John Peter Clausen
and
Katherine Riffle


Page started 31 Dec 2006; updated 27 Dec 2007, 21 Sep 2008, and 5 Sep 2009
Sources:
Virginia L. Clausen Small and Wendell Small, personal interviews;
Other family contacts;
Census data from Ancestry.com.
An Outline of Much of the Known Family


25.00--Clausen, John Peter, b. Dec 1848 in Germany, [age 51 in 20 Apr 1910 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]; [age 62 in 5 Jan 1920 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]; m. 15 yrs to Katherine "Kate", "Katie" Riffle (b. Apr. 1867 in Russia [age 33 in 20 Apr 1910 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]); living at 704 W. 4th Ave. in the 5 Jun 1900 census of Denver, Arapaho Co., CO; [John M. Gwin Note:  John P. Clausen reports in 1900 that his father and mother are both from Germany, not Denmark. However, in the 1920 census, his son William reports that his own father, John P., is from Denmark, most likely to avoid any possible repercussions and potential bad feelings toward those of German descent. In fact, John P. himself reports in 1920 that while he is from Germany and speaks German, his own father and mother were from Denmark--but speak German! And Katherine, in 1920, reports that while she and her parents are from Russia, all speak German!]

26.01--Ida Clausen, dau., b. Jun 1886 in KS [age 13 in 20 Apr 1910 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;

26.02--Amelia Clausen, dau., b. Feb 1888 in KS [age 12 in 20 Apr 1910 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]; d. young, when Virginia "was a little girl"; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;

26.03--John R. Clausen, son, age 11, b. Aug 1889 in CO, [25 May 1910 census of Idalia, Yuma Co., CO; living alone next door to William (55, b. Germany) and Lena (56, b. Germany) Claussen and  children William (17, b. CO), Antonia (16, b. CO), and Claus (12, b. CO)];

26.04--William H. Clausen, son, b. Feb 1893 in KS [age 17 in 20 Apr 1910 census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA]; [age 26 in 9 Jan 1920 census of Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., CA]; m. Lela Mae Curl (age 25, b. KS, d/o Morriss Amos Curl and Mary E. [nee unk.]); [John M. Gwin Note: WHC reports in 1920 that his father was b. in Denmark and speaks Danish, and his mother was b. in Russia and speaks Russian! This is possibly due to the recent--Nov 1918--end to WW1 and potential bad feelings toward those of German descent.]
27.01--Virginia Lorraine Clausen, dau, b. ca. Aug 1918; m. Wendell Small

28.01--Carolyn Louise Small m. Elliot Bergsagel, Ph. D.

29.01--Jonathan Elliot Bergsagel m. Rebecca "Becky" Neeley

30.01--Annette Grace Bergsagel

30.02--James Jonathan Bergsagel

30.03--Bergsagel

29.02--Sonja Ree Bergsagel m. Hartwig Schmidt, Ph. D.

29.03--Andre Bergsagel

28.02--Eugene "Gene" Small

28.03--John Small m. Rhonda

27.02--William C. "Billy" Clausen, son, b. ca. Oct 1919 [age 3mos. in 9 Jan 1920 census of Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., CA]

27.03--Eugene "Gene" Hill Clausen, son, b. 28 Sep 192(1?);
28.01--Jan Clausen, twin daughter, b. unk.; d. unk.; m. unk.;

28.02--Judy Clausen, twin daughter, b. unk.; d. unk.; m. unk.;

28.03--Cindy Clausen, daughter, b. unk.; d. unk.; m. unk.;

26.05--Louise Clausen, dau, [age 6, b. in CA, 1910 census]; m. Ed Kreig (b. unk.; d. bef. Louise did)

 26.06--Dorothy Agusta "Gusta" Clausen, dau., b. Sep 1896 in CO [age 3, b. in CA, 1910 census];

26.07--Henry Clausen, son, [age 1, b. in CA, 1910 census]; d. in a car wreck as a single man (details of wreck sketchy);

Addenda -- Other Claussens Found
[John M. Gwin Note: Virginia Clausen Small didn't recall any of these names (Emil, Marie, Rosalie, etc.), but the dates and locations are consistent with her family, so perhaps they are related, too.]

