Julia (Dalager) Solverud-Knutson: Pope County Superintendent of Schools

Glenwood Herald, Oct 24, 1918

Mrs. Solverud seeks county Superintendent of School

• Born June 7, 1879 in Pope County
• Graduate of St. Cloud State Normal School 1901
• Taught Rural & graded school in Minnesota for 8 years
• Married to T. Solverud of Hayfield, Minnesota
• T. Solverud died November 29, 1915 in Mankato, Minn.
• Mrs. Solverud moved to Glenwood with son Truman
• Julia has been a speaker on various war topics
• Candidate for Superintendent of Schools of Pope County

In the fall of 1918 Julia was elected Superintendent of Schools of Pope county and served two terms serving until 1926. Here she met with much success, encouraging her teachers and helping them to make the most of their teaching opportunities. In those days there were no welfare boards to provide help and people began to come to her with their problems.

On June 27, 1923 Julia married Knute Knutson of Minneapolis. The ceremony was performed by Rev. G. G. Beito at the home of the groom’s parents in Swift Falls, Mn. Following the wedding reception the couple left for Minneapolis, Chicago and many places made famous by Lincoln.

Julia and Knute made their home in Glenwood where Julia continued her work as Pope County Superintendent of schools. Knute was an attorney and was later appointed judge of the district court at Benson, Minnesota, and would later become a State Legislator.

Julia ran for reelection in 1926 against some strong forces. Following is a message to the voters of Pope County on the behalf of Julia written by teachers and ex-teachers of Pope County.

We, the voluntary committee of teachers and ex-teachers, are urging the re-election of Julia D. Solverud-Knutson as County Superintendent of Schools of Pope County by making a straight forward plea upon the ground of efficiency and merit.

Julia D. Solverud-Knutson was born and raised in Pope County, was graduated from St. Cloud Teacher’ College in the class of 1901. She has had eighteen years of successful experience in the Educational Field, has taught for a period of ten years in the rural and semi-graded and graded schools of our state. She has also taught art in high school. She has served eight years as our County Superintendent of Schools and has proven to be a most efficient officer.

We, that have worked for years in the schools under the supervision of our present County Superintendent, have had the opportunity of seeing the great progress in the rural schools and have learned what it means to be of service to the boys and girls. More and more interest has been manifested in the pupils, teachers and parents of our county.

When Mrs. Knutson comes to visit the schools she brings with her the spirit of love and service. Teachers and pupils look forward to her coming. Her valuable suggestions are given in such a way that no offense can be taken. She always brings a beautiful message to the children in the form of a friendly, motherly talk. In these messages she sews seeds that we believe in due time will sprout and bring forth its valuable fruit and prepare the children to become citizens that will be a credit to themselves and to our nation.

Some of us have taught in other counties and we find that the pupils here are given wonderful opportunities. Mrs. Knutson gives the eight-graders a chance to make up one conditional mark during the summer vacation. This saves the pupil from attending school in the country for only one subject. You can imagine the extra work this gives her and for such services she charges no compensation.

Pupils who are unable to attend school after they are sixteen years and have been unable to finish the eighth grade are not forgotten by our County Superintendent. For those she has prepared a correspondence course that she offers to give them free. Many ambitious boys and girls in Pope County have availed themselves of this opportunity and many have made records for themselves which they could never have attained without the encouragement and help of Mrs. Knutson.

It may be well to touch upon the duties of our County Superintendent. Some hold that the County Superintendent has charge of all the Schools. This is not true. The County Superintendent of Pope County where all the districts are organized has charge of all the semi-graded and rural school, eighty-four in number. The four high school, namely Villard, Glenwood, Starbuck, and Cyrus. are directly under the state and visited by the high school inspector. Lowry and Sedan are graded schools and inspected by the graded school inspector.

The voters of the villages of our county should consider this carefully, and it should be their aim to cast their ballot for the candidate that will give the semi-graded and rural schools the best services. We feel that in the coming election the villages have the best opportunity to prove their loyalty to the rural districts by casting their ballots for our much loved County Superintendent, Mrs. Solverud-Knutson.

We teachers feel, furthermore, that the office of county Superintendent of Schools is a woman’s job. We feel more free to deal with a woman, and at present 95 per cent of the teachers are women and 75 percent of these are young girls. The value of Mrs. Knutson’s advice and council to these young teachers can not be estimated in dollars and cents. We find in her a most sincere friend and advisor. We learn she rejoices with us in our achievements and grieves with us in our sorrows.

The social work which Mrs. Knutson is giving to our people without compensation must not be forgotten. If any of the children are physically unfit to study she seems to pick them out very readily and we find that she drives miles out of her way to visit with parents of such children and the result invariably is that the parents will consult their family physician within a short time.

