Rev. A.J. Orke
Rev. A. J. Orke, a clergyman of the Norwegian Lutheran faith, and pastor of four congregations with headquarters at Pigeon Falls, is a splendid representative of that faithful body of clergy who have made his faith so highly honored throughout the civilized world. Fulfilling the old ideal as a father of his people, he combines a deep and sympathetic understanding of human nature with much scholarly ability, and his work has resulted in a most decided uplift to the community. Modest as to his personal achievements, he places his church and the welfare of his congregations as above everything else in his life, and the results he has achieved, with the assistance of his Divine Master, have been far reaching and permanent. At Northfield and at Whitehall churches have been built under his leadership, and the spiritual life of all his congregations has been greatly quickened. Rev. Orke was born in Skjold, Stavanger, Norway, Sept. 26, 1857, of a long line of God-fearing people who had lived on the same place for several generations. The father, John Orke, and the mother, Anna Roaldsvik, are both dead, the former having died in 1897 and the mother in 1899. They were the parents of 11 children. The subject of this sketch, as a youth, attended the common schools, and in 1881 was graduated with honors from the Koppervik Normal School. In 1882 he came to America and secured employment as teacher in a parochial school at Kenyon, Minn., while perfecting himself in the English language. In 1883 he entered the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah, Iowa. Then in 1884, having decided to devote his hfe to the service of the church, he took up his studies at the Augsburg College, and in 1886 entered the Theological Seminary. Graduating in 1889, he was ordained to the ministry by the Rev. G. Hoyme. His first charge was at Chetek, in Barron County, this State, where he had charge of five congregations. In 1895 he came to Pigeon Falls, taking charge of the congregations at Pigeon Falls and Smithfield, organizing the one at Whitehall in 1899 and taking charge of the one at Independence in 1913. Of these, the one at Pigeon Falls is the largest, having about 800 members. Rev. Orke was married May 6, 1891, to Olga Peterson, born in Colfax, Wis., daughter of Peter and Olava Peterson. This union has been blessed with seven children : Agnes 0., Mildred P., Selma, Hazel R., Hjelmar A.. Beatrice S. and Gerhard.
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)
(from HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY WISCONSIN
Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Edited by Eben Douglas Pierce, M.D.
H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
Chicago and Winona 1917)