dedicated on January 31, 1845. After a stay in Norway between 1845 and 1846, during which he married, Dietrichson organized Koshkonong, Luther Valley, and eight other congregations in the state and served as pastor at Koshkonong from 1846 until 1850. He held his post until his return to Norway. At Koshkonong, Dietrichson left in his parish journals and church records of parish membership and ministerial acts, an important written legacy.
Dietrichson experienced a clash of interest with laity leader Elling Eielsen
. Although seeds of controversy were sown when Dietrichson questioned the validity of clergymen who had been ordained in America, he laid a strong foundation for Norwegian Lutheranism
in the United States and encouraged other Lutheran clergymen from Norway to migrate to this country.
Dietrichson returned to Norway in 1850 where he subsequently held two pastorates. He was stationed in Nedstrand
from 1850 to 1862 and Østre Moland
from 1862 to 1876. This entire period was marked by disagreements with local Christians. He then served as postmaster at Porsgrund
from 1876 until 1882. He was the author of Travels among the Norwegian Emigrants in The United North American Free States (Norwegian: Reise blandt de norske emigranter i “De Forenede nordamerikanske fristater) which was published in Stavanger
in 1846. He died in October 1883 in Copenhagen
.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
.
Personal life
Dietrichson was born in FredriksstadFredrikstad
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Fredrikstad....
in Smaalenenes Amt
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, as a son of Fredrik Dietrichson (1787–1866) and Karen Sophie Henriette Radich (1794–1867). Through his sister he was an uncle of Johan Scharffenberg
Johan Scharffenberg
Johan Scharffenberg was a Norwegian psychiatrist, politician, speaker and writer.-Early life:Scharffenberg was born in Moss as the son of military officer Hedvard Carl Scharffenberg and Caroline Fredrikke Dietrichson . He was a nephew of priest Johannes W. C. Dietrichson...
, and he was a distant relative of Wilhelm Dietrichson.
In November 1839 he married Jørgine Laurentze Broch (1816–1841). She was a daughter of Johan Jørgen Broch and a sister of Ole Jacob Broch
Ole Jacob Broch
Ole Jacob Broch was a Norwegian mathematician, physicist, economist and politician. Broch was born in Fredrikstad, the son of war commissary Johan Jørgen Broch and Jensine Laurentze Bentzen . He showed a talent for mathematics at an early age, and after studies in Christiania , he travelled abroad...
og Jens Peter Broch. His wife died in childbirth in 1841, and Johannes Dietrichson then married Charlotte Josine Omsen Müller (1819–1903) in June 1846.
Career
He grew up and attended school in Fredriksstad; his teacher was Hans RiddervoldHans Riddervold
Hans Riddervold was a Norwegian priest and politician.-Personal life:He was born at Teien in Åsgårdstrand as a son of shipmaster Adolf Kvernheim Riddervold and Bredine Bolette Nielsen . He was the father of Julius Riddervold, who in turn was a grandfather of Hans Julius Riddervold...
. He took his examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1832 and graduated from the Royal Frederick University
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in Christiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1837. He worked in Christiania from 1839, and was present at the Norwegian Missionary Society
Norwegian Missionary Society
The Norwegian Missionary Society is a Norwegian missionary organization.It was started by a group of approx 180 people in the town of Stavanger in Norway in August 1842. The goal was to spread the Christian religion to other peoples, mainly in Africa...
national convention in 1843. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a Lutheran minister on February 26, 1844, immigrating to the United States in July that same year. Dietrichson was called to be a Lutheran pastor in Wisconsin during 1845. A log church was built on a half acre of land purchased by Dietrichson. The first home to the East Koshkonong
Koshkonong, Wisconsin
Koshkonong is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,395 at the 2000 census. The town entirely surrounds the city of Fort Atkinson. The unincorporated communities of Blackhawk Island, Koshkonong Mounds, and Vinnie Ha Ha are located in the town...
Lutheran Church was dedicated on January 31, 1845. After a stay in Norway between 1845 and 1846, during which he married, Dietrichson organized Koshkonong, Luther Valley, and eight other congregations in the state and served as pastor at Koshkonong from 1846 until 1850. He held his post until his return to Norway. At Koshkonong, Dietrichson left in his parish journals and church records of parish membership and ministerial acts, an important written legacy.
Dietrichson experienced a clash of interest with laity leader Elling Eielsen
Elling Eielsen
Elling Eielsen was an American minister and Lutheran Church leader.-Background:Eielsen was born on the farm of Sunve in Voss, Norway and brought up in the religious tradition of Hans Nielsen Hauge...
. Although seeds of controversy were sown when Dietrichson questioned the validity of clergymen who had been ordained in America, he laid a strong foundation for Norwegian Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
in the United States and encouraged other Lutheran clergymen from Norway to migrate to this country.
Dietrichson returned to Norway in 1850 where he subsequently held two pastorates. He was stationed in Nedstrand
Nedstrand
Nedstrand is a village and a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway.The village is located on the south-eastern coast of Nedstrandhalvøya, and its population is 241 ....
from 1850 to 1862 and Østre Moland
Austre Moland
Austre Moland is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is currently part of the municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region of Norway. It is home to the Austre Moland church.-Name:...
from 1862 to 1876. This entire period was marked by disagreements with local Christians. He then served as postmaster at Porsgrund
Porsgrunn
is a town and municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Grenland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Porsgrunn....
from 1876 until 1882. He was the author of Travels among the Norwegian Emigrants in The United North American Free States (Norwegian: Reise blandt de norske emigranter i “De Forenede nordamerikanske fristater) which was published in Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
in 1846. He died in October 1883 in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
.
Other sources
- A Pioneer Churchman:: J.W.C. Dietrichson in Wisconsin, 1844-1850 (by Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson. Edited by E. Clifford Nelson. Malcolm Rosholt and Harris E. Kaasa, translators. Published for the Norwegian-American Historical Association by Twayne Publishers. 1973)http://openlibrary.org/b/OL5416173M/pioneer-churchman%3A-J.W.C.-Dietrichson-in-Wisconsin%2C-1844-1850