From Juli Claussen, genealogist:
Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark, probably in Duchy of Holstein(now part of Germany). In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship Orion in Hamburg, Germany. On Jan. 6, 1835, the Orion docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, by steamboat or flatboat up the Mississippi River. In July of 1835, Emil married Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond County, Illinois. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County. Emil is said to have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843.He was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught three languages. The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848 two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties at this time. By April of 1849 when their youngest son was born, the family was at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county. An expert on Jefferson County burials, Fred Justice, felt certain that Emil and the other victims were buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. A tragic, but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America. (Research and narrative by Juli Claussen)∼Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark in November of 1814. So far, nothing of his early life or family of origin is known. However there is a story passed down in the family that a forefather served as a physician to the King of Denmark. Another family story is that Emil's father was a sailor out of Sweden and Denmark. And still another is that the family lived on the coast and ran cargo boats.
In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship "Orion" in Hamburg, Germany. It's ship passenger list states that he came to Hamburg from Holstein, gives his age, and his occupation as farmer. There are no other Claussens accompanying him on this journey.
It is not known whether Holstein was his birth place, or simply the most recent place he lived before boarding the ship. It is most likely that he was born there. It is known that Emil was born in Denmark, and there are many Claussens in Holstein, so it is likely this was his home. Holstein is a region currently in Northern Germany, part of what is now known as Schleswig-Holstein. This region was part of Denmark until 1864, and much political upheaval took place in the region for years prior to Denmark turning the region over to Germany, including the years in which Emil was growing up.
On Jan. 6, 1835, the "Orion" docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, probably by steamboat or flatboat up the icey Mississippi River. I have wondered what drew him to Illinois, and it may have been that he already had relatives residing there, as records show another household of Claussens from Denmark, near where he initially settled, which was near the Bond and Montgomery County lines, close to Walshville.
In July of 1835, Emil married 18 year old Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond Co , Illinois, only about two weeks before her father's death. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County.
Emil may have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843, according to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY and the 1874 ATLAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. The (1904) CHRISTIAN COUNTY PAST AND PRESENT states that Emil was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught 3 different languages. In those times the schools were subscription schools, and parents paid to send their sons. Girls were not encouraged to attend. Walshville Township was known as the "church township", and was primarily settled by German farmers. The first settlement was near Lake Fork where, in 1834, William Cline set aside land on his farm for a cemetery, and built a log cabin to serve as a Baptist Church and school house. This was the schoolhouse where Emil taught. Although the log cabin church/school is no longer there, the Cline/Lemen cemetery remains to mark the spot.
The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville, next door to a 50-60 yr. old woman named Lucie Sophia Claussen with teenagers in her household. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848, little is known of the family, except that two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties. A son's obituary states they were in Christian County about 1843.
There is a family story that around this time Emil's father, a sailor, resided with Emil in his old age, and at his death left a sea chest containing papers, including a poem about Copenhagen, that has survived to this day.
By April of 1849, when their youngest son was born, the family is at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. According to THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORY, 1810-1962, Jordan's Prairie consisted at that time of a hotel, a saloon, and less than fifty families. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. A medical reference book says this about cholera in 1849: "The disease had been brought to New Orleans in immigrant ships early in December, 1848, and in a few weeks was carried to all the principal cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers." In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county; like the other victims, he was probably buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. One can only try to imagine how difficult the situation was for this family, and how Sarah, with a nursing babe in arms and few resources at her disposal, was able to keep her family together and survive. A tragic but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America.
Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark, probably in Duchy of Holstein(now part of Germany). In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship Orion in Hamburg, Germany. On Jan. 6, 1835, the Orion docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, by steamboat or flatboat up the Mississippi River. In July of 1835, Emil married Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond County, Illinois. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County. Emil is said to have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843.He was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught three languages. The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848 two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties at this time. By April of 1849 when their youngest son was born, the family was at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county. An expert on Jefferson County burials, Fred Justice, felt certain that Emil and the other victims were buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. A tragic, but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America. (Research and narrative by Juli Claussen)∼Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark in November of 1814. So far, nothing of his early life or family of origin is known. However there is a story passed down in the family that a forefather served as a physician to the King of Denmark. Another family story is that Emil's father was a sailor out of Sweden and Denmark. And still another is that the family lived on the coast and ran cargo boats.
In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship "Orion" in Hamburg, Germany. It's ship passenger list states that he came to Hamburg from Holstein, gives his age, and his occupation as farmer. There are no other Claussens accompanying him on this journey.
It is not known whether Holstein was his birth place, or simply the most recent place he lived before boarding the ship. It is most likely that he was born there. It is known that Emil was born in Denmark, and there are many Claussens in Holstein, so it is likely this was his home. Holstein is a region currently in Northern Germany, part of what is now known as Schleswig-Holstein. This region was part of Denmark until 1864, and much political upheaval took place in the region for years prior to Denmark turning the region over to Germany, including the years in which Emil was growing up.
