Oscar Elmer

Rev. Oscar Henry Elmer was born August 27, 1844 at Unionville, New York.  He attended Hamilton College at Clinton, New York from where he graduated in 1865.  From 1865 to 1868 he attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City.  He was ordained January 28, 1869 in the St. Paul, Minnesota Presbytery.  His first pastorship was at Sauk Centre, Minnesota where he served from 1868 to 1871.  In 1871, Rev. Elmer was sent, by the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, to Moorhead, Minnesota.  He arrived in October of 1871.  He was also instrumental in organizing churches at Fargo, Grand Forks, Casselton, Wheatland, Tower City, and Mapleton.  In 1893 he became pastor at the Warrendale, and Knox Presbyterian Churches in St. Paul, Minnesota.  He retired in 1901 although he remained active in church work until his death on August 15, 1904 at St. Paul. 

The Elmer Collection consists chiefly of his diary and several register books containing various vital statistics on ministerial acts performed by Rev. Elmer.  The several letters are from his children in connection with obtaining Rev. Elmer's papers.  The main portion of his papers is a typescript copy of the diary Rev. Elmer kept from 1869 until 1889 which he himself called a Journal.  There are almost daily entries with only several substantial gaps.  The entries basically relate to his daily activities and travels with mention of many people.  Also contained in the collection are marriage certificates (1870-1872) as well as copies of Rev. Elmer's sermons. 
 

Religion