Born: 12 Aug 1836, Nesvoldberget, Trysil, Norway
Married: 1) 1 Dec 1871 to Goro Thornby
2) ca. 1909 to Ranvel Gavle
Died: 15 Jun 1917, Emmons, MN
Buried: Lime Creek Church cemetery, Emmons, MN
Death of a Pioneer Pastor
In 1870, the Trysil congregation was organized by Paul Gjermundsen Østby. Pastor Østby was born in Trysil, Norway, August 12, 1836. He attended the common school and when he attained the age of twelve years his teacher insisted the boy had learned all there was to learn in this school. This closed his school work and study until he was about twenty years old when he accepted a position as instructor in a school at Vaalor, in Solør and here he continued until 1859 when he entered Asker Seminary. After his studies he became a teacher at Vaalor until 1868, when his friends persuaded him to leave for the United States and study for the ministry. He graduated from the Theological Seminary at Marshall, Wis., in November 1870.
In this early day preachers were few and their duties in caring for the religious welfare of rapidly settling communities gave opportunity for a young enthusiastic pastor of Rev. Østby’s type. He saw the need of organizing congregations in the new Scandinavian settlements in upper Iowa and throughout Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. There were scarcely any railroad facilites, but nevertheless he served them all to the best of his ability. During these early years, he served ten and twelve congragations at one time which necessitated traveling from place to place all the time. By 1877, it was evident that this strenuous life could not be continued and he resigned his duties as organizer to serve as pastor of Lime Creek and Lake Mills (Iowa) congregations. He moved to his farm home near Emmons, MN where he made his home until his death.
At the time of organizing districts in the conference, Rev. Østby was elected district president and was re-elected for a number of times until he resigned. Rev. Østby was elected visitator for the southwest district which included all Lutheran congregations west of the Mississippi River and south of the Winona and St. Peter Railroad, making his travels extend out to the James River and Yankton, SD and south again as far as Adams county, Iowa.
As busy as his life may seem to have been, he found opportunity to make several trips as home missionary. As such he organized congregations in Wisconsin, one in Douglas Co, MN (Trysil congregation), two in Ottertail county, crossing into Becker county, where he preached at the various places, officiating at baptisms, etc. His trip continued through Clay county crossing the Red River to Georgetown and stopping to organize a congregation a few miles south on the Dakota side. This was the first congregation to be organized in the Red River Valley.
The salary of a man fulfilling the duties such as related of Rev. Østby must have been amply remunerative. Yes– the salary. The church treasury in those days was empty. Rev. Østby labored and looked forward to his pay “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” and now he has gone to receive and to hear his Savior say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Rev.Østby had been in poor health the last two or three years and in the last few months he was confined to his bed. He retired in 1915.
December 1, 1871, he was married to Goro Thornby. To this union nine children were born, four of whom have died. Goro died in 1908. He later married Ranvel Gavle, who died in 1912.
The surviving relatives are one brother and one sister in Norway; five sons, George, of Forest City, Iowa; Bernhard and Selmer of St. Paul, Minn; James of Crane, Oregon and Paul of Emmons. There are 22 grandchildren.
Death came June 15, 1917 and funeral services were held at Lime Creek Church Tuesday afternoon, June 19. Interment was made in the cemetery adjacent to the church. It was one of the largest funerals ever held at this church.