Claus Lauritz Clausen (November 3, 1820 – February 20, 1892) was an American pioneer Lutheran minister, church leader, military chaplain and politician.
Claus Clausen was born at Borgnæs in Tranderup Parish, on the island of Ærø, in Svendborg County, Denmark. Clausen was a lay minister in Drammen, Norway prior to immigrating to America in 1842. Ordained in 1843, he organized the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation that came out of the state-church tradition within the Muskego Settlement. Clausen also organized and served as pastor of several nearby churches including Heart Prairie Lutheran Church. Clausen accepted a call during 1846 from Norwegian-settlers in the Jefferson Prairie Settlement. Clausen relocated from the Muskego Settlement and made Rock County, Wisconsin the center for his activities among the settlements in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, remaining until 1853.[1][2]
Starting in 1850, Clausen was editor of the Norwegian language newspapers, Maanedstidende and Kirketidende as well as the successor newspaper Emigranten, all published in Inmansville in Rock County. These Norwegian Lutheran endeavors at publishing mark the existence of the first print-shop in Rock County. From 1853 until 1861, he was founding pastor of First Lutheran Church of St. Ansgar in Saint Ansgar, Iowa.[3][4][5]
^"Luther Valley has a thriving church". The Janesville Gazette, November 9, 1929.
^Theodore C. Blegen. "The Early Norwegian Press In America". Minnesota History Bulletin, vol. 3, no. 8, pp. 506-518.
^"County's First Print Shop is in Newark". The Janesville Gazette, November 29, 1929.
^Biography of Rev. Claus L. Clausen (Pike, Kathy McAlister. edited by K. L. Kittleson. Mitchell County, Iowa 2004)
^Guide to the Norwegian-American Sources in the Luther College Archives and Preus Library (Rachel Vagts, College Archivist. Luther College, Decorah, Iowa)
^History Of Iowa (Volume III. State Legislatures Of Iowa, First General Assembly)
^St. Olaf's Centennial Book (Pike, Kathy McAlister, St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, Minnesota. 1967)
Jensson, J.C. American Lutheran Biographies; Historical notices of over 350 leading men of the American Lutheran Church (Milwaukee, Wis: Houtkamp. 1890)
Jorgensen, Margreth, Claus L. Clausen, Pioneer Pastor and Settlement Promoter, 1848-1868. (Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. Minnesota Historical Society. 1930)
Swansen, H. Fred. The Founder of St. Ansgar: the Life Story of Claus Laurits Clausen (Blair, Nebraska: Lutheran Publishing House. 1949)
Pastor Claus Laurits Clausen: Banebryder for den Norske og Danske Kirke i Amerika. Første skandinavisk Feltpræst Kirkehistorisk Bidrag. 1921. Rasmus Andersen (in Danish)
Norwegian-American Historical Association – The Promise of America
October 27, 2023
claus, lauritz, clausen, november, 1820, february, 1892, american, pioneer, lutheran, minister, church, leader, military, chaplain, politician, contents, biography, also, references, further, reading, external, linksbiography, editclaus, clausen, born, borgnæs. Claus Lauritz Clausen November 3 1820 February 20 1892 was an American pioneer Lutheran minister church leader military chaplain and politician Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography editClaus Clausen was born at Borgnaes in Tranderup Parish on the island of AEro in Svendborg County Denmark Clausen was a lay minister in Drammen Norway prior to immigrating to America in 1842 Ordained in 1843 he organized the first Norwegian Lutheran congregation that came out of the state church tradition within the Muskego Settlement Clausen also organized and served as pastor of several nearby churches including Heart Prairie Lutheran Church Clausen accepted a call during 1846 from Norwegian settlers in the Jefferson Prairie Settlement Clausen relocated from the Muskego Settlement and made Rock County Wisconsin the center for his activities among the settlements in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois remaining until 1853 1 2 Starting in 1850 Clausen was editor of the Norwegian language newspapers Maanedstidende and Kirketidende as well as the successor newspaper Emigranten all published in Inmansville in Rock County These Norwegian Lutheran endeavors at publishing mark the existence of the first print shop in Rock County From 1853 until 1861 he was founding pastor of First Lutheran Church of St Ansgar in Saint Ansgar Iowa 3 4 5 During 1853 Clausen was one of three pastors who organized the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America commonly known as the Norwegian Synod Clausen was one of the leading members of a Synod committee appointed to supervise the creation of Luther College during 1857 6 Clausen was elected to the Iowa General Assembly during 1856 1859 serving in the Iowa House of Representatives At the outbreak of the American Civil War he would serve as army chaplain from 1861 62 under the command of Colonel Hans C Heg within the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment more popularly known as the Scandinavian Regiment 7 8 Clausen served as the Iowa Commissioner to the Paris Exposition Universelle 1867 In 1868 he resigned from the Synod of the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and helped organize the Conference of the Norwegian Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church of America becoming its first president from 1870 until 1872 9 See also editNorway Lutheran ChurchReferences edit Claus Lauritz Clausen Wisconsin Historical Society Luther Valley has a thriving church The Janesville Gazette November 9 1929 Theodore C Blegen The Early Norwegian Press In America Minnesota History Bulletin vol 3 no 8 pp 506 518 County s First Print Shop is in Newark The Janesville Gazette November 29 1929 Biography of Rev Claus L Clausen Pike Kathy McAlister edited by K L Kittleson Mitchell County Iowa 2004 Guide to the Norwegian American Sources in the Luther College Archives and Preus Library Rachel Vagts College Archivist Luther College Decorah Iowa History Of Iowa Volume III State Legislatures Of Iowa First General Assembly St Olaf s Centennial Book Pike Kathy McAlister St Olaf Lutheran Church Austin Minnesota 1967 Claus Lauritz Clausen Christian Cyclopedia The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Concordia Publishing House 2000 Further reading editJensson J C American Lutheran Biographies Historical notices of over 350 leading men of the American Lutheran Church Milwaukee Wis Houtkamp 1890 Jorgensen Margreth Claus L Clausen Pioneer Pastor and Settlement Promoter 1848 1868 Minneapolis MN University of Minnesota Minnesota Historical Society 1930 Norlie Olaf Morgan Prominent Personalities Northfield MN National Lutheran Council 1942 Swansen H Fred The Founder of St Ansgar the Life Story of Claus Laurits Clausen Blair Nebraska Lutheran Publishing House 1949 Pastor Claus Laurits Clausen Banebryder for den Norske og Danske Kirke i Amerika Forste skandinavisk Feltpraest Kirkehistorisk Bidrag 1921 Rasmus Andersen in Danish External links editWorks by or about Claus Lauritz Clausen at Internet Archive The Norwegian Lutheran Church on Norway Hill Norwegian American Historical Association The Promise of America Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Claus Lauritz Clausen amp oldid 1146812422, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
