Claus H. Bielfeldt
Beginning as a farm laborer eighteen years ago Claus H. Bielfeldt has made such good use of advantages presented in America to young men willing to apply themselves that today he is the owner of a highly improved fann of one hundred and sixty acres in Hanover township and has practically made himself financially independent for the remainder of his life. His career is a remarkable illustration of the result of perseverance when it is allied with sound judgment and energized by a worthy ambition.
Mr. Bielfeldt is a native of Germany, born March 8, 1869, son of Juergen and Christina (Frahm) Bielfeldt. The parents spent their entire lives in the fatherland, the mother passing away May 2, 1889, and the father March 23, 1906. Mr. Bielfeldt was a fanner and the father of fourteen children, six of whom came to America, namely: Katrina, Anna, deceased, Mary, Ingal, Claus and Henry. Of those remaining in Germany Casslen is deceased, the others being: Juergen, Peter, Fredrick, Henne, Wiebke, Matilda and Christina.
Claus H. Bielfeldt was educated in the public schools of Gennany and continued in his native land until twenty-four years of age. Having determined to cast his lot with the people of America, he landed in Chicago, January 1, 1893, and proceeded at once to Clinton county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for one year.
He then began farming on rented land and after eight years purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Hanover township, Crawford county, which constitute the fann that he now owns. He devotes his attention to both agriculture and stock-raising, using up his entire crop in feeding his stock, which he disposes of at a good price. He has been highly successful in raising Poland China hogs and it is doubtful whether any farmer in the township has shown better judgment in a specialty to which he devotes his closest attention.
In 1894 Mr. Bielfeldt was united in marriage to Miss Catharina Joens, who was born in Germany, September 3, 1873, a daughter of Hans and Eva (Frahm) Joens. Her parents are still living in the old country, the father being sixty-three, while the mother is fifty-eight years of age. There were thirteen children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Joens, three of whom, Catharina, Peter and Hans came to America. Peter is now living in Crawford county and Hans in South Dakota. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joens remaining in Germany two, Cecelia and Carl, are deceased; the others being: Juergen, Margaret, Anna, Johannes, Claus, Fritz, Eva and Christine.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Biel£eldt has been blessed by the birth of five children: Christine, at home, who was born November 24, 1894, and received a good common school education, being able to speak and write both German and English; Juergen, who died at the age of five months; John, who was born June 28, 1897, and is now attending a German school; Elva, born October 7, 1901; and Minnie, born November 20, 1905.
Mr. Bielfeldt owes his success to a willingness to labor and to the thorough training in work pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising, which he received from his father at the old home in Germany, Upon coming to this country he lost no time in finding congenial employment and he saved his money to invest it in land in a rapidly developing section, which is one of the best uses he could have made of it. He sees no reason to regret seeking his fortune in this republic. He and his family are consistent members of the German Lutheran church, and politically he gives his earnest support to the democratic party.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.