Early Immigration
REV. CLAUS LAURITZEN CLAUSEN was born in Denmark on November 3, 1820. Clausen had some university education and private tutoring from a parish pastor in subjects usually taught at the theological schools. He was a teacher who had sought employment with the Norwegian Mission Society as a missionary. Hearing about the immigrants in America he decided to move to America. He left Denmark in 1842 and arrived in the Norwegian settlement at Muskego, Wisconsin on August 8, 1843. When he arrived it seemed as if he might be more useful as a preacher than as a teacher as he was well-educated and informed. Muskego people sent a formal letter of call to Clausen as their pastor on September 13, 1843. They also requested a German Lutheran pastor near Milwaukee to formally examine and ordain him. This letter of call is considered by historians to mark the beginning of the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation to America. He was ordained in October 1843.
By 1844, Clausen was traveling to other major Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin (including Koshkonong), preaching, baptizing and offering the Lord’s Supper. However, he did not attempt to organize any congregations, since he knew he could not take care of them on a regular basis.
When the Norwegian Lutheran Synod was organized he became its first superintendent.
In 1845, Rev. Clausen filled in for Pastor Dietrichson while he returned to Norway in search of a pastor who would minister to the Koshkonong area. Pastor Dietrichson left on May 12, 1845 and did not return until September of 1846, at which time Rev. Clausen returned to the Muskego area.
In 1851 Pastor Clausen visited Iowa and preached the first Scandinavian Lutheran sermon in the State. In 1852 he settled at St. Ansgar, Iowa, and started the town. In the fall of 1874, on account of ill health, he resigned his pastorate of the Lutheran churches at St. Ansgar and Rock Creek, and moved to Virginia. Aside from his parochial duties at home Rev. Clausen had organized churches among his brethren "in all the regions round about." During his residence in Mitchell county (Iowa) he filled with great acceptance many important positions of trust. He was the first justice of the peace in the county; school fund commissioner; member of the board of supervisors; member of the state legislature; member of the board of immigration; and commissioner for Iowa at the World's Exposition at Paris, in 1867. In 1875 Mr. Clausen accepted a call to take charge of the Scandinavian Lutheran church at Philadelphia during the Centennial, or from the fall of 1875 to the fall of 1876.
In the spring of 1878, Rev. Clausen's health was so far restored that he accepted a call to become pastor of the Austin, Red Oak Grove and Blooming Prairie (Minnesota) congregations, which many years before had been organized and visited by him from St. Ansgar. In 1881 Rev. Clausen received a second and very severe attack of paralysis, and he was obliged to resign his pastoral duties. He moved to Austin, Minnesota, in 1885, where he has since made his home.
Rev. Clausen from his residence in St. Ansgar, ten miles below the state line, was an early visitant of the rising Scandinavian settlements of this county. He gathered them into church, baptized their children, and conducted religious services for them. He was bishop in all but name to a vast region including Mower county. The presence of a well-informed, cultured gentleman contributed much to keep them in connection with the best of their past lives. Those who realize the importance of what the frontier missionary has done for the well-being of our community among the English speaking population, will best appreciate what Rev. C. L. Clausen has done for another element of our population. Rev. Clausen's life has been an active and useful one. He was the leader to guide his people at all times and in all places. No wonder they looked upon him as a beloved friend, and revered him as an honored father. He served his country faithfully one year during the war as chaplain of the 15th Wisconsin, and while in the service stood so near a mortar when it exploded, that the shock it is thought to have caused his several strokes of paralysis which finally resulted in his death. He was a member of McIntyre Post, G. A. R.
C. L. Clausen passed away at Pearson's Landing, WA, on Saturday, Feb. 20, 1892, at the residence of his son, Charles William Clausen.
His remains were brought back to Minnesota for interment, and were laid to rest beside his wife who died some four years earlier.
Mr. Clausen was survived by five sons:
By 1844, Clausen was traveling to other major Norwegian settlements in Wisconsin (including Koshkonong), preaching, baptizing and offering the Lord’s Supper. However, he did not attempt to organize any congregations, since he knew he could not take care of them on a regular basis.
When the Norwegian Lutheran Synod was organized he became its first superintendent.
In 1845, Rev. Clausen filled in for Pastor Dietrichson while he returned to Norway in search of a pastor who would minister to the Koshkonong area. Pastor Dietrichson left on May 12, 1845 and did not return until September of 1846, at which time Rev. Clausen returned to the Muskego area.
In 1851 Pastor Clausen visited Iowa and preached the first Scandinavian Lutheran sermon in the State. In 1852 he settled at St. Ansgar, Iowa, and started the town. In the fall of 1874, on account of ill health, he resigned his pastorate of the Lutheran churches at St. Ansgar and Rock Creek, and moved to Virginia. Aside from his parochial duties at home Rev. Clausen had organized churches among his brethren "in all the regions round about." During his residence in Mitchell county (Iowa) he filled with great acceptance many important positions of trust. He was the first justice of the peace in the county; school fund commissioner; member of the board of supervisors; member of the state legislature; member of the board of immigration; and commissioner for Iowa at the World's Exposition at Paris, in 1867. In 1875 Mr. Clausen accepted a call to take charge of the Scandinavian Lutheran church at Philadelphia during the Centennial, or from the fall of 1875 to the fall of 1876.
In the spring of 1878, Rev. Clausen's health was so far restored that he accepted a call to become pastor of the Austin, Red Oak Grove and Blooming Prairie (Minnesota) congregations, which many years before had been organized and visited by him from St. Ansgar. In 1881 Rev. Clausen received a second and very severe attack of paralysis, and he was obliged to resign his pastoral duties. He moved to Austin, Minnesota, in 1885, where he has since made his home.
Rev. Clausen from his residence in St. Ansgar, ten miles below the state line, was an early visitant of the rising Scandinavian settlements of this county. He gathered them into church, baptized their children, and conducted religious services for them. He was bishop in all but name to a vast region including Mower county. The presence of a well-informed, cultured gentleman contributed much to keep them in connection with the best of their past lives. Those who realize the importance of what the frontier missionary has done for the well-being of our community among the English speaking population, will best appreciate what Rev. C. L. Clausen has done for another element of our population. Rev. Clausen's life has been an active and useful one. He was the leader to guide his people at all times and in all places. No wonder they looked upon him as a beloved friend, and revered him as an honored father. He served his country faithfully one year during the war as chaplain of the 15th Wisconsin, and while in the service stood so near a mortar when it exploded, that the shock it is thought to have caused his several strokes of paralysis which finally resulted in his death. He was a member of McIntyre Post, G. A. R.
C. L. Clausen passed away at Pearson's Landing, WA, on Saturday, Feb. 20, 1892, at the residence of his son, Charles William Clausen.
His remains were brought back to Minnesota for interment, and were laid to rest beside his wife who died some four years earlier.
Mr. Clausen was survived by five sons:
- Martin Nicolai Clauson, Austin, MN
- Lauritz George Frederick Clausen, Austin, MN
- Charles William Clausen, Pearson’s Landing, WA
- Birger Adolph Clausen, Pearson's Landing, WA
- Edward Erasmus Clausen, Chicago, IL