Biography/History:
Rev. Parelius H. Rognlie was born near Trondhjem, Norway, December 21, 1858. In 1870, he immigrated with his parents to the United States and lived in Houston County and eventually Lyon County, Minnesota. In 1881, he entered the preparatory school at St. Olaf's College, Northfield, Minnesota, and later attended Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, earning his way by teaching school and doing farm work. In the fall of 1885, he went to Europe in order to receive treatment for his eyes and was operated on at the State Hospital in Norway. When he returned to the United States, he resumed teaching and continued his studies by himself. In 1888, he was admitted to the Luther Theological Seminary, Minneapolis, and graduated on June 26, 1891. In February 1891, he was called as pastor for the Fort Ridgely, Dale, Palmyra, and Clear Lake congregations, Renville and Sibley counties, Minnesota. On July 22, 1891, he was ordained at Fort Ridgely and Dale church by Rt. Rev. K. Bjorge, assisted by Rev. S. J. Bergh, Rev. N. P. Xavier, Rev. Thomas Johnsen, and Rev. B. Askevold. 

Parelius Rognlie was married to Ronnaug Marie M. Gullerud. Together, they had six children: Ingolf Herman Marentius (March 26, 1896); Katharina Josephine (December 26, 1897); Parelius Monrad (January 28, 1900, died July 2, 1901); Palma Margrethe (born April 8, 1902); Clarence Parelius Monrad (May 6, 1904); Julia Christine (October 4, 1908). 

Scope and Content:
The Rev. Parelius H. Rognlie papers consist of photographs of multiple generations of the Rognlie extended family, personal and professional correspondence, sermons, school notebooks, and various other records that document the life of a pastor in Southwestern Minnesota. Records also include photographs of Nils Xavier, a Sami pastor who originally homesteaded in the Rognlie parsonage.