A twentieth century history of Allegan County, Michigan comp. under the editorial supervision of Dr. Henry F. Thomas, Allegan.

HISTORY OF ALLEGAN COUNTY

141

straightforward dealing, and a review of his life history will show that his
private and political relations have, like his military record, been creditable
and honorable.
HERMAN CLAUSEN.-Experiment and scientific investigation have completely revolutionized the business of fruit growing in the last quarter of
a century and wonderful results have been produced through the utilization
of modern methods. Herman Clausen is among those who, keeping in
touch with the spirit of modern progress, are winning success as orchardists
in Allegan county. He resides in Saugatuck township and his thrift, enterprise and close application have caused him to gain a position of prominence
in the line of business activity, to which he is devoting his time and energy4
A native of Denmark, Mr. Clausen was born March 12, I855. He is
a son of Christian P. and Dorothy (Clausen) Clausen, who were also
natives of Denmark. Their family numbered three children, but our subject
is the only survivor and is the only one that emigrated from Denmark. He
was reared and educated in that land, receiving liberal advantages in the
Latin school at Schleswig, but as the years passed by, leaving their impress
upon his mind, his plans changed and his thoughts turned into another
direction. While yet in his teens he served in the Prussian army under
Frederick in the Ninth Army Corps of the Flying Artillery for one year.
He emigrated to the United States in 1872, attracted by the broader opportunities and greater advantages of the new world. Making his way to
Chicago, he entered upon business life in this country as a traveling salesman and was thus employed for a number of years by the National Biscuit
Company. When his savings justified his embarkation in business on his
own account he established a grocery and market, which he conducted
successfully until 1904, and in the meantime he had made judicious investment in property in Chicago, where he still owns considerable realty. In
the meantime, however, he became owner of farm land in Saugatuck township, Allegan county, Michigan. His present farm was purchased in 1902
and is known as the R. M. Moore farm. Locating upon this place, Mr.
Clausen here owns one hundred acres of first-class land and also rents forty
acres, so that he is now cultivating one hundred and forty acres. On his
own farm he has seven thousand peach trees, four hundred pear trees,
three hundred cherry trees, three hundred apple trees and two hundred plum
trees, while two acres are devoted to small fruits, including blackberries
and raspberries. Mr. Clausen intends pushing his fruit-growing industry to
a high state of perfection and of magnitude, and has already gained a place
among the prominent agriculturists of Allegan county.
Mr. Clausen was happily married to Miss Belvina, a daughter of
Nathaniel and Mary Stratton, on the 22d of April, I884. She was born
in Allegan county in 1863. Her father was a successful lumberman and
farmer of this part of the state and owned and operated one hundred and
twenty acres of fine land. He died in I902, b.ut the mother still survives.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Clausen is an Odd Fellow, in sympathy
with the principles of that organization. He has served his township as
path master and is looked upon as one of the worthv and valued citizens
of his adopted country. A man of business ability, he is sagacious and farsighted, readily recognizing and utilizing opportunities. The alert and