Joseph Klaers was born August 28, 1826 in Malmedy, Rhineland, Germany. He married Luzia Goergen (1831-1896) in about 1856. They immigrated to the United States in 1857 and settled in Independence Township, Minnesota. They had seven children, three of whom survived to adulthood. Joseph died May 24, 1904. Descendants and relatives lived in Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, California and elsewhere.