Harstad was born in Valle, Norway.  He attended Luther College and Concordia Seminary, 1871-1874.  He then served as pastor and as the first president of the Norwegian Synod, in 1918.  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).