Erland Carlsson

Background

Erland Carlsson was born on the Suletorp farm village, Älghult parish, Uppvidinge Municipality, Kronoberg County, Småland province, Sweden. He was one of three children born to Carl Jonsson and Stina Lisa Carlsdotter. His father died when Carlsson was 10 years of age. His mother remarried Erland Danielsson with whom she had three additional children. He graduated from the University of Lund in 1848 and was ordained at Växjö Cathedral into the Diocese of Växjö of the Church of Sweden. He was minister to congregations in Vexio, Härlöv, Öjaby and Lessebo between 1849–53.

Career

During 1853, Pastor Carlsson and a party of 17 members of his parish departed for the United States. He became the minister of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois. Carlsson would lead Immanuel through the terrible 1854 cholera year during which one-tenth of the congregation’s members died and the Chicago Fire of 1871 which destroyed the church buildings and the homes of 90% of the congregation. Pastor Carlsson served at Immanuel Lutheran Church until 1875. He then moved to historic Andover Swedish Lutheran Church (now Augustana Lutheran Church ) in Andover, Illinois where he would serve until 1887.

The Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod in North America (later known as Augustana Lutheran Synod) was established in 1860. The organizing meeting was held at the Jefferson Prairie Settlement near Clinton, Wisconsin. A group of Swedish Lutheran pastors including Jonas Swensson, Lars Paul Esbjörn, Tuve Hasselquist, Eric Norelius and Erland Carlsson pioneered development of the Augustana Lutheran Synod. Carlsson would serve as President of the Augustana Lutheran Synod from 1881–1888. He would also be the Business Manager of Augustana College and Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois as well as the editor of the Missionaeren.