Founding Pastor
Johannes Wilhelm Christian Dietrichson was born in Fredrikstad, Norway, on the 4th of April 1815. His parents were Capt. Fredrik. Dietrichson and Karen Sophie Henriette Radich. In his early youth he attended the high school at Fredrickstad, whose principal was at that time the excellent scholar and preacher, Rev. Hans Riddervold, who was also bishop of the diocese of Throndhjem. Dietrichson attended this school up to his eighteenth year, when he was admitted to the Royal Frederick University at Christiania, Norway, from which he graduated with high honors in 1837. Immediately after his graduation he received appointment as tutor at the salt works near Tonsberg, where he remained one year. He then returned to Christiania, where he was engaged for a while partly in attending the theological lectures in the university, partly in giving instruction at a private school, which he, in connection with other persons, had established, and partly in attending to the religious instruction of the prisoners at the prison.
In November, 1839, he was married to Miss Jorgine Laurense Broch, who died in 1841, leaving her husband and an infant son to mourn her death. This traumatic experience affected him severely and in spite of financial difficulty, he left his son with grandparents and traveled through Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland studying theology and attempting to find himself.
In the spring of 1842, by the urgent request of Christian brethren, and with the promise of partial support, he determined, after mature deliberation, to visit his countrymen in North America, for the purpose of breaking to them the bread of life. Accordingly, he received holy ordination in the Oslo church on the 23rd of February, 1844, with Bishop C. Sorensen officiating.
Having arrived at Koshkonong Prairie, Wisconsin, he preached his first sermon on Friday, August 30th, 1844, in the afternoon. The service took place in a barn belonging to Mr. Amund Anderson in the East Settlement. On the following Sunday (September 1, and 13th Sunday after Trinity) he held communion services at the same place in the forenoon. On the following Monday (September 2nd) he held services with communion in the West Settlement under a large oak on Mr. Knud Aslakson Juve’s farm. On the 10th of October, 1844 at a meeting held in the East Settlement at Mr. Asmund Anderson’s house, he organized a congregation of forty families, and on Saturday, October 19th, he organized a congregation in the West Settlement of about thirty families. From these congregations, Mr. Dietrichson received a call on the 3rd of March, 1845, which he accepted, on condition that the congregation should grant him permission first to make a trip to Norway. He secured the temporary services of Rev. C. L. Clausen, then of Muskego, Wisconsin, to minister to his congregations during his absence.
May 12th, 1845, Rev. Dietrichson left for Norway, where he was married to Charlotte Mueller, returning to America in September, 1846. On his arrival, Rev. Clausen returned to his charge at Muskego, and Dietrichson resumed his labors as pastor at Koshkonong, where he remained until 1850, when he again, accompanied by his wife, went to Norway, the congregations having called Rev. A. C. Preus to be his successor at Koshkonong.
During his pastorate at Koshkonong, Rev. Dietrichson made many missionary journeys in Wisconsin, organizing congregations at Rock River, Pine Lake, Heart Prairie, Sugar Creek, Whitewater, Spring Prairie, Norway Grove and Bonnet Prairie.
Pastor Dietrichson was the first pastor from Norway who came to America. After his return to Norway he received appointment as resident pastor at Nerstrand from 1850-1862 and Ostre Moland from 1862 to 1876. After many conflicts. Dietrichson was urged by the bishop to apply for the post as a postmaster. Tired of all the fighting, he chose to do so, resigned from the active ministry and was appointed postmaster at Porsgrunn. Here he died from a stroke of paralysis in Copenhagen in October of 1883, leaving a wife and daughter. He was buried at Porsgrunn, Norway.