"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Rev. Frantz C. E. Norman, pastor of the United Norwegian Lutheran church at Windom, is a native of Norway, hut has been a resident of Minnesota since he was nine years old and has therefore been a witness of and a participant in the wonderful development of this region during the past generation. He was born on June 13, 1862, son of John E. and Martha (Hartvikson) Norman, both natives of Norway. the former of whom came to the United States in 1869 and prepared a home for the reception of his family near Rochester, this state. The familily came over in 1871 and shortly thereafter John E. Norman and his family located on a farm south of Byron, in Olmstead county, where they lived until 1875, in which year they left the farm and moved to Mankato, where Mr. and Mrs. Norman spent the rest of their lives, both dying in 1898, he at the age of eighty-one and she at the age of seventy-five. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last born, the others being Aletta, Ulrikka, Jennie, Caroline and Arnt S., of whom but two now survive, the Rev. Frantz C. Norman and his sister, Ulrikka.

Frantz C. E. Norman was about nine years old when he came to this country and his studies, which had. been interrupted when he left his native land, were resumed in the Minnesota schools, his elementary education being received in the schools at Salem, Olmsted county, and at Mankato. Having early consecrated himself to the gospel ministry he then entered Augsberg Seminary at Minneapolis and upon, completing the course there was ordained a minister of the United Norwegian Lutheran church in 1892. His first pastorate was at Watertown, South Dakota (five congregations), at which place he served during the period 1892-99, in which latter year he accepted a call to the circuit at Brookings, South Dakota (two congregations), and was pastor there until 1904. He then was called to Fosston, in Polk county, this state (four congregations), and served there until 1907, in which year he was called to Seneca, Illinois (three congregations), where he remained until the call to the churches at Windom, Heron Lake and Brewster, came to him in 1910, since which time he has made his home in Windom and has proved himself one of the most potent forces for good in that entire community. The Reverend Mr, Norman is a preacher of much power and has a large and devoted following in his congregation at Windom, his church exerting a wide influence in the way of promoting the best interests of the city and surrounding country.

It was during his residence in South Dakota that the Rev. Frantz C. E. Norman was united in marriage, at Bruce, June 13, 1895, to Emma Agnes Olsen, who was born in Wisconsin, June 13, 1872, daughter of Andrew and Mary Olsen, natives of N'orway, the former of whom came to this country in 1863 and the latter in 1860. Andrew Olsen and his wife were married at Highland, in Fillmore county, Minnesota, later moving to Coral City (later Whitehall), Wisconsin, where Mr. Olsen engaged in the mercantile business, but later returned to Minnesota and engaged in business at Highland, where he remained for eleven years, at the end of which time he went to South Dakota, and engaged in farming near the town of Bruce, in Brookings county, and was thus employed for twenty-five years. He and his wife are now living retired al Brookings, he at the age of seventy-five and she at the age of seventy-one. To them six children were born, those besides Mrs. Norman heing Dora, Edward (deceased), Clara, Eva and Orrin.

To the Rev. Frantz C. E. and Emma Agnes (Olsen) Norman five children have been born, as follow: Margaret, born on September 13, 1896, who was graduated from the Windom high school in 1914 and is now student in the music department of the South Dakota State Agricultural College; Clarissa E., December 4, 1897, who was graduated from the Windom high school with the class of 1916; Elsie F., May 13, 1900, now a student in the Windom high school; Victor F., January 9, 1907, and Andrus S., October 31, 1911.