A German church record we saw in 1976 shows that Charles was born Karl Friedrich Klusmann in Meesdorf and that his father, Johann Heinrich Klusmann, had earlier lived in Barkhausen. His father was described as a "Heuerling" or hired farm laborer. His mother is shown as Marie Elsabein, born Brandhorst. In that document the family name is spelled "Klusmann" but in Charles’ obituary it is spelled "Klusman." His offspring also use the "Klusman" spelling. See that document among the family photos accessed with the tiny camera icon above.

The family vaguely knew Charles was born in “Buer Amt Melle Hanover” but most assumed that meant the big city of Hanover. However Hanover at that time was also a province within the Kingdom of Prussia and Charles was born in that province. But his more specific birthplace was Meesdorf, a tiny commuity (in 2024 about ten houses) some 1.5 miles from the slightly larger village of Buer and about 75 miles west and south of the big city of Hanover. In US terminology, we might describe his birthplace as the hamlet of Meesdorf, near the village of Buer, county of Melle, province of Hanover. Charles’ father was born in Barkhausen, a similarly small village another mile north of Meesdorf. All are known today as Buer. Elsa and John Windh somehow realized that more accurate descriptor of Charles’ birthplace while living in Salzburg in 1976 and thus were able to visit Buer that August

Charles came with his brother Friedrich Wilhelm to the USA on the ship Rhein. It sailed out of Bremen and arrived in New York on July 10, 1880. Charles was 17 and Friedrich was 19. A census documment of 1920 shows that he became a naturalized US citizen in 1885.

Somehow, Charles immediately started farming near Mexico, Missouri. After he married Annie Gaebe of Addieville, Illinois, in 1887 they first lived near Mexico, Missouri. Then in 1900 they moved to North Dakota near the town of New Salem. His oldest brother William and his sister Caroline (Mrs. Henry Holle) had already moved there in 1887.

When the time for retirement came in 1923, Charles and Annie sold their farm to their son, Charles Jr., and moved into New Salem, North Dakota. In 1953 they again moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he passed away in 1963 at the age of 99.

Charles and Annie were married more than 73 years.

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Death announcement from the Bismarck Tribune:

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. (MST) Friday from the Peace Church here [New Salem] for Charles Klusman Sr., 99, Bismarck, a retired farmer, who died in his home at 934 Riverview Ave. [Bismarck] at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday after being ill for one day.

The Rev. George Steffen will officiate and burial will be made in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Edward, Charles and Ted Klusman, Ervin, Walter and Elmer Holle.

He was born at Hannover, Germany, on Oct. 29, 1863. He grew up and attended school in Germany. In 1880, he came to the United States, settliing at Addieville, Ill., where he married Anna Gaebe on March 17, 1887, at age 23.

The Klusmans had observed their 50th, 60th, 65th and 70th wedding anniversaries prior to Mrs. Klusman's death in September 1960. After their marriage, the Klusmans lived in Mexico, Mo., until 1900 when they moved to the New Salem community, farming there until retiring in 1923.

Since 1953 Mr. Klusman had made his home in Bismarck. He was a member of the Peace Church in New Salem.

Mr. Klusman leaves five sons and daughters, Mrs. William (Mamie) Schwartz, Bismarck; Mrs. Nellie D. Otte, Portland, Ore.; Oscar, New Salem; Charles A., Bismarck; and Mrs. P. W. (Alma) Freise, Bismarck; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death also by one son, two sisters and two brothers.

The body will lie in state at the Buehler Funeral Home in New Salem from Thursday noon until the time of the services.

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After Charles and Anna celebrated their 71st anniversary in 1958, the Bismarck Tribune published this interesting article:

