M.N. Clausen, city engineer of Austin, was born in Rock County Wisconsin, the oldest son of Rev. C.L. Clausen and Martha Rasmussen, his wife, natives of Denmark. His early education was received in the public schools, in Decorah College at Decorah, Iowa, and in the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa. He was at the latter institution in 1867 when his father decided to visit the old country. M.N. accompanied his father across the water and entered a theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he studied three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. At the end of this period he entered the Polytechnic school in the same city and there studied civil engineering.
Then for two years he taught language. In 1878 the steamship line Copenhagen selected four men to come to America and look over the southern states, especially Texas, with a view to locating Danish colonies. Mr. Clausen was made chairman of the delegation. After completing his tasks he went to New York City and then visited his parents in Virginia. He remained in the latter state three months.
Then he took a trip with his mother to Washington, D.C., and subsequently returned to his childhood home. At the end of this trip he had a call from Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to become county surveyor of that county. This he accepted and held the position nine years. In 1889 he moved to Austin, purchased two lots on the corner of Baldwin and Third streets, and there erected a home. He was made city surveyor of Austin and has at intervals since served in that office, occupying the position at present. He has also served as county surveyor.
In 1892 he sold his property here and purchased a tract of timber land on Puget Sound, which he still owns. On May 20, 1911, the Austin Humane Society was organized through his efforts and he was made its president.
In politics he is a strong advocate of prohibition. He is a member of St. Olaf church and was choirmaster of that congregation for many years. Mr. Clausen was married in 1886 by his father at St. Ansgar, Iowa to Minnie Matheson, who died February 1, 1890, leaving one son, Clarence L., who is now in the office of his uncle C.W. Clausen at Olympia, Wash. Mr. Clausen has recently been made a member of the National Geographical Society.
Transcribed from "History of Mower County, 1911"
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Burial card seems to be in error. The Minnesota Death Records give his death date as 9 Oct 1924.
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From the Lyle Tribune, October 17, 1924:
M. N. Clausen, county surveyor and for a score of years surveyor of Austin, died Thursday at the county home where he was taken about ten days ago. Mr. Clausen was in St. Olaf's hospital from April 7 to Sept. 30.
Martin N. Clausen was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, June 12, 1843*. He was a son of Rev. C. L. Clausen, one of the pioneer and greatest of the Lutheran preachers, the founder of St. Ansgar and the founder of a number of churches throughout this section. In 1853 with the other members of his father's family he removed to Iowa where his father had purchased a tract of land from the government on which St. Ansgar now stands. His parents were both Danish.
Mr. Clausen was one of the best educated men in the city.
In the '60's the Lutheran church, like other churches was split on the slavery question and Rev. Clausen took the side of the north. The question continued to disturb the church after the war and in 1867 he decided to go to University of Christiana and submit the question to the heads of that institution. He took his son, M. N., with him. The latter, subject of this sketch, entered the theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here he studied for three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. He was ready to enter the ministry but felt that he lacked the ability to speak publicly and decided to take up engineering. He studied in the Polytechnic school of the same city. Then for two years he taught languages in Denmark. In 1878 he was chosen chairman of a committee of four men appointed by a Danish steamship company to visit the southern states with a view of locating Danish colonies.
Having carried out the commission he went to New York and later visited his parents in Virginia.
He leaves one son who is a plumber in California who came here last spring when his father was first taken ill. He leaves two half brothers, Berber of Seattle and C. W. of Olympia. Wash. - Austin Herald.
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* The sources conflict on his year of birth and there are discrepancies about his place of birth as well. Some say Rock County, Wisconsin, others Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
While Rev. J.W.C. Dietrichson of the Koshkonong church was away on a trip to Norway, Rev. C.L. Clausen from Muskego filled in for him at Koshkonong until Rev. Dietrichson returned in September 1846. That would place the Clausen family at Koshkonong in June 1846 when Martin was born.
The Clausen family moved to Rock County in late 1846. Martin could not have been born in 1843. At that time Rev. C.L. Clausen and his wife were still at Muskego, Wisconsin.
