Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 592.
 
HON. CLEMENS A. DANNEMAN

     was one of the earliest pioneers of Gilliam county and is today one of its
worthiest and most prominent citizens.  He was born in Germany, on October 13,
1835, the son of Jacob and Agnes (Wassenberg) Danneman, natives of Germany.  The
former was born in 1787 and the latter in 1795.  The father died in 1850, being
a well to do farmer.  Our subject was well educated in his native country and
when nineteen years of age migrated to the United States.  He had but five
dollars in cash when he landed in New York and went to work for wages so low
that he barely made his board.  Three months later we find him in Indiana where
he worked for seven dollars per month for three years.  In Germany he had been
apprenticed to learn the mercantile business and had to pay fifty dollars per
year for the privilege.  After leaving the farm in Indiana he spent four years
as bookkeeper in a mercantile establishment for which he received sixteen
dollars per month.  In 1861 Mr. Danneman enlisted in the First Indiana Cavalry
as private and was soon promoted to first lieutenant.  He was in the scouting
and bushwhacking service for some time and fought in the battle of Pilot Knob,
then at Fredericksburg, after which he was sent to Jacksonport, Arkansas.  Next
we find him at Helena, in the same state, where he had had some very hard
fighting.  During a scouting expedition two regiments of cavalry met the rear
guard of General Price, on his retreat, and a severe fight ensued.  Our subject
received a canister shot wound in the knee of his right leg.  He was then in
command of a battery attached to the first Indiana Cavalry.  For nine months
after this he was confined in the hospital, before he could rejoin his command.
After this his command was transferred to White river, then to Little Rock,
finally at Pine Bluffs, Arkansas, he was honorable discharged.  Immediately
following that, he went to his home in Spencer county, Indiana, and was promptly
elected sheriff of the county, serving in that capacity for four years.  After
that, he was engaged in various lines of business for six years, and finally in
1879 came west to Oregon.  In the same year he settled in Gilliam county, taking
a homestead and timber culture about thirteen miles north from where Condon now
stands.  He devoted himself to farming and stock-raising and has continued
uninterruptedly in this occupation since that time.  In it all he has made a
splendid success and is now one of  the wealthy men in this pat of the state.
He owns one thousand acres of as fertile land as is found and his timber culture
claim is the best in the county.  He has one of the best modern residences of
the county and his entire estate is improved in a splendid manner.  Mr. Danneman
has five thousand acres of land in the mountains besides this estate, which he
uses for summer range.  He has about two hundred and fifty head of cattle
besides other stock and property.  Mr. Danneman has one brother, Bernard, still
living in Germany, and one sister, Bernardina Boecker, in Alsace.
     In 1878, Mr. Danneman married Miss Ella Bashan, a native of Kentucky, and
to them three children have been born, Cary A., Bessie G., and Mary C.
     Mr. Danneman is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for John C.
Fremont.  He was recently elected to the state legislature of Oregon on the
Republican ticket and served his district in a most creditable manner.  In this,
Mr. Danneman demonstrated the fact that he was capable in the halls of
legislature as in the business world and earned many encomiums. 
     He is affiliated with the I.O.O.F.  It is of great interest to know that
when Mr. Danneman first came to this county he had no means at all.  He passed
the hardships of pioneer life without capital and has so conducted himself that
he has not only gained a large holding of wealth but has also won the esteem and
confidence of all who know him, and has the pleasure of reviewing a life well
spent.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2006 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.