Clausen, Adolph

CLAUSEN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 7/25/2007 at 21:01:21

Adolph Clausen has, since the spring of 1881, lived in Pottawattamie County and is now well known as a farmer and stockraiser of Washington Township. He lives in Section 33 and also has land in Sections 28 and 29; his possessions aggregating 240 acres, well improved. He came to this county from Iowa County, Iowa, but claims Denmark as the land of his birth. He was born in the northern part of that country in 1856, his parents being Georg and Marie (Missen) Clausen. The father came to America in the early 1870s settling near Wauhee, Illinois, where he resided for a time. He, afterward, spent two years in Mississippi, but in 1878 returned northward, at which time he established his home in Iowa County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. Being pleased with that locality and its possibilities, he continued there to make his home until he was called to his final rest on April 13, 1892, when he was seventy years of age. The mother is still living in Denmark. One son of the family, Ludwig Clausen, came to this country, but died about seven years ago. He resided on a farm just east of the property of Adolph Clausen. Another brother, Julius, and a sister, Mrs. Georgia Jensen, are still living in Denmark. Adolph Clausen pursued his education in the schools of his native country and of America. He was fifteen years of age when, in 1871, he crossed the Atlantic to the New World. For six months he resided in Chicago and then went to Mississippi with his father, where he was engaged in raising cotton for two years. He next located in Marengo County, Iowa, where he began farming and since that time he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and has also raised and handled well-bred stock. He is a self-made man and successful. All of the improvements on the farm were placed there by him and a tract of raw prairie which came into his possession has been converted into rich and productive fields from which he annually harvests good crops. Mr. Clausen has been married twice. In this county, he wed Miss Lizzie Van Sant, who died in July 1892, leaving a son, Charles, sixteen years of age. In 1895, he was again married; his second union being with Miss Maggie Schmidt, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Hans Schmidt of Silver Creek Township, who arrived here about 1884. He is a successful farmer. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clausen has been blessed with seven children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. These are Ida, Harry, Otto (Arthur), Roy, Mamie, Lily and Irvin, all yet under the parental roof. The parents are members of the Lutheran Chruch and in the community where they reside have a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances. Mr. Clausen affiliates with the Masonic Lodge of Carson and votes with the Republican party. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, but did not qualify, as he has never sought nor wished public office, preferring always to give his attention to his business affairs which, capably conducted, have gained him a place among the men of affluence in his community.

Gail, I think this was from a bio book put about about 1899. I know it was before 1900 because two of my great-uncles were yet to be born, Roy in 1900 and Henry (Dutch) a little later. Joyce