In Martin's confirmation record of April 1861, his age is listed as 14 3/4, and he was baptized at Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
----------------------------------
He had a brother named Edward Erasmus who was living in Chicago in 1892. His fate is not known.
Then for two years he taught language. In 1878 the steamship line Copenhagen selected four men to come to America and look over the southern states, especially Texas, with a view to locating Danish colonies. Mr. Clausen was made chairman of the delegation. After completing his tasks he went to New York City and then visited his parents in Virginia. He remained in the latter state three months.
Then he took a trip with his mother to Washington, D.C., and subsequently returned to his childhood home. At the end of this trip he had a call from Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to become county surveyor of that county. This he accepted and held the position nine years. In 1889 he moved to Austin, purchased two lots on the corner of Baldwin and Third streets, and there erected a home. He was made city surveyor of Austin and has at intervals since served in that office, occupying the position at present. He has also served as county surveyor.
In 1892 he sold his property here and purchased a tract of timber land on Puget Sound, which he still owns. On May 20, 1911, the Austin Humane Society was organized through his efforts and he was made its president.
In politics he is a strong advocate of prohibition. He is a member of St. Olaf church and was choirmaster of that congregation for many years. Mr. Clausen was married in 1886 by his father at St. Ansgar, Iowa to Minnie Matheson, who died February 1, 1890, leaving one son, Clarence L., who is now in the office of his uncle C.W. Clausen at Olympia, Wash. Mr. Clausen has recently been made a member of the National Geographical Society.
Transcribed from "History of Mower County, 1911"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Burial card seems to be in error. The Minnesota Death Records give his death date as 9 Oct 1924.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the Lyle Tribune, October 17, 1924:
M. N. Clausen, county surveyor and for a score of years surveyor of Austin, died Thursday at the county home where he was taken about ten days ago. Mr. Clausen was in St. Olaf's hospital from April 7 to Sept. 30.
Martin N. Clausen was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, June 12, 1843*. He was a son of Rev. C. L. Clausen, one of the pioneer and greatest of the Lutheran preachers, the founder of St. Ansgar and the founder of a number of churches throughout this section. In 1853 with the other members of his father's family he removed to Iowa where his father had purchased a tract of land from the government on which St. Ansgar now stands. His parents were both Danish.
Mr. Clausen was one of the best educated men in the city.
In the '60's the Lutheran church, like other churches was split on the slavery question and Rev. Clausen took the side of the north. The question continued to disturb the church after the war and in 1867 he decided to go to University of Christiana and submit the question to the heads of that institution. He took his son, M. N., with him. The latter, subject of this sketch, entered the theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here he studied for three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. He was ready to enter the ministry but felt that he lacked the ability to speak publicly and decided to take up engineering. He studied in the Polytechnic school of the same city. Then for two years he taught languages in Denmark. In 1878 he was chosen chairman of a committee of four men appointed by a Danish steamship company to visit the southern states with a view of locating Danish colonies.
Having carried out the commission he went to New York and later visited his parents in Virginia.
He leaves one son who is a plumber in California who came here last spring when his father was first taken ill. He leaves two half brothers, Berber of Seattle and C. W. of Olympia. Wash. - Austin Herald.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* The sources conflict on his year of birth and there are discrepancies about his place of birth as well. Some say Rock County, Wisconsin, others Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
While Rev. J.W.C. Dietrichson of the Koshkonong church was away on a trip to Norway, Rev. C.L. Clausen from Muskego filled in for him at Koshkonong until Rev. Dietrichson returned in September 1846. That would place the Clausen family at Koshkonong in June 1846 when Martin was born.
The Clausen family moved to Rock County in late 1846. Martin could not have been born in 1843. At that time Rev. C.L. Clausen and his wife were still at Muskego, Wisconsin.
In Martin's confirmation record of April 1861, his age is listed as 14 3/4, and he was baptized at Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
----------------------------------
He had a brother named Edward Erasmus who was living in Chicago in 1892. His fate is not known.
