Abraham Clauson
Abraham Clauson was born in Fairfiel County, Vt., in 1815. He lived in Albany, N.Y., two years, and then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he also remained about two years. He then came to Salem Township, this county, where he lived eight years and moved to Dayton, where he learned the mason trade. About three years later he came to Sidney to help build the court-house, and finally settled here and prosecuted his business about eighteen years when he went into the grocery trade. Six years later he sold out and entered the lumber business, in which he was engaged eight years. Since coming here he has built thirty-four houses, which he either sold or rented. He saw the infancy of Sidney, a mere village with one store, kept by John Blake. The first log school-house was built the year after he came here. He thus witnessed all the rudeness and underwent all the privations incident to life far removed from society, institutions, and markets. In 1836 he married Miss Nancy Hawkey, and reared two children, John W. and Mary E. He was assessor twenty-two years, deputy sheriff six years, and constable four years. He belonged to that rude period of the town's history when ’coon skins, ginseng, and beeswax formed the currency of the community, and when salt was worth $18 per barrel.
From History of Shelby County, Ohio; R. Sutton & Co, Philadelphia PA, 1883