Born:
30 Mar 1835 Place: Königsbach, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Christened:
20 Apr 1835 Place: Hohn, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Died:
10 Apr 1892 Place: Bourbon Twp, Douglas County, Illinois Buried:
Apr 1892 Place: Evangelical Zion Cemetery, Garret Township, Douglas County, Illinois Census: 1 Feb 1840 Place: Königsbach, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Census:
1 Feb 1845 Place: Königsbach, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Census:
1 Feb 1855 Place: Königsbach, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Census:
1 Jul 1860 Place: Bourbon Twp, Douglas County, Illinois Census:
1862 Place: Bourbon Twp, Douglas County, Illinois Census:
4 Jun 1880 Place: Bourbon Twp, Douglas County, Illinois Emigration:
Abt 1859 Place: Germany Naturalization:
1 Nov 1864 Place: Douglas County, Illinois Probate:
26 Apr 1892 Place: Douglas County, Illinois Will:
24 Feb 1892 Place: Douglas County, Illinois Father:
BLAASE Andreas (1798-1855) Mother:
BLUNCK Elsabe Margretha "Elisabeth" (1795-1874) Spouse:
KAMM Anna Elizabeth "Eliza" (Abt 1838 - Aft 1871) Married:
20 Feb 1859 Place: Champaign, Champaign County, Illinois Children: 1
BLAASE Johannes "John" (1860- ) 2
BLAASE Anna Elizabeth (1867- ) 3
BLAASE Anna Katherine "Katie" (1872-1956) Spouse:
HENDRICH Katrina "Kate" (May 1842 - 1910) Married:
17 Apr 1874 Place: Douglas County, Illinois Children: 1
BLAASE Dorothea L. "Dora" (1878-1934) 2
BLAASE Andrew Jacob Wesley " Big Jake" (1880-1956) 3
BLAASE Claus Frederick "Skid" (1882-1959) General
* Claus has been identified as the brother of Wessel Blaase, who emigrated from Schleswig-Holstein, at that time a part
of Denmark, in 1851. Claus made Wessel the executor of his will, which was created 24 February 1892. Thus, through
this association with Wessel, we can identify the parents and grandparents of Claus, and where they lived in what is now
northern Germany.
The first mention of Claus is in the 1840 census of Königsbach, Schleswig-Holstein. He was four years old.
Claus was living with his parents in Königsbach, Schleswig-Hostein when the census of 1855 was enumerated on 1
February of that year. Four days later, his father died. He appears to have emigrated to America from Königsbach
sometime after his brother, Wessel. Claus became a naturalized citizen in late 1864. A minimum of five years residency
is required before citizenship is granted. Therefore, it is assumed Claus emigrated sometime around 1858-59. A search
is underway for his emigration records.
The identity of Claus's first wife is found in their marriage license. On 20 February 1859, he married Miss Anna E. Kamm
in Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois. She is shown in the 1860 census of Douglas County, Illinois along with their first
child, John, aged 1. Anna E. (Eliza) Kamm Blaase, lived at least until 1871 when her daughter, Katie, was born. She had
died by 1877. A cemetery record for Eliza has not yet been found. Living next door to Claus and Eliza, as shown by the
1860 census, was the family of John and Anna Kahn, also of Germany. The census identifies two sons, Adam aged 20
and Jacob aged 11, living with them. After Eliza Blaase died, Claus married Katrina (Hendrich) Kahn, widow of this
Adam Kahn.
Living close to Claus in 1860 was the family of Wester ( Wesley) and Margaret Blaase, and their children Andrew,
Frederic, Caroline, and Ann, all born in Germany. They were to have another son, Wesley Jr., in 1863. The senior
Wesley was the brother of Claus.
Claus is found at age 27 in the Illinois Military Census of 1861-1863, working as a farmer in Bourbon Township, Douglas
County, Illinois.
The Claus Blaase family has not been found in the 1870 census; however, they are found in 1880 still living in Bourbon
Township, Douglas County. Claus is married to Katrina by then. John was 20, Alice 13, Katie 9... all children by his first
wife, Eliza. Dora, first child of Claus and Katrina, was aged 2. Andrew Jacob Wesley would be born a few months later
in November. Interestingly, a stepson is living with them. His name was given as Clouse, aged 12, born in Schleiswig,
Germany. It is possible that he was the son of Katrina and her first husband. The last name of this stepson is very
difficult to read. It may have been "Kahn". If that is true, it follows that she may have married Adam Kahn, mentioned
above, who lived next to Claus in 1860.
Born
* Claus Blaas was a legitimate son of Andreas Blaas, a settler in Königsbach, and his wife Elisabeth (Blunk) Blaas.
Christened
* Godparents were Claus Engelland of Föhrden, Claus Freund of Königshügel, and Margaretha Blaas of Fockbek.
Census
* Claus was age 4 and living with his parents and six siblings.
Census
* Claus was age 10 and living with his parents and five of his siblings.
Census
* Claus was age 20 and living with his parents and three of his siblings.
Emigration
* Claus became a naturalized citizen in late 1864. A minimum of five years residency is required before citizenship is
granted. Therefore, it is assumed Claus emigrated sometime around 1858-59.
Census
* Claus was age 25, born in Germany. He was a laborer, living with his wife, Eliza, and son, John, who was one year old
and born in Illinois. He owned no property, and held personal property valued at $30. They were residing in T15N, R7E.
Census
* Claus is identified as a 27 year old farmer in Bourbon Township in the military census.
Naturalization
* As recorded in the Douglas County Court Record, Book 1, "The following appeared Nov. 1, 1864 before Court to
become citizens and ordered by Court that the be admitted: ...Adam Kamm, Hans Frahm, Claus Blass, ..."
Census
* Claus was age 46, born in Schleiswig (Germany). He was living with his wife, Katrina, and their children John, Alice,
Katie and Dora. Living with them was Clouse K----, age 12, described as a stepson of Claus, born in Schleiswig. He
may have been a son of Katrina by a previous marriage. In addition, it is believed that John, Alice and Katie were also
children of Katrina's by a previous marriage. It is interesting that they are listed as children of Claus' in this record.
Will
* We know from this Will that Claus had a brother named Wessel, his wife was named Catharine, and he had six living
children, namely: Johannes, Anna Elizabeth, Claus F., Anna Katharine, Andrew W. and Dorothea Blaase. By their listed
surnames (Blaase), it is implied that the three daughters may not have been married at the time the will was created.
Probate
* "Claus Blaase - died Apr. 10, 1892, Bourbon Twp., Will admitted to court with executor Wessel Blaase; witnessed by
John Ohlsen and William Miller - April 1892 Term." The will can be found in Douglas County Court Book 9.
Individual Report for BLAASE Claus
Name:
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