Some say that Mrs. Knutson is married and should not have the position. What about the men in office who are married? Does either the law or common sense specify or recognize nuptial relations as a qualification for service? In every state in the Union married women are active in educational work as directors, superintendents and teachers. President Coolidge said recently: “I can conceive of no experience better adapted to give either a woman or man that knowledge which is more likely to be of value in the discharge of public office than that which comes from family life.”

In this pleasure seeking age we can all truly say our County Superintendent is not numbered among those. She is on the job all the time. She is so conscientious in her work that we know it would be unlike her to take the time that rightfully belongs to the boys and girls in the rural schools to campaign. Seventy-five per cent of the schools have already been visited this fall. We feel that it is only our duty to take this step in order to let the voters of Pope County know what our County Superintendent means to the teachers and pupils in the school under her supervision. Let us show her our appreciation for the splendid service she has given us in the past by re-electing her with an overwhelming majority on November 2nd.

Yours for efficient service,

TEACHERS AND EX-TEACHERS OF POPE CT

Julia won that election, but was not re-elected in her third bid. Following her defeat, Julia wrote a farewell message. She had given so much of herself to this job. Excerpts from that message follow.

To the three great pillars that assisted me during the tragic accident and illness that made my son a cripple, I wish to extend my heartiest thanks. These pillars took the form of three neighborhood boys, namely: Bernhard Linnevold, Erwin Haldorson and Howard Vegoe. Through the faithful assistance you gave me, I was able to survive. Your services to me could never be paid in dollars and cents. Only the Giver of all Good Gifts can reward you, and I have an assurance from Him that you will become vessels of much value, and thus bring your Maker a Good Price.

To the teachers and ex-teachers who have served during my two terms in office, I wish to express my sincere thanks for the faithful manner in which you have performed your duties. The great wave of progress which has taken place in Pope county is mostly due to the efficient services you have rendered. Remember that I shall always stand ready to serve you whenever you feel that my services will be of value to you.

The boys and girls in the rural and semi-graded schools of Pope county will never be forgotten by me. Your courteous treatment, the kindness you have shown me, and the great efforts you have put forth to please me and live up to my expectations will ever linger in my mind.

I was taught, when a child, by my kind father, that it is not the stone that broke the window, but the force that throws it. He taught me never to carry grudges, but to serve my fellow men with heart and soul. I have tried to live up to his teachings and can at this time say with the Great Emancipator, “Malice toward none and charity to all.”

Pope County, the home of my birth, much have I labored inside your walls, and greatly do I love your people. And now, may the New Year Bells proclaim happiness and liberty to all your inhabitants, and may the Redeemer of Mankind cast the shadow of His wing over each and every one of you and give you peace.

As County Superintendent of Schools, Pope County, I bid you a kind FAREWELL. Most sincerely,

Mrs. Julia D. Solverud-Knutson.

Julia (Dalager) Solverud-Knutson: Bringing the Message of Christ to Jews of the Middle West

In 1936, after regaining her health, at the age of 57 years, Julia dedicated her life to a new cause, bring the message of Christ to the Jews of the Middle West. The following article appeared in the first issue of the Midwest Jewish Mission paper, V. L. Peterson, Director.

Wife of Ex-Congressman Knutson of Benson, Minn, now field representative of Midwest Jewish Mission. She loves her Lord and has been a lover of Israel since childhood.

Opportunity was given her to realize her life-long ambition of visiting Palestine. After an extended tour of Palestine and surrounding countries, she worked with Pastor Peterson for four years while he served in his former charge. When the Red River Valley Bible School offered the Jewish course she came as a student, was baptized and to better further the work joined the local Baptist Church at Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Through favorable circumstances, afforded to but few she is now free to devote much of her time to traveling about, telling in her most brilliant and fascinating manner of how God is preparing the land for the return of Israel. She was asked to speak more than two-hundred times in Fargo and Moorhead alone. Already she has become well-known and loved among the Baptist groups, and almost every church she has visited wants an return engagement.

Here is a partial list of subjects on which she speaks: 1. Who are the Children of Israel? 2. Palestine in Desolation. 3. Palestine restored as Predicted. 4. The promised Highway between Egypt and Assyria. She has more than a score of such interesting subjects. Write her for speaking dates. In order to get around to as many churches as possible, it is suggested that her conference be for only one or two days in each place.

Julia (Dalager) Solverud-Knutson: Midwest Hebrew Mission

The Midwest Jewish Mission moved the headquarters to St. Paul in the early 1940’s and renamed themselves the Midwest Hebrew Mission. Their headquarters was located in a large house at 1349 Midway Parkway, St. Paul, Minn. The building still stands only a few blocks east of the east entrance to the State Fair Grounds. The building had two cement lions, one either side of its front steps.

Following is a letter describing her work written by Julia to her sister Cora. She was in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada at the time. Because of her reference to Tollef, we know that the letter was written in November, 1944.

