Johan Nathan KILDAHL

1857 - 1920  (63 years)

• Name	Johan Nathan KILDAHL
  Birth	Jan 1857	Beitstaden, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
  Gender	Male
  Minnesota Death Certificate	1920-MN-021995
  Death	25 Sep 1920	Hennepin County, Minnesota
  Burial	Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota
  Notes	In the 1870 census he was “attending school” and living on the farm of Ole Jermstead in Chippewa Falls Twp, Pope County, Minnesota. In the 1885 state census, he is the 28 year-old J. N. Kildahl living with his young family in Holden, Goodhue County. The household consists of J.N., 28, Bertha, 23, John L., 1, Nels Kildahl, 13, Knut Paulson, 50 and born in Norway, and Berit Soine, 17. He is the John N. Kildahl recorded in the Chicago Voter Registration List of 1892. At that time he lived at 141 North Centre and had resided in the area for 3 years. Second president of St. Olaf College (1899-1914). Came to this country in 1867 according to the 1900 census. In the 1920 census, he is professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He was a member of Trønderlag of America in 1910. This was (and still is) the bygdelag for emigrants and their descendants from the Trøndelag region of Norway. J.N. Kildahl, of Northfield and from Namdalseidet, was listed in the Trønderlaget’s 1910 yearbook. In that yearbook, J. N. is shown as having emigrated to the U.S. in 1866. From the St. Olaf web site: John N. Kildahl (1857-1920) emigrated as a boy from Norway to rural Goodhue County. His family's ties to the founders of St. Olaf's School were numerous. He was confirmed by B. J. Muus at Holden Church, before the family relocated to Northfield and before Kildahl left for Iowa and Luther College. After his theological training, Kildahl returned to Northfield for ordination, by Muus, at St. John's Church. Called first to nearby Vang and Urland congregations, Kildahl attracted attention through his earnest evangelical preaching and warm personality. Also serving briefly as principal and professor at Red Wing Seminary, Kildahl was called in 1889 to Bethlehem Church in Chicago, which flourished during his pastorate. In 1899, Kildahl returned to Holden as Muus's successor, only to find himself unexpectedly elected President of St. Olaf. A reluctant president, Kildahl began without ceremony. But many have credited him with defining St. Olaf as a strong liberal arts institution and college of the Church, which finds its mission in preparing young men and women for lives of vocational service. Students experienced him as a religious mentor, and he presided over a lively spiritual community. Bringing the curriculum up to date, Kildahl also recruited a distinguished faculty that included Carl Mellby in the social sciences, Ole Rolvaag in the humanities, F. Melius Christiansen in music, and Emil Ellingson in the sciences. Kildahl also began the construction of a more extensive campus. Resigning in 1914, Kildahl spent the remainder of his career as a professor at Luther Seminary, St. Paul. He also served as pastor of St. John's Church from 1899 to 1903 and participated in the congregation's 50th anniversary celebration in 1919.
  Person ID	I7712	Don Carlson's Tree
  Last Modified	30 Aug 2008

  
  

  Father	Johan Nilssen,   b. Abt 1819, Beitstaden, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
  Mother	Nikolina Andersdatter BUVARP,   b. 1827, Beitstaden, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
  Family ID	F10601	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Bertha SOINE,   b. 7 Sep 1861, Minnesota d. 29 Oct 1941, Spink County, South Dakota (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1883
  Children	1. Johan Lauritz KILDAHL,   b. Abt 1884, Minnesota d. Bef 1887 (Age < 2 years)   2. Karl Olaf Rosenius KILDAHL,   b. Jun 1885, Minnesota d. 11 Aug 1951, Hubbard County, Minnesota (Age 66 years)   3. Johan Lauritz KILDAHL,   b. 28 May 1887, Nerstrand, Rice County, Minnesota   4. Anna Nicoline KILDAHL,   b. 30 Sep 1889, Illinois d. 22 Nov 1972, Minnesota (Age 83 years)   5. Lars Sigurd KILDAHL,   b. 10 Sep 1891, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois d. 18 Feb 1975, Goodhue County, Minnesota (Age 83 years)   6. Harold B KILDAHL,   b. Apr 1895, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois d. 30 Aug 1904 (Age 9 years)
  Family ID	F5867	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Oct 2006