Second Pastor
Pastor Adolph Carl Preus was born in 1814 in Trondheim, Norway. He was educated in Christiania University graduating in 1841. He became a teacher in Kopervik, Norway from 1845 to 1848, was ordained in 1848 and served as a pastor at Gjerpen, Norway from 1848-1850. He then decided to come to America.
Before leaving for America he married 18 year old Engel Marie Brun. She died in 1860. In 1861 he married Martha Magdalena Aadland.
When Pastor Dietrichson returned to Norway in 1850, Pastor Preus took his place and resumed the organization work that Dietrichson had begun. Preus was one of seven pastors who sought to form a common synod. They succeeded in 1853. Preus was elected chairman, a position he held until 1862. The organization was named the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but later became better known as The Norwegian Synod.
Pastor Preus was West Koshkonong's second Pastor and was credited with organizing 20 congregations and held services frequently in surrounding churches, On his travels he often had to preach once or twice a day. In 1860 he accepted a call to Our Savior's Church in Chicago and remained there until 1863 moving to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin and serving there from 1863-1872. Due to failing health at age 58, he returned to Norway in 1872 with his wife, who was born in the Untied States and their four children. He served at West 1850-1960.
Before leaving for America he married 18 year old Engel Marie Brun. She died in 1860. In 1861 he married Martha Magdalena Aadland.
When Pastor Dietrichson returned to Norway in 1850, Pastor Preus took his place and resumed the organization work that Dietrichson had begun. Preus was one of seven pastors who sought to form a common synod. They succeeded in 1853. Preus was elected chairman, a position he held until 1862. The organization was named the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, but later became better known as The Norwegian Synod.
Pastor Preus was West Koshkonong's second Pastor and was credited with organizing 20 congregations and held services frequently in surrounding churches, On his travels he often had to preach once or twice a day. In 1860 he accepted a call to Our Savior's Church in Chicago and remained there until 1863 moving to Coon Prairie, Wisconsin and serving there from 1863-1872. Due to failing health at age 58, he returned to Norway in 1872 with his wife, who was born in the Untied States and their four children. He served at West 1850-1960.
