Harstad was born on Dec. 17, 1848 in Valle, Norway, to Aanond Tallefson and Torbjorg (Kittelsen) Sarstad.  He attended Luther College, 1865-71 (A.B.); Concordia Seminary, 1871-1874.  He then served as pastor at Mayville, N.D., 1874-91; Parkland, Wash., 1891-?. First president of the Norwegian Synod, in 1918-21.  He helped found Pacific Academy (later Pacific Lutheran University) in Washington State in 1890 and later served as its first president.

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Harstad ble født i Valle i Norge. Han studerte ved Luther College og Concordia Seminary i St. Louis, Missouri, 1871-1874. Deretter jobbet han som prest og ble den første presidenten i The Norwegian Synod of the Am. Ev. Luth. Church, 1918. Han grunnla Pacific Academy, Washington,1894, og ble den første president for det som nå er Pacific Lutheran University (PLU).