During her busy, active days she never wasted any time for she advocated that a person wasting time throws away, not only the time itself, but the opportunities and privileges which they represent. She ascribed to the fact that if a person was so foolish as to throw a valuable piece of money into a pit, or into the sea, he would not literally throw anything but the metal, but virtually he would throw away whatever best thing it would have purchased as bread, clothing, refreshments, medicine for the sick or instructive books.

Another thing she has realized that you cheat yourself of something interesting when you fail to make explorations. Discovery may require patience and time, but it means fun and satisfaction, too. She looked for new abilities in herself, such as trying new patterns for garments for her youngsters, trying new recipes in her baking and cooking, short cuts in housekeeping and finding some thing profitable along this line she would exchange her findings with her neighbors and friends. By developing the discovery habit, it pushed horizons further and further away and gave her a larger world.

Mrs. Anna Clauson, the daughter of Axel Lundberg and Matilda (Lindblad) Lundberg was born in Sac County on 19 Dec 1882. Her father was born in Sweden and grew to manhood there attending the schools in Sweden and married there.

After his marriage he decided to come to the United States, locating first in Chicago, before going to Michigan to work in the logging camps. Wanting to come farther west he came to Crawford County, where he found a number of residents here living in dug-outs. He found employment on the Wheeler Ranch working there before starting to farm for himself. He lived on farms in Sac and Crawford county before he retired, coming to Kiron to make his home.

Matilda (Lindblad) Lundberg was also a native of Sweden and she received her education in the Swedish schools. She stayed at home until her marriage and came overseas with her husband.

Mrs. Clauson attended a rural school one mile from her home with P. J. Lundell as her teacher. The various programs they had in school, the spelling bees with the neighboring schools and the box socials are fond recollections of her school days.

She assisted with the house work and farm work at home until her marriage on 20 Feb 1901 to Ed Clauson at the home of her parents, with Rev. Andrew Modig, as officiating clergyman.

They were the parents of six children, Raymond Clauson, deceased; Mrs. Oscar (Bernice) Hillberg of Crystal Lake, Illinois; Newell Clauson of Port Orchard, Washington; Rev. Ralph Clauson, deceased; Lowell Clauson of Atlantic; and Stanley Clauson of Port Orchard, Washington. There are 12 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Mr. Clauson died on June 23, 1953.

Their married life began in Old Kiron where her husband clerked in a general store and filled the position as postmaster for ten years before moving to Kiron where he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business and served for six years as postmaster. When he decided to retire the store was sold.

As a child she often saw the gypsies for they camped in one corner of their farm and would help themselves to anything they wanted.

She has the distinction of seeing the start and the finish of railroading in Kiron, she saw them lay the ties on the railbed that ran from Wall Lake to Mondamin, then when the road was discontinued she watched them take up the railroad ties.

In her early youth she tells of a hotel burning in Kiron and an elevator as well, "we had no fire department, no water, not even a fire bell, people ran up and down the street hollering fire. Everyone brought a bucket and a bucket brigade was formed, passing water from a cistern back of her home to the fire. Old carpets were put up on the sides of the building to hold the fire."

During the heavy snow of the winter of 1936, a train was stuck in the snow which left them without food. Large groups of men from Kiron and Denison started to shovel snow, thus the train was moved and food was on hand.

I remember my mother telling of the misfortune that befell my sister. The hired man was out cutting the wheat. My sister got out in the wheat field and no one saw her, the man ran over her nearly cutting off both her legs. They just hung down, the man carried her home and she was taken to the nearest doctor which was in Vail. Her sister lived for three years and got so she was able to hop on her stubs climbing to chairs and beds, her brother carried her a good deal of the time.

Many an evening was spent watching her mother make candles for lighting.

Mrs. Clauson recalls hearing the story of her grandfather, Nicholas Lindblad, a corporal in the Swedish army, who lived to be 103 years old and always marched in all the parades the town had.

She and her husband were very active in the Evangelical Free church in Kiron. While Mr. Clauson was Superintendent of the Sunday school, he sponsored several excursions. He would hire a train to take the Sunday school to Lake View where they boarded a boat for an outing. There was also a band - the Lindstrom band - on deck, furnishing music for the occasion. For years this was an annual affair, large crowds would go on the outing. One time the train was full and a lady wanted to go so badly, the engineer said she could go if she would ride in the cab with him.

Flowers were her major hobby, for many years she furnished the flowers for the church.

During the school year she stays with Mrs. Esther Crook, during the summer months when her son, Lowell, is home from his school duties, she lives in her own home. To her the secret of success is to do all you can without thought of fame.