Herman Amberg Preus
Rev. H. A. Preus was born on June 16, 1825 in Kristiansand, Norway. His ancestors were Germans who settled in Norway in 1700. Preus' grandfather was a Lutheran clergyman; his father, a college president; and his mother, a member of the illustrious Keyser family. He received the degree of A.B. from the University of Norway in 1843 and that of can. theol. in 1848. In 1851, he accepted a call as pastor from three churches in the vicinity of Spring Prairie, Dane and Columbia counties, Wisconsin. Being a hard worker, Preus soon extended his field of activity far beyond the original charge. He preached in numerous places within a radius of fifty miles, and often he would preach at places located over one hundred miles from home.
On July 25, 1854, in response to a written call from the Norwegian settlers at Lemonweir, Adams County, Wisconsin, he organized "The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Lemonweir." Preus conducted thirty-four church services during the eleven years that he served the Lemonweir parish. On October 3, 1883, he participated in the dedication of the East Lemonweir Church and on November 2, 1893, he participated at the dedication of the West Lemonweir Church.
Preus was married in 1851 in Norway to Caroline Dorthea Margrethe Keyser,
of Kristiania, Norway, who died in 1880. He died on July 2, 1894 in Lee,
Illinois. They were both buried at the Spring Prairie Cemetery in Keyser,
Wisconsin. Their children included: Rev. C. K. Preus, Rev. J. W. Preus, Mrs.
Rev. I. Nordby, and Mrs. Rev. Dan. Kvaase.