71st ANNIVERSARY JUST MARKED
CELEBRATIONS START AT THE 50th

   Celebrating?
   Not Mr. and Mrs. Charles Klusman, 934 Riverview Ave.
   “We celebrated the 50th, the 60th, the 65th and the 70th,” says chipper Mrs. Klusman on the subject of wedding anniversaries.
   The 71st, Mr. and Mrs. Klusman merely marked this St. Patrick’s Day, agreeing vigorously that they have chalked off “quite a record!” in the annals of long marriages.
   “Hard work!” small, white and ready-witted Mr. K. claims positively as the secret to their lasting partnership. She recalled that “way back” on the 50th anniversary, their pastor in New Salem predicted “you two will celebrate your 75th!” Snapped the happy raconteur, “We will too, won’t we, Grandpa?”
   As jovial as his wife, Klusman figured that as long as he had been married 71 years to the same woman, it may as well be 75. Asked if he would do it over again, he chuckled wickedly “No not again.”
   Mrs. Klusman is 90. Her husband is 94. They both have a hard time hearing and Mr. Klusman’s sight is failing, but they still manage their own meals and most of the housekeeping.
   A daughter, Mrs. William Schwartz, lives with them to take over some of the heavier chores. A big point of pride with Mrs. Klusman is her husband’s still thick hair. “Why our sons are bald,” she chortles, “and look! Pa’s hair is still thick as can be.”
   Definitely the more talkative of the two, Mrs. Klusman didn’t mind reminiscing. “Oh, our life’s quite interesting when you think about it,” was her frank comment.
   “Grandpa” came from Hannover, Germany, when he was 17. Mrs. Klusman’s “folks” were from Missouri. “My how I sometimes missed that big two story Missouri house when we first came to Dakota,” she declared.
   Mrs. Klusman, who was Anna Gaebe, moved with her family to Adeville, Ill., in 1880 and it was there she met the young German immigrant. “He was working on a farm for one of my relatives,” she related.
   The couple were married in Adeville “where all the Gaebes lived” on March 17, 1887. Since both families were German, “we didn’t even think about it being St. Patrick’s Day,” Mrs. Klusman has to confess.
   Mr. and Mrs. Klusman moved to Mexico, Mo., where they farmed and where all but one of their six children were born.
   The exception is Alma, Mrs. P. W. Freise, 831 Mandan St. The others are Mamie, Mrs. Schwartz; Mrs. Nellie Otte, Portland, Ore.; Oscar Klusman, New Salem, and Charles Klusman, Jr., 999 W. Ave. C. One son, Albert Klusman, died last June.
   Encouraged by some of Klusman’s kin who were in North Dakota, the family left Missouri and came to New Salem in 1900. Cracks Mrs. Klusman, “I though we were going to the Indians.” New Salem in 1900 didn’t impress her. Asked what was in the city at the turn of the century, she answered dryly “not much.” 
   For the first three years, their farm north of New Salem had only sod buildings. “Imagine!” exclaimed the oldster with a smile, “I cried I was so homesick for Missouri, but in all we’ve never been sorry we came to North Dakota.
   The couple moved from the farm and into New Salem to live for 25 of their married years. They came to their comfortable home in Bismarck four years ago.
   A healthy start on a pink scarf betrayed knitting as Mrs. Klusman’s pastime.
   “I’m still a dirt farmer,” claimed her husband. “I dig around in the garden in the summer. Winters, I watch television.” 
   And if any youngster ever finds he has missed a part of a western, he could doubtless pick up the story in a few words from “grandpa.” Says Klusman, “I like the cowboy shows best.” 


From a booklet created after a Klusmann reunion in New Salem on June 18-19, 2005.

Karl (Charles) Friedrich and Anna (Gaebe) Klusman Sr.
Charles Sr. was born on October 29, 1863, in the village of Buer, township of Melle, state of Hannover, Germany, to J. Heinrich and Marie (Brandhorst) Klusmann. His father was described as a “Heuerling” or a farm laborer.

Charles Sr. came with his brother Friedrich Wilhelm to the USA on the ship Rhein. It sailed out of Bremen and arrived in New York on July 10, 1880. Charles was 17 and Friedrich was 19. Charles worked one full year as a farm laborer to earn $75, which was the cost of his ticket to the United States. He started farming in Mexico, Missouri.

Anna Gaebe was born in Farmington, Missouri, on March 31, 1867, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Gaebe. She moved to Addieville, Illinois in 1881 and to Mexico, Missouri, in 1887. Charles and Anna were married on March 17, 1887. They lived in Mexico, Missouri.

In 1900 Charles Sr. moved his family to New Salem, living the first year on a farm later occupied by his nephew, Henry Klusmann. The move was made by train and their belongings arrived about a week ahead of the family. They had sent a farm laborer with their things and he stayed for a short time with Charles’ brother William, who came here with the early settlers. A sister, Karoline (Mrs. Henry Holle, Sr.), was also living at New Salem. William had purchased a very good team of horses for Charles Sr. before he arrived in New Salem. One was named Cooper and came all the way from Cooperstown, North Dakota. [Cooperstown is a small town about 200 miles east and north of New Salem.]

In the spring of 1901, Charles purchased a farm eight miles north of New Salem from Mr. Skubinna. For three years they lived in a sod house and used a sod barn until they were able to have a new house and barn constructed by Mr. Bickle. In 1913 a modern dairy barn was built on this farm by Mr. Leonard under the supervision of U. J. Downey, superintendent of the New Salem Holstein Circuit.

The couple was blessed with six children: Albert, Mamie (married to William Schwartz), Nellie (married to Earl Otte), Oscar (married to Alma Gaebe and Dorothea Rasch), Charles Jr. (married to Florence Wildy) and Alma (married to Dr. Paul W. Freise).

Upon retirement in 1923, Charles Sr. and Anna moved to New Salem and the farm was purchased by their son Charles Jr. They moved to Bismarck in 1953. The Klusmans observed their 50th, 60th, 65th, and 70th wedding anniversaries. They were members of Peace Church. To many people, Charles Sr. and Anna were known as “Uncle” and “Aunt.”

Anna died on September 5, 1960, at her home in Bismarck, North Dakota. She had been in failing health for two months. Charles Sr. died at his home in Bismarck on August 27, 1963, after being ill for one day. He was 99 years old, two months short of being 100.