From: A Twentieth Century History of Allegan County, Michigan

By Henry F. ThomasPublished 1907, Lewis Publishing Co.

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 energy.

A native of Denmark, Mr. Clausen was born March 12, 1855. 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, 1884. 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 1902, but 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 worthy and valued citizens of his adopted country. A man of business ability, he is sagacious and far- sighted, readily recognizing and utilizing opportunities. The alert and enterprising spirit which characterized him in his business relations in the western metropolis has been manifest in the promotion of his agricultural pursuits in Allegan county and argues well for a successful future in this line.