Minna Caesar, my great grandmother on my paternal side, was born near Saalfeld Germany January 2, 1831. She passed away May 27, 1904 in Pomme de Terre, Grant County, Minnesota. She married August Schaeffer in May of 1811 in Saalfeld. Ca 1850 August and Minna with little son, Antonn, made the long journey to America aboard an immigrant ship. Included in the passengers were Minna's parents, Sigmund Caesar and Magdalena Hein(en) as well as a younger brother, Ferdinand. They all settled in Granville, Milwaukee Township, Wisconsin where Siegmund bought land and started farming while August may have bought a mill. Two children were born there; Clara and Herman, before they started a long trek to Minnesota. They remained for a while in Lincoln Township, Steele County before once again moving to Pine Island in Goodhue, County. Here, Mary, Albert and my grandfather, Frank, were born. (Frank Feb 1, 1867) Apparently August had disagreements with partners who shared a half ownership in a mill, so after some legal negotiations, he sold out and once again loaded up his family to find new opportunities. I have wondered if Minna had a voice in these decisions, or as was usually the case, she packed up their possessions and prepared them for another arduous journey. Clara had once shared her memories of that time and recalled the older children had walked barefoot through what was then the city of Minneapolis trying to keep the animals from wandering off. My grandpa, Frank, would have been a baby. When the family arrived in Padua, Raymond Township, Stearns County, I wonder what they found. They purchased land and farmed for several years. Antonn, now a young man had preceeded them to the area which might have been a factor in following him. Again, the task of looking after the needs of a family of 7, getting settled perhaps in primitive conditions, must have been a challenge. It's not known whether the land they bought had buildings to provide shelter for animals as well as humans or whether there were nearby neightbors to lend a hand. In the 1870 census I found twins: Mathis and Nicholas who were several months old. I eventually found death records in the Stearns County Court House in St. Cloud because they didn't appear in 1875. I haven't been able to locate burial information. Also, about this time, daughter Clara, married Frederick Williams and according to census and birth records she was about 16 when their first daughter, Lena was born in Sauk Centre. Minna was 39 and still having babies while her daughter was starting a family. Daughter, Mary, apparently decided to leave her immediate family and went to live with Clara and Fred where she became a live-in "nanny." From stories given to me by cousins, Mary and Clara were considered "wild" for the their time and may have caused their parents a few headaches and grey hairs!!! (Clara, Fred, Lena and Mamie in Tacoma is another story!) Poor Minna, left alone on the prairie with her husband and three boys while part of her family is no doubt creating a stir in the nearby town. Meanwhile, I believe August became acquainted with Timothy Heald and possibly Robert Brill Burns who were farmers, inn keepers and conducted stage-coach stops, were planning on heading farther west. In May 1873 the Schaeffer family arrived in Pomme de Terre where August with son-in-law, Fred as partner, built his own mill and acquired a good deal of land. According to my grandfather, Frank, the first house was hastily built using rough lumber. My dad and his two sisters called that green house with a front porch home for a few years. In 1891 August built a big fancy house which was similar to the one he left in Saalfeld. Hopefully, Minna enjoyed an up to date modern abode after living in covered wagons or soddies while they searched for their forever home. Minna was kept busy providing shelter plus food for the men constructing the building and later for farmers bringing wheat to be milled. My grandfather said he remembered immediately upon arrival, being sent to the river to fish in order to provide something to put on the table. They were also located next to the heavily traveled Pembina Trail so there was constant excitement and always extra mouths to feed. After many years of relative quiet and probably loneliness, Minna suddenly was in the midst of noise, confusion and amazing changes. I wonder if she ever thought about the unbelievable times she had witnessed in her life----if only she had shared her thoughts, and dreams as well as the small events of daily life: but considering how busy she must have been it's doubtful she had time. Its doubtful she ever saw her Wisconsin family again, and nothing about them was ever mentioned. Minna actually owned land and property in her own name. She inherited part of a farm from her father in Wisconsin as well as the Pomme de Terre property after August died.

I wish I could have known more about Minna. Her photo is the only one I have and I cherish it.