Johan Mattson Autobiography

Consists of a document written by Johan Mattson in 1951 and translated between 1953-54 and is his autobiography and biographical sketch of his parents and birthplace.

Biographical Note

Johan Mattson’s parents were from Orkdalen, Norway. His father, Martinus Olson, born 1820, was a shoemaker. His mother was Martha J. Fritzner, born 1826. They had ten children, three of whom died in their childhood. They also raised a homeless girl who later immigrated to Seattle, Washington. Three children immigrated to America: Otto in 1887, Johan in 1888, and Ole in 1889. Johan’s father died in 1902 at age eighty-two and his mother in 1918 at age ninety-two. Johan was born 30 September 1867 in Hevne, Norway. He passed away in 1962 at age ninety-four.

In Norway he was hired out as a young boy to work on a neighbor’s farm in order to earn money for the family. He immigrated to America in 1888 and attended Augsburg College and Seminary from 1890 to 1898 and was ordained. He served pastorates throughout Minnesota. He was Secretary of the Lutheran Board of Missions of the Lutheran Free Church from 1919 to 1933 in Minneapolis. From 1933 to 1942, when he retired from active service, he was Rector of the Martha-Mary Children’s Home and the Ebenezer Old People’s Home in Poulsbo, Washington. He lived in Seattle, Washington, from 1942 to 1951, continuing his association with these homes on a part-time basis.

In 1952 he returned to Minneapolis and resided at the Ebenezer Home until his death. He also served as president of the Lutheran Free Church in 1914 to 1916 and from 1918 to 1920. He was also president of the Board of Organizations of the Church and president of Bethesda Homes at Wilmar. His work took him to tour the mission fields in China. He also was editor of several church papers, mostly in the Norwegian language. Johan married Minnie and they had three daughters, two sons, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.