children: Elenore (b. 2 Oct 1853); Joseph (b. 12 Mar 1858); and Maria (b. 13 Nov 1861). Joseph and Terecia came to America, Port of New York, on 27 Aug 1855 on the ship Emilie with Elenore, age 2. They found their way to Winneshiek Co. and eventually settled on a farm east of Protivin, IA. Charles and Dolores Ira visited the Cibuzar relatives in the Czech Republic in 1992. They have lived in Luzice #6 since 1649, beginning with Mathous and Zofie. They had a complete family Genealogy beginning with that date. The family remaining now is Albert and James, (Vojetch a Vaclav) and they told of many hardships the families endured during all those centuries. They related stories of their lives under the Communist government. In 1968 when Russia invaded Czechoslovakia the Russians methodically confiscated everything anyone had.

Albert related a story of how he had purchased a tractor on an 8-year note in 1967 and had one year paid off when the Russians came to their farm and took their land and all their equipment, even the tractor, and he had to pay off the remaining 7 years left on the note. Tears came to their eyes as they told of their hardships. Now they are left with few possessions and are too old to work.

The happy part of this story is the joy they felt to know they had relatives in America who could speak the Czech language with them. They remembered an ancestor had gone to America but had never kept in contact with him so they did not know of any relatives. They thought the Czech language had been forgotten by the Czech immigrants and their families. They were surprised and delighted to know we could speak their native tongue. The Cibuzars live in an enclosed courtyard where they raise their own food. They have a big garden, a few chickens, a pig and a cow and a fruit yard. They showed us their home-made cherry-picker which was necessary to harvest all the cherries. One of the sheds was full of stacked wood ready for the winter months.

Vaclav's joy in life showed in his face, but the snow-white diapers on the clothesline gave his secret away as he told of his little granddaughter who was only a few months old. He was a very proud grandpa but he reminded us that there was no one left to carry on the Cibuzar name. The Iras keep in touch with these families (even though the letters have to be written in Czech) and their hopes are that they will be able to visit their newfound relatives and homeland one more time.

Clauson, John and Christine (Peterson)

(Julie (Clauson) Boots)

John P Clauson (b. 31 Jan 1872 in Allamakee Co.) and his wife, Christine (Peterson) Clauson (b. 3 Sep 1875 in Winneshiek Co.) were the parents of Gerhard, Peter, Selma, Jarla and Julie (Clauson) Boots. The Clausons lived on a farm in the northeast corner of Highland Twp., Winneshiek Co., IA about a mile from the Minnesota border. Mother and Dad were descendants of Norwegian immigrants; Mother’s parents were Mikkel and Johanna Peterson and Dad’s parents were Peder (Peter) and Mina Clauson.

Mother and Dad first lived in a log house on the farm and it was there my brothers and sisters were born. Then in 1913 my parents built a new house, and I, Julie, was born there in 1916. There was a real sense of togetherness in growing up on a farm because all the family members, for the most part, worked right at home.

Left to right: Julie Clauson Boots, Jarla, Selma, Peter and Gerhard Clauson

Before Dad purchased a tractor all farm work was done with horses. He treated them well, feeding them before he had breakfast himself. The cows were milked by hand. Cream was separated by using a De Laval hand separator and hauled by a local cream hauler.

John P and Christine Clauson, parents of Gerhard, Peter, Selma, Jarla and Julie. 1924

Dad, in addition to farming, did some well drilling for a while. He also did butchering, sometimes assisted by a neighbor. Mother canned meat, cured hams, made dried beef and sausage, in addition to churning butter, baking bread, canning fruits and vegetables, doing the laundry and caring for the family. Selma, of course, was a big help to her because she was almost always at home.

So much farm work was seasonal. In spring the calves and lambs, little pigs and chickens arrived, and planting had to be done. Then in summer the haying and cultivating, and later harvesting, threshing grain and corn husking. Of course, there were always daily chores. In addition, Dad, Gerhard and Peter split wood and we girls helped stack the pile.