Individual Details
Joseph Clason
(22 Apr 1802 - 31 Mar 1880)
www.fullbooks.com/The-Wonders-of-Prayer3.html
UNEXPECTED RELIEF.
Henry Badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the incident, and a resident of Steuben county, State of New York. This was in the year about A.D. 1830-31. He had been for many years an invalid--so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away with him. In a forest, isolated from neighbors, the old man resided alone with an aged wife. They were quite poor, and wholly dependent upon the labor of a son who worked away from home for others. This son was at length taken sick with a fever, and unable to minister to his parents' wants. This was in mid-winter, when storms were frequent and the snows deep and lasting. One evening when the storm was at its highest, this old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house. Matters were desperate with them. They could see but starvation staring them in the face. They resolved upon prayer, having a firm trust in their Heavenly Father, whom for many years they had been humbly serving.
They did not retire, but continued in fervent prayer that God would send them food. About two and a half miles distant lived a young married man in comfortable circumstances, by the name of Joseph Clason (the author of the story). He was not at this time a Christian, although it was not long after this he was converted, and has since lived an eminently active and godly life. About 12 o'clock on the night of the snow storm above mentioned, young Clason awoke. His first thoughts were of old Mr. Badgerow and his condition in that storm. His mind became so impressed with the thought of him, and so wrought upon that he could not again go to sleep, although trying so to do. At length he awakened his wife, told her that he was in trouble about Mr. B., for fear he and his wife were starving. She replied that if he would get right up and make a light, she would prepare something, and that he had better take it right down. Young C. did so, taking with him a pail of provisions. After a jaunt through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night, he reached the old man's cabin. There he found a light burning. He knocked; the door was opened by the wife. The old man was fervently praying; but when he saw young C. with the pail of provisions, he held up both hands and said, "Now I know that God heareth prayer. Not one mouthful have we in the house to eat. I know that God sent you here." Young C. staid with the old couple until daylight. The conversation revealed that about midnight the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen, and that unless relief came, which was not likely, they would starve, resolved to appeal to his Heavenly Father, saying that God who sent the ravens to feed Elijah would feed him if he went to him in faith, and now God had heard his prayer, and he blessed God that he could do so in all trouble and trial.
The old man having asked C. how he came to visit them, he replied he didn't know, but supposed God had sent him, as he had awoke and couldn't again sleep on account of thought of him.
The incident made a serious and lasting impression on young C's mind.
In the morning, as C. was returning home, he came by his father's house; his mother, espying his pail, wished to know where he had been. He replied, "To feed the hungry." His father spreading the incident, the neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them during several weeks, the old man being greatly loved and respected by his community, on account of his sterling Christian life and character.
Mr. Joseph Clason is still living, now seventy-five years of age, in Bazine, Ness County, Kansas.
On the 1860 U. S. Census of 4th Ward, Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wisconsin, Joseph Clason appears with his wife Rebecca and children Anna M., Henry P., Avery, Sarah E., Joseph, Mary, Harvey, and Emma. Joseph is a butcher. He states he is born in Connecticut. Also in the household is a widow age 82 Mary Browers [?] and a servant.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Clinton, Pocahontas Co., Iowa, Joseph Clason age 68 and a farmer appears with his wife Rebecca and children Henry, Joseph, Harvey, Abraham, Edwin, Mary, Emma and Nettie. Joseph and Mary were born in New York and the children were all born in Wisconsin except Nettie who was born in Iowa.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Bazine, Ness Co., Kansas taken 21 June 1880, Joseph Clason appears with his mother Rebecca age 55, and siblings, Lincoln A. age 20, Netta age 15 and Edward age 17. Their father had passed away in March.
UNEXPECTED RELIEF.
Henry Badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the incident, and a resident of Steuben county, State of New York. This was in the year about A.D. 1830-31. He had been for many years an invalid--so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away with him. In a forest, isolated from neighbors, the old man resided alone with an aged wife. They were quite poor, and wholly dependent upon the labor of a son who worked away from home for others. This son was at length taken sick with a fever, and unable to minister to his parents' wants. This was in mid-winter, when storms were frequent and the snows deep and lasting. One evening when the storm was at its highest, this old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house. Matters were desperate with them. They could see but starvation staring them in the face. They resolved upon prayer, having a firm trust in their Heavenly Father, whom for many years they had been humbly serving.
