Claus J. Gluesing

GLUESING, LEVSEN, PAULSEN, SEBERSEN, GRAVE, TIMM, WIESE, GAULITZ, OSTERBERG, WESTON, STATLEY

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 7/24/2011 at 22:01:55

Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Volume 2, Excerpt, pages 936 and 937

CLAUS J. GLUESING

On the farms are found the plain and elemental virtues and the rugged strength which characterize the citizens of any state which can be ranked as truly great. Here better than in the city's rush and turmoil have these virtues the chance to grow and expand, and reach fruition in lives which may be quiet, but are not weak. As still waters run the deepest, so we may find the truest, strongest characters in the quiet of some farming community.

Claus J. Gluesing was born in Holstein. Germany, March 2, 1836, son of Jacob and Margaret (Paulsen) Gluesing. His parents were natives of Germany, and his father died there in 1842. His mother came to Clinton county, Iowa, in 1869, and died here in 1876. Of their four children, two are living.

Claus Gluesing grew to manhood in Germany and received his education there. In 1866 he came to Clinton county. Iowa, and worked on the farms for three years, then in 1869 he rented a farm, and in 1872 bought a farm of eighty acres, to which he has added until now he is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres, all of which has been made by his own exertions. In 1902 he retired from active work and came to De Witt, where he has since lived. In politics he is a Democrat, and was township trustee of De Witt township for four years, and before that was road supervisor and school director. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church of De Witt.

Mr. Gluesing was married on February 18, 1869, to Agatha Marie Levsen, daughter of Lorenzo and Anna Catherine (Sebersen) Levsen. Her parents were natives of Schleswig and came to this country in 1852, and located on a Clinton county farm, and here her father died September 18, 1882, and her mother on March 9, 1890. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are living. Mr. Levsen was a Democrat and he and his family were Lutherans.

Mr. and Mrs. Gluesing are the parents of ten children: Margaret C, born November 24, 1869; Anna C, born January 9, 1872: Louise M., born May 12, 1874; John L., born November 10, 1876; Claus H., born December 12, 1878; Claus J., born March 2, 1881 ; Frederick B., born April 5, 1883; Bertha D., born September 10, 1885 ; Matilda A. M., born December 16, 1887; and Theresa A. W., born March 9, 1890. Seven of these children are married, namely: Margaret C. February. 1893, to Claus F. Grave: Anna C, January 14, 1896, to William Timm; Louise M., January 14, 1896, to Joseph H. Wiese; John L., September 4, 1901. to Martha Gaulitz; Claus H., in February, 1902, to Jennie Osterberg; Claus J., May 17, 1905, to Cora Weston; Frederick B., December 7, 1910, to Emilie Statley.

Mr. Gluesing reached this country with nothing, at an age well into young manhood, and has by his industry and exertions since made himself one of the leading and prosperous farmers of the township. Surely such a life is an inspiration to any one who may read of it, or who knows his history. He is spending his older days in peace, surrounded by his friends.