Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-06-02
EIkhorn College.

Tn. N. Jersild. We clip from it the
following:
HARLAN. May 28.-(Special)-In
the southeast part of Shelby county,
on one of the most beautiful prairie
ridges imaginable, in the center of a
beautiful landscape, is a small inland
college. One of the first that the high
minded Danish pioneers of this Sec
ton of Iowa did was to establish this
institution, known as Elk Horn col
lege. For over quarter of a century
working silently and conscientiously
for long time the only Danish Luth-
eran college in America, this insti-
tuition has done most effective work
for the young people of Scandinavian
parentage. In the years that have
passed there have gone forth from it's
humble halls a body of 1000 to 5000
students, drawn from practically every
state in the union, and today looking
back from places of prominence and
responsibility with feeling of vener-
alton for the pioneer college of the
prairie. There are but few of the
states of the republic that do not have
successful ministers, lawyers, doctors,
professors, farmers and business men,
measure of training and inspiration.
November l, 1878, when yet there
was an abundance of raw prairie in
the east part of Shelby county and
the west part of Audubon, the college
was established with three professors
and with fifteen students. The Danish
Evangelical Lutheran church of Elk
Horn had donated three acres of land
to the college, and on this land in the
summer and fall of '7S, two story
college building and house for one
of the professors had been built. The
founders were members of the local
Lutheran church congregation. Dan
ish Lutherans the country over con-
tributed to the support of the strug-
Cling institution. Several Americans,
admiring the pluck and devotion of
the Danish Lutherans, also contribu-
ted of their means literally to assist
the college. Among the founders and
early helpers may be named Revs.
Nelson, Holm, Rosenstand and o. l..
Kirkeborg, the last named gentleman
having the honor of being the first
president. OF the laymen who lent
ready hands of support were Rasmus
Hansen, George James, p. I. Petersen,
afterwards county surveyor of Shelby
county, Christen Christensen, and
others. Engaged in the work of in
struction at one time or another in the
past twenty six years have been many
men of superior education and ability.
Teachers graduated from the Univer-
sity of Copenhagen, the Iowa State
Normal school, the. University of
Nebraska, and other we'll known
universities and colleges have taught
at Elk Horn. One of the teachers,
Paul Peterson, later became county
superintendent of the public schools
of Shelby county. Today the insti-
tuition has as its president Rev., TIL.
N. Jersild, man of superior intel
lectual attachments and of thoroughly
successful executive ability. He is at
the head of facultyof nine members
and the popular leader and counsellor
of a live student body of eighty young
men and women.
Constrained by the necessity of the
case, the early courses of the college
were restricted in number and charac-
ter. But even at the outset the purpose
of the institution was highly practical
and therefore commendable. The pri-
mary object aimed at by the school in
it's incipiency was the preparation of
young Danish people, who had but
lately come from the fatherland, for
usefulness in this country in the pro-
fessions or in whatever field their lot
may be cast. Hence, both Danish and
English language training was empha
sized from the very start. The spirit
ual needs of the young men and women
were especially thought worthy of
attention. In the words of one of the
present instructors: "The special
purpose was to impress upon their
minds clear view of the spiritual
treasures broughtoover here from the
ture, so they nightly being honest
and true adherents of their forefathers'
religion (the Lutheran church)-be-
come good citizens, enlightened chris
tians, and pious and earnest church
members. Beginning with courses
in the Danish language, English lam
guage, history, science and literature,
music, and particularly the singing of
the Danish hymns and some little pre-
paratory work for the Lutheran minis
try, the scope of the college has been
widened until now there are, according
to the catalogue of last year, the fol-
lowing courses: High school, &C
ademic, normal, domestic economy,
college, music, and some instruction
in gymnastics and physical culture.
Like most small colleges, Elk Horn
has endured some vicissitudes of for
tune. 1t has never had any permanent
endowment. Its chief support has
come from the faithful Danish Luther
an farmers living in the country sur
rounding Elk Horn, and in the nature
of the case this has been in some re-
spects inadequate. The college was
first owned by O. L.Kirkborg, its first
president. In 1880 it was transferred
to the Danish Evangelical Lutheran
church in America. 1t was sold in
1890 to Rev. K. Anker, who owned it
four years and was successful with
the management of it. In 1894 how
ever he transferred his ownership to
the newly organized Danish Evangel
ical Lutheran association. This
church body united with the Danish
Evangelical church in America in 1896,
and from that date until June, 1903, it
was the property af the united body.
In the latter month and year the col
lege property was sold to a stock COM
pany, composed chiefly of members
of the Danish Lutheran church in Elk
Horn. May /, 1887, the college build
ings were destroyed by fire, but so
great was the loyalty to the college on
the part of its friends, it was rebuilt
the same year. Today there are four
buildings, including the main build
ing, three stories in height, devoted
to lecture hall, class rooms, library,
etc. Other buildings are the young
ladies' dormitory and dining hall, a
and substantial gymnasium, 70 feet
long by SO wide. ..