Hansen, Claus

HANSEN, NITERT, PAYSEN, MYERS, PLOAG, LITCHERS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/25/2003 at 09:32:50

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

CLAUS HANSEN.

Claus Hansen, a representative farmer of Deep Creek township, residing on section 32, was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 4th of December, 1842, a son of Jerry and Anna (Nitert) Hansen, who were also natives of that country. There the father spent his entire life. In 1866 the mother came to America, and has since made her home with our subject. She was born March 28, 1812, and although nearly ninety years of age she is still quite active. In the family were nine children, five of whom came to this country, but only three are now living, namely: Mary, wife of Dudley Paysen, of Clinton; Peter, who wedded Mary Myers and lives near Lyons; and Claus, our subject.

Mr. Hansen, of this review, spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native land, and in 1864 came alone to America by steamer, it requiring thirteen days to cross the water from Hamburg to New York. From the latter city he proceeded at once to Davenport, Iowa, and from there came by stage to Lyons, Clinton county. After working as a farm hand for twelve years he purchased eighty acres of swamp land on section 32, Deep Creek township, in 1876, and at length converted his place into a well cultivated farm. Later he bought another eighty-acre tract, and to-day has one of the best farms of its size in the township, it being improved with good and substantial buildings.

On the 13th of October, 1877, Mr. Hansen wedded Miss Mary Ploag, also a native of Holstein, Germany, and a daughter of Frederick and Julia (Litchers) Ploag. The father died in that country at the age of sixty-six years, and in 1881 the mother came to the new world, where she died, her remains being interred in the Hansen cemetery, Deep Creed township. It was in May, 1877, that Mrs. Hansen crossed the Atlantic from Hamburg to New York City and came to Iowa. Unto our subject and his wife were born five children: Annie, now a resident of Clinton; a son who died in infancy, and his twin brother, John, at home; Emma, who has taken up the study of German in a private school in Charlotte; and William, at home.

Mr. Hansen uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never cared for political preferment. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church at Charlotte, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them.