J. J. Clausen Earliest Rifle Pioneer

J. J. Clausen, Earliest Rifle Pioneer
One of the earliest pioneers in the Rifle Area was J. J. Clausen, also spelled Claussen. In fact, he and his wife Augusta had been on their place 16 months when Abram and Flora Maxfield arrived. This is J.J.'s brief biography.
J. J. Clausen, aka John or Jens, was born August 20, 1843 in Slesvig Denmark according to his tombstone. That territory is now part of Germany..
He married Augusta Fredericka Starkey May 24, 1866 in the Lutheran church.
She was born September 9, 1840 in Brunswick, Denmark. No information could be located about children.
They came to the U.S. in 1882, arriving initially in Fairplay on March 27 to stay with her brother. They were there for six weeks, then two weeks were spent in Ashcroft, now a ghost town past Aspen.
Finally, they came down the Roaring Fork and over the trail up 4 mile creek and located on Beaver Creek south of Rifle arriving about May 22, 1882. Augusta is said to be one of the first white women to live in the Rifle area. If all the dates are correct, she arrived 16 months before Flora Maxfield.
On his ranch on Beaver Creek, J. J. built log cabins to live in, and to accomodate travelers. He eventually replaced them with comfortable dwellings with modern conveniences. And he built the first roads in his area with pick and shovel.
He was a stockman and farmer, had a large garden, raised cattle, and had what was described as a model dairy farm. His crops were principally hay and grain and garden produce which he sold.
A newspaper account said he was a top notch farmer, was strictly independent, and raised everything he consumed on his ranch.
J. J. was appointed as the road overseer for his section of the county on the south side of the river down to Battlement mesa. Newspaper accounts indicate he was very well known and very popular.
The Rifle Shots book shares an anecdote from 1890 at the dedication of the first bridge to south Rifle. Abram Maxfield was a featured speaker and was describing how he came and founded the town.
J.J. was in the aufience and finally jumped up on the platform to have his say, after all he was there 16 months before Abram. Shaking his fist, waving his hat, shouting in broken English he said "Ladies and gentleman, I built the trails dat Maxfield"s shackasses came in on."
In 1899, J.J. leased his ranch to parties who came from near Glenwood. Then he sponsored a large Fourth of July celebration at Beaver creek, having a dancing floor and refreshment stand built for the large crowd.
In 1900 he sold his Beaver Creek ranch for $10,000 cash to Pete Luxen. He then bought lots in Rifle and had a fine brick house built, reported to be one of the nicest little places in town. Luxen would own the ranch 30 years before selling it and retiring.
In late 1903, he had a water wagon built and an article says he placed it in the streets of Rifle for the use of the general public.
He operated The Pioneer Livery and Feed Stables next to Glover's Jewelry and barber shop. On May 3, 1902, it was destroyed by fire. The livery was owned by George Clarkson, was valued at $1,800, and was not insured. It was not rebuilt, eventually the Rifle Sanitarium was built in its place.
On that day, Rifle lost two liveries. Besides Clausen's, the Meeker Stable also burned. Neither was rebuilt, and instead, "Cap" Hunter in 1903 built a new one, his Red Barn livery at 5th and Railroad. Another, the City Stables was built at West Ave and 3rd.
Pushed by the wind, fire reached Clausen's livery and Cato's blacksmith shops at 1 o'clock. A vacant lot prevented it from reaching the Barnes restaurant which would have been next to go.
J. J. Clausen passed away August 21, 1912, in the hospital at Salida. He had been suffering greatly and finally consented to go there for an operation which was performed August 10th.
He had been improving but took a turn for the worst. The obituary says the end came due directly to kidney failure. He was 69 years old if his tombstone is correct.
Augusta passed away August 20, 1918. As churches and other places of assembly were closed at that time due of the flu epidemic, the funeral was held out of doors at her home.
J. J. and Augusta had been married 46 years. They are both buried at Rose Hill.

 

 

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