M.N. Clausen, city engineer of Austin, was born in Rock County Wisconsin, the oldest son of Rev. C.L. Clausen and Martha Rasmussen, his wife, natives of Denmark. His early education was received in the public schools, in Decorah College at Decorah, Iowa, and in the Cedar Valley Seminary at Osage, Iowa. He was at the latter institution in 1867 when his father decided to visit the old country. M.N. accompanied his father across the water and entered a theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he studied three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. At the end of this period he entered the Polytechnic school in the same city and there studied civil engineering.
Then for two years he taught language. In 1878 the steamship line Copenhagen selected four men to come to America and look over the southern states, especially Texas, with a view to locating Danish colonies. Mr. Clausen was made chairman of the delegation. After completing his tasks he went to New York City and then visited his parents in Virginia. He remained in the latter state three months.
Then he took a trip with his mother to Washington, D.C., and subsequently returned to his childhood home. At the end of this trip he had a call from Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to become county surveyor of that county. This he accepted and held the position nine years. In 1889 he moved to Austin, purchased two lots on the corner of Baldwin and Third streets, and there erected a home. He was made city surveyor of Austin and has at intervals since served in that office, occupying the position at present. He has also served as county surveyor.
In 1892 he sold his property here and purchased a tract of timber land on Puget Sound, which he still owns. On May 20, 1911, the Austin Humane Society was organized through his efforts and he was made its president.
In politics he is a strong advocate of prohibition. He is a member of St. Olaf church and was choirmaster of that congregation for many years. Mr. Clausen was married in 1886 by his father at St. Ansgar, Iowa to Minnie Matheson, who died February 1, 1890, leaving one son, Clarence L., who is now in the office of his uncle C.W. Clausen at Olympia, Wash. Mr. Clausen has recently been made a member of the National Geographical Society.
Transcribed from "History of Mower County, 1911"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Burial card seems to be in error. The Minnesota Death Records give his death date as 9 Oct 1924.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the Lyle Tribune, October 17, 1924:
M. N. Clausen, county surveyor and for a score of years surveyor of Austin, died Thursday at the county home where he was taken about ten days ago. Mr. Clausen was in St. Olaf's hospital from April 7 to Sept. 30.
Martin N. Clausen was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, June 12, 1843*. He was a son of Rev. C. L. Clausen, one of the pioneer and greatest of the Lutheran preachers, the founder of St. Ansgar and the founder of a number of churches throughout this section. In 1853 with the other members of his father's family he removed to Iowa where his father had purchased a tract of land from the government on which St. Ansgar now stands. His parents were both Danish.
Mr. Clausen was one of the best educated men in the city.
In the '60's the Lutheran church, like other churches was split on the slavery question and Rev. Clausen took the side of the north. The question continued to disturb the church after the war and in 1867 he decided to go to University of Christiana and submit the question to the heads of that institution. He took his son, M. N., with him. The latter, subject of this sketch, entered the theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here he studied for three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. He was ready to enter the ministry but felt that he lacked the ability to speak publicly and decided to take up engineering. He studied in the Polytechnic school of the same city. Then for two years he taught languages in Denmark. In 1878 he was chosen chairman of a committee of four men appointed by a Danish steamship company to visit the southern states with a view of locating Danish colonies.
Having carried out the commission he went to New York and later visited his parents in Virginia.
He leaves one son who is a plumber in California who came here last spring when his father was first taken ill. He leaves two half brothers, Berber of Seattle and C. W. of Olympia. Wash. - Austin Herald.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* The sources conflict on his year of birth and there are discrepancies about his place of birth as well. Some say Rock County, Wisconsin, others Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
While Rev. J.W.C. Dietrichson of the Koshkonong church was away on a trip to Norway, Rev. C.L. Clausen from Muskego filled in for him at Koshkonong until Rev. Dietrichson returned in September 1846. That would place the Clausen family at Koshkonong in June 1846 when Martin was born.
The Clausen family moved to Rock County in late 1846. Martin could not have been born in 1843. At that time Rev. C.L. Clausen and his wife were still at Muskego, Wisconsin.