On Jan. 6, 1835, the "Orion" docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, probably by steamboat or flatboat up the icey Mississippi River. I have wondered what drew him to Illinois, and it may have been that he already had relatives residing there, as records show another household of Claussens from Denmark, near where he initially settled, which was near the Bond and Montgomery County lines, close to Walshville.
In July of 1835, Emil married 18 year old Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond Co , Illinois, only about two weeks before her father's death. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County.
Emil may have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843, according to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY and the 1874 ATLAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. The (1904) CHRISTIAN COUNTY PAST AND PRESENT states that Emil was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught 3 different languages. In those times the schools were subscription schools, and parents paid to send their sons. Girls were not encouraged to attend. Walshville Township was known as the "church township", and was primarily settled by German farmers. The first settlement was near Lake Fork where, in 1834, William Cline set aside land on his farm for a cemetery, and built a log cabin to serve as a Baptist Church and school house. This was the schoolhouse where Emil taught. Although the log cabin church/school is no longer there, the Cline/Lemen cemetery remains to mark the spot.
The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville, next door to a 50-60 yr. old woman named Lucie Sophia Claussen with teenagers in her household. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848, little is known of the family, except that two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties. A son's obituary states they were in Christian County about 1843.
There is a family story that around this time Emil's father, a sailor, resided with Emil in his old age, and at his death left a sea chest containing papers, including a poem about Copenhagen, that has survived to this day.
By April of 1849, when their youngest son was born, the family is at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. According to THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORY, 1810-1962, Jordan's Prairie consisted at that time of a hotel, a saloon, and less than fifty families. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. A medical reference book says this about cholera in 1849: "The disease had been brought to New Orleans in immigrant ships early in December, 1848, and in a few weeks was carried to all the principal cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers." In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county; like the other victims, he was probably buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. One can only try to imagine how difficult the situation was for this family, and how Sarah, with a nursing babe in arms and few resources at her disposal, was able to keep her family together and survive. A tragic but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America.
From Juli Claussen, genealogist:
Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark, probably in Duchy of Holstein(now part of Germany). In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship Orion in Hamburg, Germany. On Jan. 6, 1835, the Orion docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, by steamboat or flatboat up the Mississippi River. In July of 1835, Emil married Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond County, Illinois. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County. Emil is said to have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843.He was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught three languages. The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848 two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties at this time. By April of 1849 when their youngest son was born, the family was at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county. An expert on Jefferson County burials, Fred Justice, felt certain that Emil and the other victims were buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. A tragic, but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America. (Research and narrative by Juli Claussen)∼Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark in November of 1814. So far, nothing of his early life or family of origin is known. However there is a story passed down in the family that a forefather served as a physician to the King of Denmark. Another family story is that Emil's father was a sailor out of Sweden and Denmark. And still another is that the family lived on the coast and ran cargo boats.
In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship "Orion" in Hamburg, Germany. It's ship passenger list states that he came to Hamburg from Holstein, gives his age, and his occupation as farmer. There are no other Claussens accompanying him on this journey.
It is not known whether Holstein was his birth place, or simply the most recent place he lived before boarding the ship. It is most likely that he was born there. It is known that Emil was born in Denmark, and there are many Claussens in Holstein, so it is likely this was his home. Holstein is a region currently in Northern Germany, part of what is now known as Schleswig-Holstein. This region was part of Denmark until 1864, and much political upheaval took place in the region for years prior to Denmark turning the region over to Germany, including the years in which Emil was growing up.
On Jan. 6, 1835, the "Orion" docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, probably by steamboat or flatboat up the icey Mississippi River. I have wondered what drew him to Illinois, and it may have been that he already had relatives residing there, as records show another household of Claussens from Denmark, near where he initially settled, which was near the Bond and Montgomery County lines, close to Walshville.
In July of 1835, Emil married 18 year old Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond Co , Illinois, only about two weeks before her father's death. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County.
Emil may have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843, according to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY and the 1874 ATLAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. The (1904) CHRISTIAN COUNTY PAST AND PRESENT states that Emil was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught 3 different languages. In those times the schools were subscription schools, and parents paid to send their sons. Girls were not encouraged to attend. Walshville Township was known as the "church township", and was primarily settled by German farmers. The first settlement was near Lake Fork where, in 1834, William Cline set aside land on his farm for a cemetery, and built a log cabin to serve as a Baptist Church and school house. This was the schoolhouse where Emil taught. Although the log cabin church/school is no longer there, the Cline/Lemen cemetery remains to mark the spot.
The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville, next door to a 50-60 yr. old woman named Lucie Sophia Claussen with teenagers in her household. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848, little is known of the family, except that two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties. A son's obituary states they were in Christian County about 1843.
There is a family story that around this time Emil's father, a sailor, resided with Emil in his old age, and at his death left a sea chest containing papers, including a poem about Copenhagen, that has survived to this day.
