Willmar tribune., 1907-05-08
PROF. SVERDRUP DEAD
Noted Educator and President of
Augsburg Seminary Dies Sud-
denly in Minneapolis.

home in Minneapolis early Friday
morning was received here by Will
mar relatives and his many friends
with deep feelings Of regret. Men,
bers Of the Norwegian Lutheran
Free church thruout the entire
Northwest will mourn his death, as
he was a man Of unblemished repu-
tation and sound scholarship and
eminent piety. Deceased is the
father Of Mrs. M. B. Michaelson,
wife of Rev. Michaelson of this
city, both Of whom went down to
attend the funeral, which was held
yesterday afternoon at two o'clock
Rev. Gynild was also among the
churchmen in attendance at the last
sad rites. The following obituary
is taken from last Fridays Minnea-
polls Journal:
Prof. George Sverdrup, presi-
dent Of Augsburg Seminary for
more than thirty years, died sud-
denly last night at his home, 729
TWenty-second avenue S. He had
been complaining for a day or two,
but it did not appear that his ILL.,
ness was serious. Last night he
was in some pain and got up to get
some comfort by the freside. Not
long afterward Mrs. Sverdrup found
her husband stretched across the
bed apparently in faint. He was
dead, however, stricken without
warning and without the least sus-
picion that death was near.
Mr.. Sverdrup comes from one of
the most distinguished families in
Norway. His grandfather, also a
Professor George Sverdrup, was one
Of the patriots who met at Eids-
void in 1914 and on May II promul.
gated a constitution that gave Nor
way her independence. John Sver.
drup, premier of Norway for many
years and the country's greatest
constructive statesman, was his un-
Gle, and DR.. Jacob Sverdrup, form.
erly a cabinet minister, was q
| brother.
He himself was a scholar of re.
cognized ability and was an author.
ity on the old testament. Called
to Augsburg seminary in 1874, he
served one year as professor in
theology, then one year as treas
urer, and in 1876 was elected presi-
dent, a position he has filled ever
since with satisfaction to the de.
nomination with which he had iden-
titled himself.
George Sverdrup was born Dec.
16, 1848. After the usual schooling
he entered the University Of Chris.
tiania in 1865. Six years after he
passed the theological examination
He travelled in Germany and Italy,
pursuing his studies, and spent the
year 1873 in Paris in the study OF
the Semitic languages, Assyriar
antiquities and other subjects bear.
ing on the study of the old tesla
ment.
Thru the efforts of his lifelong
friend, Prof. Sven Oftedal, he, with
the late Professor Gunnerson, ac
cepted a call to Augsburg Semin
ary in 1874. He was for man!
years a leader in the old Norwe
gian Lutheran conference, but OF
the secession of the Friends O.
Augsburg from the newly organ
lied United Church, he allied him
self with the former and assisted
in organizing the present Norwe
gian Lutheran Free church, whicl
: retained possession Of the Augsburg
seminary property included in tn
block bounded by Seventh AM
Eighth streets, Twenty-frst ant
Twenty-second avenues S.
Mr.. Sverdrup was twice mar
ried, his first wife dying abou
nineteen years ago. Three year
later he married her sister, Mis-
Heiberg, a former deaconess il
Norway.
The surviving members of tn
family are Elsie, wife of the Rev
Mr.. Michaelson of Willmar; George
Jr., now at Beirut, Syria, study
ing subjects relating to the Bible
Inga, wife of Prof. William Mill
of Red Wing; Misses Gunhild ant
Ragna and Masters Harald and Ed
ward, all Of whom are living a
home.s
) "A. r.. Rice and F. H. Knox hav'
! been appointed as members of tn,