Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KLAUER, William H.
KLAUER, William H. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 18, 1870--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 2, 1952). The son of the founder of KLAUER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, William H. Klauer operated the firm with his father as a partnership until 1904 when the company was incorporated under its present name. He directed the company through years of growth and rapid expansion.
Klauer was instrumental in organizing the DUBUQUE CLUB, a predecessor of the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, and served as its president for seven years. Through his interest, the Klauers rescued the Julien Hotel (now HOTEL JULIEN DUBUQUE) from its financial indebtedness in the 1930s and restored the property to its landmark status in the community. Klauer served more than thirty years as a regent of LORAS COLLEGE, actively participated in the DUBUQUE SHOOTING SOCIETY that his father helped organize, and was a member of the board of the CHICAGO AND GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY. As a member of the Shooting Society, Klauer often won the honor of "King" as the champion shooter. (1)
In 1919 Klauer traveled to New Mexico to help construct viaducts for carrying water from the mountains to the low lands using metal chutes manufactured by Klauer Manufacturing. His love of the countryside persuaded him to purchase the Gijosa Spanish land grant near Taos. Today the name of the land grant is remembered by the Gijosa Trail and the Klauer Trail. (2)
His interest in the land and the art colony of Taos were passed along to his family, especially William J. KLAUER who continued to purchase land. The family interest in preserving the land they purchased led to them selling the tracts they had purchased to the Trust for Public Land which consigned it to the federal Bureau of Land Management. (3)
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Source:
1. "Shooting Society 90 Years Old," Telegraph-Herald, February 3, 1946, p. 9
2. "Trekking the Taos Valley Overlook," Online: https://www.taosnews.com/stories/trekkingthe-taos-valley-overlook,46405
3. Bragg, Mary Rae. "Klauers Put N.M. Land in Conservancy," Telegraph Herald, June 30, 2000, p. 1