Clausen, John

CLAUSEN

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/5/2010 at 23:57:05

JOHN CLAUSEN

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.15, Council Bluffs)
John Clausen, Grocer, Council Bluffs, was born in Germany December 25, 1832. He landed in New York City in 1853, without a single cent in his pocket. He came to Council Bluffs in 1856 and in 1860 opened a grocery store in a small log house on what is now the site of the Ogden House. This primitive food dispensary was called the "One-Horse Grocery," and it will be remembered by the older citizens of Council Bluffs. He now carries on a large grocery, beside keeping a full line of hardware and agricultural implements. He was married in Council Bluffs in 1856. He has seven children - two sons and five daughters, all of whom are living in Council Bluffs. The oldest daughter is the wife of Mr. Allen of this city. Our subject was Treasurer of the city of Council Bluffs in 1876, aud has held the same office for the past two years. He has also been a member of School Board for three years.

(1907 History of Pottawattamie County)
John Clausen, known as "Honest John," one of the pioneers of Council Bluffs, who came to the city in 1856, was for a long period proprietor of what was known to the old settlers as the One Horse grocery store, at the corner of Park avenue and Broadway. Starting in life without capital he placed his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of enterprise and diligence and thus gradually worked his way upward, justly earning the proud American title of self-made man.
He was a native of Germany, his birth having occurred near Hawkeye, on the 25th of September, 1832, so that he was about twenty-three years of age when he arrived in Council Bluffs. His parents were also natives of Germany, where they spent their entire lives. The common schools of the country afforded to John Clausen his educational privileges and he continued a resident of the fatherland until he attained his majority, when he sought the opportunities and privileges of the new world, hoping to benefit his financial condition thereby. Accordingly he bade adieu to friends and native country, and in 1853 sailed for America. He reached New York without capital and his pecuniary condition rendered it imperative that he seek and obtain immediate employment. He eagerly availed himself of every opportunity that offered to secure work and was employed in various ways. He saved his money, and after a residence of three years in the east he came to the Mississippi valley, establishing his home in Council Bluffs in 1856. Here then was again employed in different ways until he had saved enough from his earnings to enable him to engage in business on his own account. In a few years he opened a small grocery store in an old log school-building at the corner of Park avenue and Broadway, where the Ogden Hotel now stands. This was called by his fellow townsmen the One Horse grocery store and it continued to be known by that name as long as he was a factor in trade interests of this city. As his patronage increased he enlarged his stock to meet the growing demands of his business and as the years passed by he won a goodly measure of success.
Mr. Clausen was married in Council Bluffs to Miss Anne Bergfieth, who was born 00tober 17, 1834, in Germany, whence her parents started for the United States during her girlhood. The mother died, however, on shipboard while coming over. After living for a time in the east, Mr. Bergfieth continued his journey toward the setting sun, locating in Nebraska, where he resided until his death.
There were eleven children born unto Mr. and Mrs.. Clausen: Mary, the wife of D. F. Allen, a resident of Minneapolis; Emma, the wife of S. A. Herald, whose home is in Council Bluffs; John H., who married Amanda Cook and is engaged in the agricultural implement business at No. 1218 South Sixth street in Council Bluffs; Josephine, who is a teacher in the Washington Avenue school and makes her home with her mother; Lena, a stenographer and bookkeeper in Council Bluffs; Fred, who married Ethel Goode and is living in Council Bluffs; Belle, residing at home; and four who died in infancy.
For some years Mr. Clausen continued to provide for his family by engaging in the grocery business and then turned his attention to the hardware and implement business, in which he also continued for a number of years. During his last days, however, he conducted a transfer business. In whatever line he was engaged he met with success, for he was persevering, energetic and capable in his management. He became widely recognized as one of the enterprising merchants of Council Bluffs land, moreover, his worth as a citizen was acknowledged by his fellow townsmen, who called him' to the office of city treasurer for two terms. He filled the position in the years of 1876 and 1877 and he was also auditor of Pottawattamie county for some time. The school board found in him a worthy member, his labors being effective and far-reaching in behalf of the cause of education. In politics he took a deep interest, giving his vote in support of the men and measures of democracy. He was also a veteran volunteer fireman, belonging to the fire department of Council Bluffs at an early day. His interest in community affairs was deep and sincere and rose from an earnest desire for the city's welfare and upbuilding. No movement for the public good ever sought his aid in vain and on the contrary he staunchly advocated every measure that tended to benefit Council Bluffs and the county at large. He died August. 26, 1900, after a residence of forty-four years here. Thus passed away one of the pioneers to whom the city was indebted for much he accomplished in her behalf. .
The family are members of the Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal churches. Mrs. Clausen owns the old homestead at No. 407 East Broadway. The place where the residence stands is a historic spot in Council Bluffs, as it was one time the headquarters for the Indians. As the work of civilization has been carried forward, all trace of its original use has been lost and only memory remains to tell the tale of the early occupancy here. Mr. Clausen came to the county at a time when Indians still visited this section of the country, for Council Bluffs was at that time a frontier city of little commercial or industrial importance. As the years have passed the tide of empire has drifted steadily westward and ere the death of Mr. Clausen the city had become a metropolitan center of considerable pretension, a fact which is due to the united efforts of such men as he.