In Martin's confirmation record of April 1861, his age is listed as 14 3/4, and he was baptized at Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
----------------------------------
He had a brother named Edward Erasmus who was living in Chicago in 1892. His fate is not known.
Then for two years he taught language. In 1878 the steamship line Copenhagen selected four men to come to America and look over the southern states, especially Texas, with a view to locating Danish colonies. Mr. Clausen was made chairman of the delegation. After completing his tasks he went to New York City and then visited his parents in Virginia. He remained in the latter state three months.
Then he took a trip with his mother to Washington, D.C., and subsequently returned to his childhood home. At the end of this trip he had a call from Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa to become county surveyor of that county. This he accepted and held the position nine years. In 1889 he moved to Austin, purchased two lots on the corner of Baldwin and Third streets, and there erected a home. He was made city surveyor of Austin and has at intervals since served in that office, occupying the position at present. He has also served as county surveyor.
In 1892 he sold his property here and purchased a tract of timber land on Puget Sound, which he still owns. On May 20, 1911, the Austin Humane Society was organized through his efforts and he was made its president.
In politics he is a strong advocate of prohibition. He is a member of St. Olaf church and was choirmaster of that congregation for many years. Mr. Clausen was married in 1886 by his father at St. Ansgar, Iowa to Minnie Matheson, who died February 1, 1890, leaving one son, Clarence L., who is now in the office of his uncle C.W. Clausen at Olympia, Wash. Mr. Clausen has recently been made a member of the National Geographical Society.
Transcribed from "History of Mower County, 1911"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Burial card seems to be in error. The Minnesota Death Records give his death date as 9 Oct 1924.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the Lyle Tribune, October 17, 1924:
M. N. Clausen, county surveyor and for a score of years surveyor of Austin, died Thursday at the county home where he was taken about ten days ago. Mr. Clausen was in St. Olaf's hospital from April 7 to Sept. 30.
Martin N. Clausen was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, June 12, 1843*. He was a son of Rev. C. L. Clausen, one of the pioneer and greatest of the Lutheran preachers, the founder of St. Ansgar and the founder of a number of churches throughout this section. In 1853 with the other members of his father's family he removed to Iowa where his father had purchased a tract of land from the government on which St. Ansgar now stands. His parents were both Danish.
Mr. Clausen was one of the best educated men in the city.
In the '60's the Lutheran church, like other churches was split on the slavery question and Rev. Clausen took the side of the north. The question continued to disturb the church after the war and in 1867 he decided to go to University of Christiana and submit the question to the heads of that institution. He took his son, M. N., with him. The latter, subject of this sketch, entered the theological school in Copenhagen, Denmark. Here he studied for three years, twice translating the New Testament from the Greek to the Danish language. He was ready to enter the ministry but felt that he lacked the ability to speak publicly and decided to take up engineering. He studied in the Polytechnic school of the same city. Then for two years he taught languages in Denmark. In 1878 he was chosen chairman of a committee of four men appointed by a Danish steamship company to visit the southern states with a view of locating Danish colonies.
Having carried out the commission he went to New York and later visited his parents in Virginia.
He leaves one son who is a plumber in California who came here last spring when his father was first taken ill. He leaves two half brothers, Berber of Seattle and C. W. of Olympia. Wash. - Austin Herald.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
* The sources conflict on his year of birth and there are discrepancies about his place of birth as well. Some say Rock County, Wisconsin, others Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
While Rev. J.W.C. Dietrichson of the Koshkonong church was away on a trip to Norway, Rev. C.L. Clausen from Muskego filled in for him at Koshkonong until Rev. Dietrichson returned in September 1846. That would place the Clausen family at Koshkonong in June 1846 when Martin was born.
The Clausen family moved to Rock County in late 1846. Martin could not have been born in 1843. At that time Rev. C.L. Clausen and his wife were still at Muskego, Wisconsin.
In Martin's confirmation record of April 1861, his age is listed as 14 3/4, and he was baptized at Koshkonong, Wisconsin.
----------------------------------
He had a brother named Edward Erasmus who was living in Chicago in 1892. His fate is not known.
