Introduction to the 1923 Biographical Sketches
This biographical sketch was published along with many others in the 1923 History of Auglaize County, Volume II, edited by William J. McMurray and published by the Historical Publishing Company of Indianapolis. In most cases the subject of the biography was of the first generation born in this country to German immigrants. In some cases the subject may have been born in Germany and came to this country at a young age. In most cases the story tells of the immigrant parents of the subject and also the children and grandchildren of the subject named at the beginning of the story. In some cases comments have been added after the biography to explain the locations of the farms where the immigrants settled. New Knoxville did not have rural addresses until 1955, and therefore the settlers had rural route addresses of St. Marys, Botkins, etc.
GEORGE CLAUSING, a former township trustee, who died in Washington township almost twenty years ago and whose widow is still living there, the operations of the farm being carried on by her son, George, was in his day one of the substantial landowners in that part of Auglaize county and at his passing left a good memory, for he had done well his part in developing the general interests of the community in which he lived. Mr. Clausing was of European birth, born in the kingdom of Hanover in 1846, and was a son of Clement Adolph Clausing, a schoolmaster. He grew up skilled in the trade of carpentry and cabinet making and as a young man came to the United States, arriving here in the latter 60's. For a time after coming to this country he was located at Cincinnati and then he came up into this part of the state and became engaged at his trade in New Knoxville, where he remained until after his marriage when he bought a tract of fifty acres along the old plank road in northeast quarter of section 6 of Washington township, about three miles east of St. Marys, and there established his home and entered upon the career of farming which was to turn out so successfully for him. On that place, upon taking possession, he put up a log cabin and started in to clear and improve his tract. As his affairs prospered he built new buildings and bought more land, becoming the owner of eighty-five acres, and on that place spent his last days, his death occurring on December 25, 1904. Mr. Clausing was a Republican and had rendered public service as a township trustee and as a school director. He was a member of the Reformed church of New Knoxville, as is his widow, and took a proper part in church affairs. Since the death of her husband, Mrs, Clausing has continued to make her home on the farm, where she has lived since the place was opened for cultivation. She was from Washington township, Elizabeth Schroer, daughter of Herman and Sophia (Wierwille) Schroer, members of pioneer families in the township and concerning whom further and fitting mention is made elsewhere in this volume, and she has lived here all her life. To George and Elizabeth (Schroer) Clausing ten children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity, Herman, William, Henry, George, Anna, Sarah, Moritz and Mary, all of whom married save the late Herman Clausing married Matilda Hove and has six children. Florence, Magdalena, Walter, Edward, Lenora and Noah. William Clausing married Caroline Henschen and has five children, Ferd, Olga, Leonard, Albert and Zella. Henry Clausing married Talitha Hansen and has one child, a daughter, Agnes. George Clausing married Sophia Vohs and is now carrying on the operations of the home farm in his mother's behalf, continuing to make his home on the place, where he has an excellent farm plant and is doing well. Anna Clausing married Benjamin Katterheinrich and has one child, Florence, Sarah Clausing married William Stolte and has three children, Robert, Dorothy and Forest, and Moritz Clausing married Bertha Korspeter. The Clausing home is pleasantly situated on rural mail route No. 1 out of St. Marys. Mrs. Clausing, as will be noted above. has sixteen grandchildren.
George Clausing was instrumental in the establishment of the Sunday School Chapel of the Reformed Church congregation in New Knoxville. More on this subject may be found in the history of the First Church of New Knoxville. It is mentioned that he died on December 25, 1904, which actually occurred during the Christmas service in the Sunday School Chapel.