By April of 1849, when their youngest son was born, the family is at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. According to THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORY, 1810-1962, Jordan's Prairie consisted at that time of a hotel, a saloon, and less than fifty families. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. A medical reference book says this about cholera in 1849: "The disease had been brought to New Orleans in immigrant ships early in December, 1848, and in a few weeks was carried to all the principal cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers." In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county; like the other victims, he was probably buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. One can only try to imagine how difficult the situation was for this family, and how Sarah, with a nursing babe in arms and few resources at her disposal, was able to keep her family together and survive. A tragic but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America.
Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark, probably in Duchy of Holstein(now part of Germany). In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship Orion in Hamburg, Germany. On Jan. 6, 1835, the Orion docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, by steamboat or flatboat up the Mississippi River. In July of 1835, Emil married Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond County, Illinois. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County. Emil is said to have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843.He was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught three languages. The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848 two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties at this time. By April of 1849 when their youngest son was born, the family was at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county. An expert on Jefferson County burials, Fred Justice, felt certain that Emil and the other victims were buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. A tragic, but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America. (Research and narrative by Juli Claussen)∼Emil Henry Claussen was born in Denmark in November of 1814. So far, nothing of his early life or family of origin is known. However there is a story passed down in the family that a forefather served as a physician to the King of Denmark. Another family story is that Emil's father was a sailor out of Sweden and Denmark. And still another is that the family lived on the coast and ran cargo boats.
In December of 1834, at age 20, Emil boarded the ship "Orion" in Hamburg, Germany. It's ship passenger list states that he came to Hamburg from Holstein, gives his age, and his occupation as farmer. There are no other Claussens accompanying him on this journey.
It is not known whether Holstein was his birth place, or simply the most recent place he lived before boarding the ship. It is most likely that he was born there. It is known that Emil was born in Denmark, and there are many Claussens in Holstein, so it is likely this was his home. Holstein is a region currently in Northern Germany, part of what is now known as Schleswig-Holstein. This region was part of Denmark until 1864, and much political upheaval took place in the region for years prior to Denmark turning the region over to Germany, including the years in which Emil was growing up.
On Jan. 6, 1835, the "Orion" docked in New Orleans. Emil remained there a short time, then traveled to Illinois, probably by steamboat or flatboat up the icey Mississippi River. I have wondered what drew him to Illinois, and it may have been that he already had relatives residing there, as records show another household of Claussens from Denmark, near where he initially settled, which was near the Bond and Montgomery County lines, close to Walshville.
In July of 1835, Emil married 18 year old Sarah Francis Lingo in Bond Co , Illinois, only about two weeks before her father's death. Sarah was the daughter of early pioneers who were living in the northwest corner of Bond County.
Emil may have taught school briefly in Bond County in 1835. It is known that he did teach at the first school in Walshville Township in the southwest corner of Montgomery County, Illinois, from 1835 until at least 1843, according to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY and the 1874 ATLAS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY. The (1904) CHRISTIAN COUNTY PAST AND PRESENT states that Emil was well educated, a fine linguist, and taught 3 different languages. In those times the schools were subscription schools, and parents paid to send their sons. Girls were not encouraged to attend. Walshville Township was known as the "church township", and was primarily settled by German farmers. The first settlement was near Lake Fork where, in 1834, William Cline set aside land on his farm for a cemetery, and built a log cabin to serve as a Baptist Church and school house. This was the schoolhouse where Emil taught. Although the log cabin church/school is no longer there, the Cline/Lemen cemetery remains to mark the spot.
The Emil Claussen family is listed in the 1840 Montgomery County census, near Walshville, next door to a 50-60 yr. old woman named Lucie Sophia Claussen with teenagers in her household. In 1841, Emil was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant with the 43rd Regiment of the Illinois militia. During the eight or so years they remained in the Walshville area, Emil and Sarah had five sons, and buried one of them at five days old. Between 1843 and 1848, little is known of the family, except that two more sons were born, one of whom lived only five months. They may have remained in Montgomery County, or resided in Madison and Christian Counties. A son's obituary states they were in Christian County about 1843.
There is a family story that around this time Emil's father, a sailor, resided with Emil in his old age, and at his death left a sea chest containing papers, including a poem about Copenhagen, that has survived to this day.
By April of 1849, when their youngest son was born, the family is at Jordan's Prairie (now Dix), Jefferson County, Illinois. According to THE JEFFERSON COUNTY HISTORY, 1810-1962, Jordan's Prairie consisted at that time of a hotel, a saloon, and less than fifty families. The Claussens were farming, although the land was not very rich. Perhaps Emil was still teaching school as well. A terrible cholera epidemic was sweeping through the Midwest in 1849, leaving few families untouched. A medical reference book says this about cholera in 1849: "The disease had been brought to New Orleans in immigrant ships early in December, 1848, and in a few weeks was carried to all the principal cities on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers." In July of 1849, Emil died of cholera at the age of 34. There is no cemetery record for him in the county; like the other victims, he was probably buried out of necessity in a mass grave. He left his young wife with a farm to manage and six sons---ages 13, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2, and 3 months. One can only try to imagine how difficult the situation was for this family, and how Sarah, with a nursing babe in arms and few resources at her disposal, was able to keep her family together and survive. A tragic but all too common end to the story of this young immigrant to America.
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