Source: "History of the Swedes in Illinois, Part III - Biographical Sketches with Portraits - Counties at Large," by Ernst W. Olson and Martin J. Engberg, printed by the Engberg-Holmberg Publishing Company, Chicago, 1908.

Transcribed by Denise McLoughlin, Tampico Area Historical Society, www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 240

P. OLOF I. BERSELL minister of the Swedish Lutheran Augustana Synod was born at Rock Island, Ill, May 6, 1882, his parents being Prof. A. O. BERSELL, deceased and Uma Botilda, née LAGERLUND.

After completing six grades of the public school he was enrolled as a student at the academic department of Augustan College in 1892,  and graduated from college, with the bachelor's degree, in 1899. Four years later he entered the divinity school of the same institution, graduating in the spring of 1906 with the degree of B. D At the annual meeting of the Augustana Synod, held shortly afterward, he was ordained to the ministry and assumed charge of the Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Church at Chicago Heights, to which he had been called.

While a student, BERSELL taught parochial school in a number of localities in the central West. During the school year of 1899 - he was instructor in Greek and other subjects at Luther Academy, at Watson, Neb. During the next two years he taught public school in Valmar, Mich, also preaching in the mission field of the Illinois Conference in Northern Michigan For one year, 1904-05, Mr. BERELL was instructor in United States History at Augustana College. He was president of the graduating class of the Augustana Theological Seminary in 1906.