Clarence I. Hougen Biography


	This biography appears on pages 928-929 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CLARENCE I. HOUGEN. 

	Clarence I. Hougen, owner and editor of the Wilmot Republican, 
was born May 24, 1885, in the town of Wilmot, in which he still makes 
his home. His father, L. S. Hougen, was born in Norway in 1855 and at 
the age of sixteen years came to the United States with an older 
brother. He first went to Minnesota, where he was employed at farm work 
for about seven years. In 1879 he became a resident of Dakota 
territory, where he secured a homestead and proved up on it. His 
ability led to his selection for public office, his fellow citizens 
placing him in the position of county treasurer, in which connection he 
made a most creditable record. Upon his retirement from office he 
established a hardware business, which he conducted for some time, but 
is now cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Wilmot and is accounted one 
of the substantial, valued and prosperous citizens of the town. In 
addition to his banking interests he is the owner of a half section of 
land and is also interested with others in other landed possessions. He 
has been long recognized as an influencing factor in public affairs and 
has always given his political allegiance to the republican party. In 
the early days of his residence in South Dakota he served as county 
commissioner and in addition to the local offices which he has filled 
he has twice represented his district in the state senate, where he has 
given earnest and thoughtful consideration to all significant and vital 
questions which have come up for settlement, working untiringly to 
promote the best interests of the state. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Emma Leiquam, was born in Wisconsin and died in 1901. 

	Clarence I. Hougen is the second in order of birth in a family of 
nine children, of whom seven are yet living. He pursued his early 
education in the graded schools of Wilmot and for one year was a 
student at Brookings. He has also learned many valuable lessons in the 
school of experience. Starting out in the business world, he was 
employed in various commercial establishments in the town and then, 
entering the newspaper field, devoted a year and a half to service for 
others, at the end of which time he purchased a paper, becoming 
proprietor of the Wilmot Republican in June, 1907. This has a 
circulation of nine hundred and in addition he does a good job printing 
business. His paper is liberally patronized by advertisers and he is 
winning well merited success. 

	In December, 1907, Mr. Hougen was married to Miss Elsie Kloster, 
a native of Wilmot and a daughter of John Kloster, one of the early 
farmers of Roberts county. They have one child, Mavis. Mrs. Hougen is a 
member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Hougen is well known in 
fraternal circles, belonging to the Masonic, the Odd Fellows and the 
Knights of Pythias lodges. In the last named order he has been a past 
chancellor of the local dodge and attended the grand lodge at Aberdeen 
as a delegate in 1915. His political allegiance is given to the 
republican party and he is unfaltering in his advocacy of its 
principles, but the major part of his time is devoted to newspaper 
publication, the secret of his success being found in his close 
application and enterprising spirit, for he studies modern methods of 
newspaper work and keeps in close touch therewith.