Olof Olsson
Olof Olsson (31 March 1841 - 12 May 1900) was a prominent Swedish-American Lutheran clergyman who served in several churches in the American Midwest. He was also the third president of Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, serving from 1891 to 1899.
Biography
Sweden
Olof Olsson was born in Karlskoga, Värmland, Sweden. He the son of Olof and Britta Olsson. He was educated at the universities of Stockholm and Uppsala, and was graduated at the latter in 1861, after spending a year (1859–60) in the Missionary Institute at Leipzig. He also studied in the theological department of the University of Uppsala, where he was graduated in 1863. He was ordained on 15 December 1863 to the ministry of the Church of Sweden, and at once assumed the duties of pastor, serving in that capacity in Karlstad, Sweden until 1868.
United States
In 1869, Olsson accepted a position as pastor in Lindsborg, Kansas. He emigrated from Sweden with his wife and daughter, his parents, his brother Carl, and 250 others. On August 19, 1869, Olsson founded the Bethany Evangelical Church. During this time, he also served McPherson County, Kansas as State Legislator for two terms. He led the congregation from 1869 until 1876, when he was called to serve as professor of theology in the theological seminary of the Swedish Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. Olsson taught at Augustana from 1877 until 1888. In 1891, Olsson left a congregation at Woodhull, Illinois, to return to Augustana College as president. In 1893, he received a honorary doctorate at Uppsala University.