They did not retire, but continued in fervent prayer that God would send them food. About two and a half miles distant lived a young married man in comfortable circumstances, by the name of Joseph Clason (the author of the story). He was not at this time a Christian, although it was not long after this he was converted, and has since lived an eminently active and godly life. About 12 o'clock on the night of the snow storm above mentioned, young Clason awoke. His first thoughts were of old Mr. Badgerow and his condition in that storm. His mind became so impressed with the thought of him, and so wrought upon that he could not again go to sleep, although trying so to do. At length he awakened his wife, told her that he was in trouble about Mr. B., for fear he and his wife were starving. She replied that if he would get right up and make a light, she would prepare something, and that he had better take it right down. Young C. did so, taking with him a pail of provisions. After a jaunt through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night, he reached the old man's cabin. There he found a light burning. He knocked; the door was opened by the wife. The old man was fervently praying; but when he saw young C. with the pail of provisions, he held up both hands and said, "Now I know that God heareth prayer. Not one mouthful have we in the house to eat. I know that God sent you here." Young C. staid with the old couple until daylight. The conversation revealed that about midnight the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen, and that unless relief came, which was not likely, they would starve, resolved to appeal to his Heavenly Father, saying that God who sent the ravens to feed Elijah would feed him if he went to him in faith, and now God had heard his prayer, and he blessed God that he could do so in all trouble and trial.
The old man having asked C. how he came to visit them, he replied he didn't know, but supposed God had sent him, as he had awoke and couldn't again sleep on account of thought of him.
The incident made a serious and lasting impression on young C's mind.
In the morning, as C. was returning home, he came by his father's house; his mother, espying his pail, wished to know where he had been. He replied, "To feed the hungry." His father spreading the incident, the neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them during several weeks, the old man being greatly loved and respected by his community, on account of his sterling Christian life and character.
Mr. Joseph Clason is still living, now seventy-five years of age, in Bazine, Ness County, Kansas.
On the 1860 U. S. Census of 4th Ward, Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wisconsin, Joseph Clason appears with his wife Rebecca and children Anna M., Henry P., Avery, Sarah E., Joseph, Mary, Harvey, and Emma. Joseph is a butcher. He states he is born in Connecticut. Also in the household is a widow age 82 Mary Browers [?] and a servant.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Clinton, Pocahontas Co., Iowa, Joseph Clason age 68 and a farmer appears with his wife Rebecca and children Henry, Joseph, Harvey, Abraham, Edwin, Mary, Emma and Nettie. Joseph and Mary were born in New York and the children were all born in Wisconsin except Nettie who was born in Iowa.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Bazine, Ness Co., Kansas taken 21 June 1880, Joseph Clason appears with his mother Rebecca age 55, and siblings, Lincoln A. age 20, Netta age 15 and Edward age 17. Their father had passed away in March.
Events
| Birth | 22 Apr 1802 | Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut |  | ||
| Marriage | Abt 1826 | Anna Layton | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1844 | Rebecca Kenyon | |||
| Death | 31 Mar 1880 | Bazine, Ness Co., Kansas | | ||
| Burial | Bazine City Cemetery, Bazine, Ness Co., Kansas | |
Families
| Spouse | Rebecca Kenyon (1817 - 1888) |
| Child | Ann Maria Clason (1845 - 1884) |
| Child | Henry P. Clason (1847 - 1890) |
| Child | Avery Clason (1848 - 1868) |
| Child | Sarah Edith Clason (1849 - 1931) |
| Child | Joseph R. Clason (1852 - 1921) |
| Child | Mary Angelia Clason (1854 - 1927) |
| Child | Harvey James Clason (1856 - 1925) |
| Child | Emma Viola Clason (1858 - 1946) |
| Child | Abraham Lincoln Clason (1860 - 1880) |
| Child | Warren Edward "Eddie" Clason (1861 - 1926) |
| Child | Lucinda "Nettie" Jeanette Clason (1865 - 1928) |
| Child | John Clason (1867 - ) |
| Spouse | Anna Layton (1802 - 1837) |
| Child | Andrew Laten Clason (1825 - 1900) |
| Child | Fanny Clason (1829 - 1854) |
| Child | James W. Clason (1833 - 1852) |
| Child | William Layton Clason (1835 - 1915) |
| Child | Abigail "Abby" Jane Clason (1837 - 1912) |
| Father | James Clason (1777 - 1848) |
| Mother | Abigail Ferris (1779 - 1852) |
| Sibling | James Ferris Clason (1804 - 1851) |
| Sibling | Benjamin Clason (1806 - 1874) |
| Sibling | Alexander P. Clason (1808 - 1872) |
| Sibling | Isaac Lewis Clason (1811 - 1878) |
| Sibling | Henry Prebble Clason (1813 - 1845) |
| Sibling | Mary Elizabeth Clason (1815 - 1891) |
| Sibling | George Wickham Clason (1817 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Michael Boomhour Clason (1818 - 1893) |
Endnotes
1. Abigail Farris & James Clason By Fay Morehouse Medhaug, April 1987.
2. Abigail Farris & James Clason By Fay Morehouse Medhaug, April 1987, Page 16.
3. Ness County Historical Society.