Compiled by B. R. Lau July 10, 1938
Christian Lau
Born in Pribinow, Schwerin, Mecklenberg, Germany. Born March 10, 1829. Died
August 30, 1894 at Klemme, Iowa. Age at time of death was 65. Was buried in
German Cemetery, German Township, Hancock County and removed to Calvary Cemetery
at Klemme in 1905.
His occupation in Germany was that of a young farmer. He was married at the age of 22 in the year 1851 to Dora Bruggemann and was the father of eleven children as follows: August C., Fredericka, Henry, Christina, Louisa, Dora, William, Lena, Christian, Ida and Martin - five boys and six girls. He came to America in 1856 at the age of 27. On his arrival from Germany in 1856 he settled near Elkport, Clayton County, Iowa, on a farm and lived there 35 years until 1891. Then in 1892 he moved from Clayton County to Klemme in Hancock County and lived there until his death in 1894.
He and his wife, two sons August C. and Henry, one daughter Fredericka comprised the family that set sail for their future destination 82 years ago. They were on this trip 14 weeks in crossing the Atlantic in a sail boat. Fredericka, the daughter, two years old at the time, died at sea two days prior to their landing in New York harbor. However, she was buried on land in New York State. August C. Lau, the elder son, was the first of this family to migrate to Hancock County in 1876, or 62 years ago.
Franklin Pierce was President of the United States at the time Christian Lau and family entered the United States and James Buchanan entered the presidency the year following their arrival. In September, 1862 Abraham Lincoln issued his proclamation on slavery. Shortly following this proclamation Christian Lau was called to service as a Union soldier in the Civil War at the age of 33. He fought in that great battle of Gettysburg and was wounded. He also fought in other battles. After his discharge he returned home to his family in Clayton County on June 27, 1864.
His wife lived 24 years after his death.
Dora Buggemann Lau (his wife)
Born in Pribinow, Schwerin, Mecklenberg, Germany. Born July 19, 1830. Died November 21,
1918. Age at death was 88. Buried in Calvary Cemetery at Klemme. Married in 1851 at the
age of 21. Mother of 11 children. Came to America with her husband at the age of 26.
Lived in Clayton County 35 years - (1856-1891). Lived in Klemme 26 years - (1892-1918).
August C. Lau
Born in Pribinow, Schwerin, Mecklenberg, Germany. Born April 26, 1852. Died September 6,
1924. Age at death 72 years. Married to Anna Boehm on March 28, 1876 at the age of 24. Was
the father of 9 children, as follows; Henry, Ida, Frances, 14&linda, August, Benjamin,
Minnie, Wesley and Walter - 5 boys and 4 girls. He was the first of the Lau family to settle
in Hancock County in 1876. Was 24 years old when he moved from Clayton County. Was 4 years
old when he came to America.
Fredericka Lau
Born in Pribinow, Schwerin, Mecklenberg. Germany. Born 1854 - Died 1856 at the age of two
years. Died at sea and was buried two days later in New York State.
Henry Lau
Born in Pribinow, Schwerin, Mecklenberg, Germany. Born December 12, 1855. Died October 2,
1922 at the age of 66. Married to Mary Roswag in 1881 at the age of 25. Was the father of
13 children, as follows: William, Lillie, Martha Esther, Nellie, George, Mamie, Wesley,
Lloyd, Irwin and Leona - 6 girls and 7 boys. Two infant boys died.
Christina Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born 1857. Died 1884 at the age of 27 years. Buried at
Giard, Iowa. Married to William Buehlmeyer at the age of 22. Her husband is buried in
Germany. Was the mother of two children - William and Ben.
Louisa Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born 1859. Died 1882 at the age of 23. Buried in German
Township Cemetery, Hancock County. Was married to William Huff in 1883 at the age of 22.
Was the mother of 1 child - George Huff.
Dora Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born July 15, 1861. Married to William Greiman February 3,
1881 at the at the of 20. Was the mother or 13 children, as follows: Nellie, William,
Henry, Dora, Daisy, Ben, Aaron, Esther, Louisa, Hulda, Ruben, Martha. and Ruth - 6 girls
and 5 boys. Moved from Clayton County to Hancock County in 1881.
William Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born January 19, 1864. Died April 7, 1931 at the age of 67.
Buried at Klemme. Married to Fredericka Priebe in 1884 at the age of 20. Was the father
of 6 children, as follows: Dora, Tillie, Alma, Emil - I boy infant and 1 girl infant
died - 2 boys and 4 girls. Moved from Clayton County to Hancock County in 1882.
Lena Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born April 8, 1866. Died August 14, 1955. Married to Henry
Reusch in 1886 at the age of 20. Was the mother of 4 children, as follows; Esther, Herbert,
Laura, and Robert. Moved from Iowa to South Haven in 1894.
Christian (Chris) Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born July 25, 1868. Died October 31, 1924 at the age of 56.
Married to Dora. Oelkers in the year 1891 at the age of 23. Was the father of 8 children,
as follows: Grace, Floyd, Clarence. Marvin, Gordon, Herbert, Eldon and Harold - 7 boys and
1 girl. Moved from Clayton County to Hancock County in 1883,moved back to Clayton County
in 1905.
Ida Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born 1871 - Died 1877 at the age of 6. Buried in The Colony,
Clayton County.
Martin Lau
Born in Clayton County, Iowa. Born 1872. Married to Minnie Garwein, aged 20, in the year
1896, at the age or 24. Was the father of 13 children, as follows; Lizzie, Hugh, Amanda,
Floyd, Dora, Martin, Fred, Violet, Alice, Henry, Woodrow - 2 girl infants died - 6 boys
and 7 girls. Moved from Clayton County to Hancock County in 1888. Moved from Hancock
County to Minnesota in 1898.
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Reusch - Family Record
Married January 12, 1888
Henry J. C. Reusch (father)
Born: May 22, 1862
Died: Jan. 20, 1930 - Coronary
Lena Lau Reusch (mother)
Born: Apr. 8. 1866
Died: Aug. 14, 1955 - Cancer & Heart
Esther Dorothea Teske (daughter)
Born: Jan. 15, 1892
Died: Apr. 24, 1961 - Coronary
William Teske (husband of Esther>
Born: May 21, 1892
Died: Dec. 31, 1958 - Stroke
Emanuel Herbert Reusch (son)
Born: Mar. 24, 1895
Died: May 27, 1960 - Asthma & Coronary
Elizabeth Reusch Lind (Herb's 1st wife)
Born: Mar. 14, 1896
Died: Apr. 14, 1966 - Coronary
Katherine Reusch Sapp (Herb's daughter)
Born: Mar. 9, 1919
Died: Jan. 28, 1955 - Cancer of throat
Laura Katherine Mitchell (daughter)
Born: Feb. 12, 1898
Died: May 25, 1976
James Steven Mitchell (husband of Laura)
Born: Oct. 4,1893
Died: Sept. 14, 1957 - Cancer
Robert Carl Reusch (son)
Born: June 14, 1906
Died: Mar. 21, 1969 - Coronary & Polio
Wilma Jones Reusch (wife of Robert)
Born: May 4, 1907