Haug, John Jacob and Anna (Meyer)

(Gladys Argali)

John Jacob Haug who was usually called ‘J. J." was born 25 Jan 1832 in Weiningen, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. He came to Winneshiek Co. in 1854.

After farming for a couple of years, J. J. worked for Joseph Spielman (who was the first settler in the area) from 1857 to 1859 at which time he established a general merchandise business near the mill.

In 1860 he secured a Post Office for the village which was forming around Spielman’s Saw and Gristmill. He was appointed Spillville's first Postmaster. The Post Office was probably no more than a small box or cubby hole under the counter of his store.

Sometime later he took John Galby as a partner. He then sold him the business before returning to visit his parents in Switzerland. The following year he returned to Spillville, bought back into the business, and was reappointed Postmaster a position he held for three decades.

During the ensuing years Haug conducted the store with a number of different partners. Eventually, to permit more time for his other business and civil interests, he sold the store to John Henry Haug, a nephew. At some time he was also involved with the Big Stone Mill, a creamery, the bank and he also owned 1500 acres of land. He served on the Calmar Twp. war subcommittee during the Civil War and was the Calmar Twp. Clerk during Conover's first and only municipal election. As Clerk he was a member of the election board. Since the new town had no funds in its treasury he volunteered to pay election expenses. The town of Conover folded before any taxes were collected, and much to his chagrin, he failed to recover his money.

In 1859 John married Anna Meyer, a widow. They had 3 children: Charles, Louise and Bertha, a step-daughter.

Charles never married. Bertha married Jacob Mueller. Louise died at age 15.

John J. was a member of the Congregational Church at Fort Atkinson. He was a progressive and astute businessman who believed in giving his customers a good deal. It was probably natural in a small community, that in his role of merchant and the constant contact with the local people and the outside world, he would assume the role of civic leader. His ethnic background made him well qualified. As a Swiss with a national characteristic of deep concern of personal freedom and besides being multi-lingual, he was better prepared for such a function than either his Czech or German neighbors. He was a frequent spokesman for the community and the Czechs accepted and loved him as one of their own. Their esteem for him was demonstrated in 1910 when the St. Wenceslaus Church celebrated its Golden Jubilee and he was honored as one of several speakers. He was not Catholic, not a clergyman, and not a Czech but it was an honor they would not have extended to a lesser man.

John led a full and successful life and was living at the home of his only granddaughter, Mrs. George Wilson, in Milwaukee, Wl when he passed away in 1930 at age 98. John was buried in the Haug Cemetery family burial ground located on a slight knoll near Spillville which he established on a parcel of land he bought when he first came to America.

Hauge, Hans Stenson

(Dr. L. Marilyn Stinson)

Hans Stenson Hauge 1836-1862 B Strandvik, Norway; Died in Civil War, Shiloh, Tenn.

Hans Stenson Hauge was born in 1836 on Hauge Farm #l in Strandvik, Norway. He emigrated to the U.S.A. with brothers Johannes, Ole, Andrew, Sjur and a sister Anna. Hans “landed in the United States on 15 Jun 1856" and arrived in Winneshiek Co., a short time later.

Hans was 22 years old when he applied for U.S. citizenship on 3 Jun 1859 in the State of Iowa, Co. of Winneshiek.