1.0--Emil C. Clausen, b. ca. 1880 in Denmark [age 40 in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR]; immigrated to US in 1903; d. unk.; m. Marie (nee unk., b. ca. 1882 [age 38 in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR]); 4 children as of 10 Jan 1920

2.01--Marie N. Clausen, dau., b. ca. 1908 in KS [age 12 in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR];

2.02--Rosalie K. Clausen, dau, b. ca. 1907 in KS [age 11 in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR];

2.03--Emil A. Clausen, son, b. ca. 1913 in CO [age 7 in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR];

2.04--Ruth E. Clausen, dau, b. ca. Mar 1918 in ID [age 1 yr, 10 mo., in 10 Jan 1920 census of Portland, Multnomah Co., OR];



1.0--Emil Clausen, b. ca. 1880 [age 30 in 26 Apr 1910 census of Kenosha City, Kenosha Co., WI]; d. unk.; immigrated to US ca. 1904; m. ca. 1909 to Christina (nee unk.; [age __ in 26 Apr 1910 census of Kenosha City, Kenosha Co., WI]);

2.1--Margaret Clausen, b. ca. Mar 1910 [age 1 mo. in 26 Apr 1910 census of Kenosha City, Kenosha Co., WI]; d. unk.; m. unk.;



Addenda -- Pertinent Census Data

From the 3-4 Jun 1880 Census of Centre Twp., Marion Co., KS
Res/Fam
 Name
 RHoH
 Race
/Sex
 Age
 Est
DOB
fr.age
 		MS
 POB
S/F/M
 Occ/Trade
Profssn.
 John M. Gwin Comments
29/30
 Andrew Riffle
 head
 wm
 44
 1836
 m
 Rus/Rus/Rus
 farmer

Catherine Riffle wife
 wf
 44
 1836
 m
 Rus/Rus/Rus keeps house

Catherine Riffle dau
 wf
 16
 1864
 s
 Rus/Rus/Rus servant
 I believe that one of these two younger Catherines (the other is listed as the niece in this family) is the one who will marry John Peter Clausen and becomeVirginia Lorraine Clausen Small's grandmother. Perhaps trying to find her in the Kansas censuses will throw more light on the subject.

Andrew Riffle son
 wm
 15
 1865
 s
 Rus/Rus/Rus farmer

Henry Riffle son
 wm
 13
 1867
 [blank]
 Rus/Rus/Rus farmer

Elizabeth Riffle dau
 wf
 9
 1871
 [blank] Rus/Rus/Rus [blank]

Amelia Riffle dau
 wf
 5
 1875
 [blank] Rus/Rus/Rus [blank]

Lydia Riffle dau
 wf
 2
 1878
 [blank] Rus/Rus/Rus [blank]

Jacob Riffle nephew
 wm
15
 1865
 s
 Rus/Rus/Rus farmer

Catherine Riffle niece
 wf
 13
 1867
 [blank] Rus/Rus/Rus [blank] (see comment for the other young Catherine, above)
Further, this Catherine's age matches up exactly with that of the one below in the 1900 census.

From the 1 Mar 1885 Kansas State Census of Marion Co., KS
Res/Fam
 Name
 Race
/Sex
 Age
 Est
DOB
fr.age
 		MS
 POB/
FrWh
toKS?
 Occ/Trade
Profssn.
 John M. Gwin Comments
52/53
 Andrew Riffle
 wm
 49
 1836
 m
 Rushia/
Rushia/
 farmer
 One can see that this is without a doubt the same family as appears above in 1880.

Catherine Riffle wf
 43
 1842
 m
 Rushia/
Rushia
Catherine's age discrepancy is also obvious.

Elizabeth Riffle wf
 13
 1872
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia
 This must be the Elizabeth in 1880...

Mollie Riffle wf
 9
 1876
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia
...this must be the Amelia in 1880...

Liddia Riffle wf
 7
 1878
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia
...here is 1880's Lydia...

Andrew Riffle
 wm
 19
 1866
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia		 farmer
 ...and here are Andrew...

Henry Riffle
 wm
 17
 1868
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia		 farmer
 ...and Henry, both the same as in 1880.
54/55
 Cathern Riffle
 wf
 45
 1840
 wid
 Rushia/
Rushia
Ah. The thought plickens. This Catherine must be the widow of one of the brothers of the above Catherine.

Scharlet Riffle
 wf
 12
 1873
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia


Jacob Riffle
 wm
 8
 1877
 s
 Rushia/
Rushia


From the 5 Jun 1900 Census of Denver, Arapahoe Co., CO
Address/
Res/Fam
 Name
 RHoH
 Race
/Sex
 Age
 DOB
 MS
 #yrs
md.
 #ch/
#lvg.
 POB
S/F/M
 Yr.
Imm.
 Yrs.
inUS
 Nat-
ztn.
 Occ/Trade
Profssn.
 John M. Gwin Comments
704 W. 9th Ave/
137/153
 John P. Clausen
 head
 wm
 51
 Dec 1848
 m
 15
Germany/
Germany/
Germany
 1882
 18
 Pa
 "Engine" something?

I've copied his (JPC's) occupation here for you to try to read...