My dear Cora,

Here I am at the above, look it up on the map. Way north, south of Edmonton. I will leave here the later part of the week to go to Edmonton. Calls are coming in fast and I do not know how long I will be here. Have been called back to a few places before I return so may not get back until December. I am meeting a lot of fine people at the meetings. Weather was lovely while I was in Winnipeg. Spoke in four churches and at the Winnipeg Bible Institute gave 8 messages in all. Then I went to Killarney (Irish settlement) gave 4 messages there at two points and thus I have journeyed on thus far. I have delivered 35 messages from 45 minutes to 1 hour & 15 minutes. Where my audiences are most interested some have asked for extra time.

I had such a good rest and fine visit at your house. I think you have a lovely place and am sure you will have it all paid for in a short time. Then one surely can make a good living and not work so hard. As we grow older we need more rest. (Missing a sentence about a fine boy.) I believe in putting all grief behind us and look ahead to the great goal we hope to reach looking neither to the right or to the left but ahead.

I am feeling good but get very tired at times. Yesterday I spoke 4 times, one message was short however and this morning I took an early bus and had a ride of 70 miles. Will rest this evening as it is Monday. Tomorrow at 10 A.M. I am speaking at a ministerial meeting, only ministers. I was surprised when I heard I was booked for that meeting. May the Lord give me a powerful message as I go before that group.

Remember me to all your family. Hope you had a lovely visit with Lorna while she was at home. May God bless the young couple. I feel happy over her marriage. I feel it will be a successful one. Enclosed find one of my articles I have written to fight anti-Semitism.

Lots of Love. Julia

My dear Cora, I so often think of you living with Tollef and I at Sherwood, N.D. Tollef was so proud of Cora. He used to say how lovely that young sister is. Love from Julia.

The close of this month marks Tollef’s rest as 29 years.

The need for this ministry is well described by the following paragraph taken from the Annual Report dated May 1945.

The great difficulty of this work may be seen from the fact that although thousands of able pastors have preached the gospel, and hundreds of splendid churches have been ministering to Jew and Gentile alike for some eighty years or more here in the Twin Cities, yet the fruit among the Jews is so negligible that it can scarcely be seen at all, for hardly a Jew can be found on the church rolls in the entire Northwest.

The work of the mission was carried out using a letter outreach to Jewish families, 2nd using a flyer named “A Voice to Israel” which was given a wider distribution and finally using the spoken word and personal contact. The job of bringing the spoken word fell mainly on the shoulders of Julia.

As a result of the ministry that Aunt Julia carried out during the time that I was growing up, I was able to get to know her well. A lot of her ministry was in Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Therefore, she would stop at our home at St. Hilaire, Minn. quite often. Our family, especially my sister and I, loved to hear her tell of her trip to Palestine. She told about her experience swimming in the Dead Sea and of the Handkerchief spring or geyser. You could put a dirty handkerchief in it and after a while it would return to the surface sparkling clean. She made Bible stories really come alive.

Aunt Julia’s second husband, Judge Knute Knutson, died August 6, 1946. Following is a card written to her sister Lavilla Peterson from Miami, Florida, December 22, 1948.

Dear Johnny and Lavilla,

Must drop you a card from Miami. We are having a nice time. It is however very warm. Sunday it was 82 degrees, like some of our hottest days in July. The city is beautifully decorated for Christmas but to me it seems strange. Children in shorts and barefooted. A Merry Christmas to you all. Julia

My sister Shirley visited Aunt Julia many times when she was in nurses training at Fairview Hospital from 1948-51. She stated that when she needed a change or felt homesick, she would visit Aunt Julia. They would sit together and Julia would entertain Shirley with vivid descriptions of bible stories and of her own adventures. Shirley would sometimes stay over night.

After I was discharged from the Army in February of 1953 I returned to school at the University of Minnesota for the spring quarter and several summer sessions in following years. I remember visiting Aunt Julia at her home at the Midwest Hebrew Mission many times. At this time she was 75 years old but still dedicated to the Jewish ministry. I even remember washing my car at the Mission located at 1549 Midway Parkway.

When she retired, Aunt Julia went to live with her sister Jenny Houston who had a house in St. Paul. Later on she went to live with her son Truman Solverud who lived in Alexandria, Virginia. Truman had a good position with the Red Cross and had just returned from serving seven years in Japan.

When Truman graduated from St. Olaf College in 1933, our country was in the midst of the great depression. Truman had majored in sociology and social work but jobs were hard to find. Julia was still at the House of Mercy in Fargo and she suggested that Truman do volunteer work at the welfare office in Fargo and he could live with her. He did this and he found that he liked social work. Knowing that education was important, Julia urged him to get more education. As a result he earned another degree in social work at the University of Chicago.

This degree, along with his volunteer work in Fargo, led to employment with the American Red Cross. He remained with the Red Cross the rest of his life, moving into supervisory positions and working in many parts of our country and the world.