Background
Clausen, Claus Lauritz was born on November 3, 1820 in Aeronautical, Denmark. Son of Erik and Karen (Pedersen) Clausen.
Clausen, Claus Lauritz was born on November 3, 1820 in Aeronautical, Denmark. Son of Erik and Karen (Pedersen) Clausen.
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 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.
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.
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 1861-1862 under the command of Colonel Hans C. Heg within the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment, more popularly known as the "Scandinavian Regiment".
Clausen served as the Iowa Commissioner to the Paris Exposition Universelle (1867).
Jorgensen, Margreth, Claus L. Clausen, Pioneer Pastor and Settlement Promoter, 1848-1868. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: University of Minnesota Minnesota Historical Society 1930)
Norlie, Olaf Morgan, Prominent Personalities (Northfield, Minnesota: National Lutheran Council 1942)
Swansen, H. Fred. Pastor Claus Laurits Clausen: Banebryder for den Norske og Danske Kirke i Amerika.
Første skandinavisk Feltpræst Kirkehistorisk Bidrag.
1921. Rasmus Andersen (Danish).
Clausen was one of the leading members of a Synod committee appointed to supervise the creation of Luther College during 1857.
Married Martha Rasmussen. Married second, Bergette Hjort, 1847.