Katie Clausen wife
 wf
 33
 Apr 1867
 m
 15
 5/5
 Russia/
Russia/
Russia
 1875
 25



Ida Clausen dau
 wf
 13
 Jun 1886
 s

KS/Russia/
Germany(sic)


at school
 The census taker has obviously reversed the PsOB of the parents here and in each of the children's records in this chart.

Amelia Clausen dau
 wf
 12
 Feb 1888
 s

KS/Russia/
Germany(sic)


at school (see comments for Ida, above)

John R. Clausen son
 wm
 11
 Aug 1889
 s

CO/Russia/
Germany(sic)


at school (see comments for Ida, above)

William Clausen son
 wm
 7
 Feb 1893
 s

CO/Russia/
Germany(sic)


at school (see comments for Ida, above)

Gusta Clausen dau
 wf
 3
 Sep 1896
 s

CO/Russia/
Germany(sic)



(see comments for Ida, above)

From the 20 Apr 1910 Census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA
Address/
Res/Fam
 Name
 RHoH
 Race
/Sex
 Age
 MS
 #yrs
md.
 #ch/
#lvg.
 POB
S/F/M
 Occ/Trade
Profssn.
 John M. Gwin Comments
220 S. Hudson Ave./
184/187
 John P. Clausen
 head
 wm
 52
 m1
 25
Germany/
Germany/
Germany
 Gass Fitter, Gass shop
 It is interesting to me that John P. Clausen claims here in 1910 that his parents were both born in Germany, then in 1920 (just after WWI ended) he switches allegiance to Denmark!

Kate Clausen wife
 wf
 43
 m1
 25
 7/6
 Russia/
Russia/
Russia
This is the former Katherine "Kate" Riffle.

Ida Clausen dau
 wf
 23
 s

KS/Germany/
Russia


Amelia Clausen dau
 wf
 22
 s

KS/Germany/
Russia


William Clausen son
 wm
 17
 s

CO/Germany/
Russia
This is William H. Clausen, Carolyn's grandfather. Missing from this list, however, is John R. Clausen, who would be almost 21 in this census. Perhaps he is married and living elsewhere.

Agusta Clausen dau
 wf
 13
 s

CO/Germany/
Russia


Louise Clausen dau
 wf
 6
 s

CA/Germany/
Russia


Henery Clausen son
 wm
 1
 s

CA/Germany/
Russia


From the 5 Jan 1920 Census of Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., CA
Address/
Res/Fam
 Name
 Relat
to HoH
 Race/
Sex
 		Age
 Yr.Imm./
Yr.Natlzd.
 MS
 		POB
S/F/M
 Occ.
 John M. Gwin Comments
220 So. Hudson/
91/93
 John P. Clausen
 head
 wm
 62
 1882/1915
 m
 Germany/
Denmark/
Denmark
 gardener

Katherine Clausen wife
 wf
 53
m
 Russia/
Russia/
Russia


Louise Clausen dau
 wf
 15
s
 CA/
Germany/
Russia


Henry Clausen son
 wm
 11
s
 CA/
Germany/
Russia


From the 9 Jan 1920 Census of Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., CA
Street/Res/Fam
 Name
 Relat
to HoH
 Race/
Sex
 		Age
 Val. of
Home
 MS
 		POB
S/F/M
 Occ.
 John M. Gwin Comments
525 Magnolia Ave./
212/342
 Wm. H. Clausen
 head
 wm
 26
m
 CO/Denmark/
Russia
 shipyard machinist

Lela M. Clausen wife
 wf
 25
m
 KS/OH/OH


Virginia L. Clausen dau
 wf
 1yr. 5mo.
s
 CA/CO/KS


William C. Clausen son
 wm
 3mo.
s
 CA/CO/KS


From the 2 Apr 1930 Census of Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., CA
Street/Res/Fam
 Name
 Relat
to HoH
 Race/
Sex
 		Age
 Val. of
Home
 MS/
Age
1stMd.
 		POB
S/F/M
 Occ.
 John M. Gwin Comments
4107 Theresa St./
5/5
 William H. Clausen
 head
 wm
 37
 owned,
$6500
 m/24
 CO/Denmark/
Germany
 Superintendent, oil fields
 This is Carolyn's maternal grandfather...

Lela M. Clausen wife
 wf
 35
m/22
 KS/OH/OH
 none
 ...which would make this Carolyn's maternal grandmother, the former Lela Mae Curl.

Virginia L. Clausen daughter
 wf
 11
s
 CA/CO/KS
 none Here's Carolyn's mom, who will marry Wendell Small and, in Dec 2007, celebrate 62 years of marriage!

Billy C. Clausen son
 wm
 10
s
 CA/CO/KS none

Eugene H. Clausen son
 wm
 5
s
 CA/CO/KS none This is Carolyn's uncle, Gene Hill Clausen.