Notes for Bernhard Claus
Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties, Iowa, 1894 by Chapman Pblg. pg. 207-208, biography of Bernhard Claus, Jr.: (information in brackets added by Michelle Margraf for clarification purposes)
"Berhard Claus, Jr., a prominent agriculturalist of Jefferson Township, Dubuque County, is the eldest son of Berhard and Catherine Sleighter Claus, and was born in Alsace, France, August 8, 1822. Coming to America, the family embarked on the sailing vessel "Osborne", and after a voyage of twenty-eight days landed in New York City. A short time afterward they went to Buffalo and there unsuccessfully sought work for ten days, after which they proceeded to Coumbus, Ohio. Near that city the father purchased eighty acres of farming land, which he utilized in the usual way by raising cereals until he died. Our subject (Bernard Sr. Claus) now have arrived at an accountable age, and feeling able to "paddle his own canoe" throught he world, left for Dubuque, Iowa where he secured a position as a teamster (one who drives a team of horses for hauling cargo). He was thus employed for three years, after which he went to the Chippewa River in Wisconsin as a surveyor in the emply of the Government. Three months later he returned to Dubuque, where he has since remained. Mr. Claus invested all of his hard earned savings in a piece of Iowa's best farming land, on which he built one of those old-fashinoned log cabins, then so common, but now seldom seen. His, however still stands, and was at one time quite skillfully and artistically decorated with horns and skins of thirteen deer which he had killed during the first year that he lived on his farm. Mr. Claus was married to Effie Fischer April 2, 1850. There were 4 children by this marriage, as follows: Margaret, William, George, and Willheminia, the two daughters being deceased. The wife and mother died in 1855 and afterward Mr. Claus married Catherine Sliger. Seven children blessed their union, namely: Mary, Rosie, Catherine, Caroline, Bernhard Jr., Anna and Creasence. Our subject (Bernhard Claus Sr.) owns one hundred and fourty-five acres of the best farming land in this section. He is very popular and highly esteemed by all who knowhim. He built the first Catholic Church in Jefferson Township and is noted for his liberality. Politically Mr. Claus was an ardent supporter of the Democatic party, and on that ticked was elected School Director, which position he has held for thirteen years. He also was Trustee for eight years. He is always to be found in the front rank of all enterprises tending to benefit the immediate community and the country at large. He is industrious and energetic and always honorable in his dealings with his fellow-men. He is a self-made man, having carved out his own fortune and reached his present prosperity entirely through his own unadided efforts."
[Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 1, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Jul 1, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.16762.19]
Individual: Barnhart Claus
Place: Fairfield Co., OH
Year: 1844
Primary Individual: Claus, Barnhart
Source Code: 1918
Source Name:
[FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO:] Index to Naturalizations of Fairfield County, Ohio. [Lancaster, Ohio:] Ohio Genealogical Society, Fairfield County Chapter, 1983. 48p. Source Page #: 7
[Broderbund Family Archive #355, Ed. 1, Passenger and Immigration Lists: Germans to America, 1850-1874, Date of Import: Jul 1, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.355.1.5550.9]
Passenger's Name: Bernhard Claus
Age: 24
Occupation: Farmer
Last Residence: Hanover
Final Destination: MO
Purpose for Travel: Staying in the USA
Manifest ID Number: 00018622
Port of Embarkation: Bremen
Mode of Travel: Steerage
In the 1860 Census of Dubuque County, Iowa, Roll No. 320, Pg. 165, Line 1-2; In the household with Berhard Claus and wife Catherina are two unidentified people: William Claus, age 13, born in Ohio and Ludwig Schneider, age 11, born in France.
The 1880 Iowa Agricultural Census (Decatur through Dubuque) Microcopy No. T-1156, Roll No. 21, Jefferson Township, Dubuque Co., pg. 1, Line 1, Claus, Bernhard:
Owner of property, 80 acres tilled, 20 acres permanent meadow, 40 acres woodland, value of farm buildings $7000, farm machinery $600, livestock $650, cost of building and repairing $300, estimated value of all farm products in 1879 $1460, grasslands mowed 20 acres, hay 40 acres, milch cows 14, other animals 9, calves dropped? 10, sold living cattle 5, slaughtered cattle 2, died or strayed cattle 8, butter made on farm in 1879 1800 lbs., cheese made on farm in 1879 300 lbs., 6 sheep on hand in 1879, lambs dropped? 2, sheep and lambs sold living (1) slaughtered (1), clipped fleeces 4, weight of clipped fleeces 40, swine on hand 45, poultry on hand 40 hens and 32 other, food production $200, barley 10 acres, bushels of crop 217, indian corn 16 acres, bushels of crop 1000, oats acres 8, bushels of crop 500, wheat acres 25, bushels of crop 248, acres of Hops? 1, crop lbs of Hops? 40, Irish potatoes acres 4, bushels of crop 500, apple orchard acres 4, 300 bearing trees, bushels of apples 250, total value of orchard products $82, 1/2 acres of vineyards, wine made in gallons 280, forest products 20 chords worth $100.
From genealogy.com library: (Not sure if this is the same Berhard Claus or not)
Land Records: AL, AR, FL, LA, MI, MN, OH, WI, 1790-1907
Document number: 527 Description number: 1
Number of acres: 80.0000 Accession number: WI0280__.479
Patentee Surname: Claus Patentee given name: Bernhard
State name: Wisconsin
Volume: 280 Page number: 479
Land office: Eau Claire Aliquot part reference: E�SE
Section number: 2
Township: 26 North Range: 1 West
Meridian or special survey area: Fourth Principal Meridian
Misc. document number: 883
Title transfer authority: Homestead Entry Orig.
Combined signature date: May 15, 1873
Multiple patentees: N Multiple warrantees: N
Signature: Y Canceled document: N Subsurface rights reserved: N
Metes and bounds: N Fractional section: N
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