Under the roof of Christ Community Church on Saturday, Oct. 17, decades of shared heritage, laughter, and German traditions filled the air. Well over 70 descendants of Wilhelm August and Henrietta Siefert Born gathered in Waseca for a landmark family reunion—the first time the extended clan had formally circled back together since the turn of the millennium in 2000.
Organized by Twyla Lowman, who spent months enthusiastically coordinating details and gathering records, the gathering brought together aunts, uncles, cousins, and distant relatives from across generations to reminisce, celebrate, and piece together the deep branches of their shared family tree.
“It’s always good to circle back to see how deep these connections remain,” Lowman reflected, as family members spanning every age—from one of the oldest living members present, Eleanor (Born) Kottke, down to dozens of energetic youngsters—shared stories and made new memories.
The Born name carries a strong, 150-year history in southern Minnesota. The story began in Posen, Prussia during the 1860s, a time when the Industrial Revolution, food shortages, and religious oppression weighed heavily on rural families. Wilhelm August Born, a shepherd by trade who moved from village to village, and his wife, Henrietta, sought a better life in America.
Their journey started in 1865 when their eldest daughters–Pauline and Augusta– immigrated first, working in Wisconsin for two years as housekeepers to help establish a foothold. In 1869, Wilhelm and Henriette followed, crossing the Atlantic in the steerage of the S.S. Allemania—paying just $25 for passage with little more than the clothes on their backs.
After arriving in New York, the family eventually settled in St. Mary Township in Waseca County on July 15, 1989. What began as a small plot of land quickly expanded. Over the next 40 years, the family established a permanent presence in Alton and St. Mary’s townships, raising corn, cattle, and other crops. Generations later, the original family homestead remains operational today.
Inside the church’s gymnasium, attendees were immersed in the family’s rich history. Tables throughout the space were dedicated to individual branches of the family—honoring ancestors like Lena, Esther, Ben, August, Lydia, Edward, Frederick, Emma, and others who have passed on.
Each decorated table served as a living museum, featuring brief biographical sketches, mementos, and framed photos showcasing moments from farm life, oversized fishing hauls, and formal wedding portraits. Central among the displays was a treasured portrait of the original Born family that made the arduous journey from Prussia.
For attendees, there was a quiet delight in tracing line-by-line how their immediate family fit into the larger Born legacy started by Wilhelm and Henrietta’s original children: Pauline, Augusta, Fredrick, Carl Gustav, August Christopher, and Charles.
Faith and heritage remained central throughout the afternoon. Before sitting down to lunch, Paul and Wayne Born offered insight into the family’s enduring values. Paul led the room in an opening prayer in English, followed by Wayne reciting the same blessing in the family’s native German, honoring the ancestral language of their forefathers.
The potluck meal reflected that same deep appreciation for German roots, featuring a spread of traditional, authentic dishes alongside modern favorites—including vinegar-soaked red cabbage, hearty sauerkraut soup, and classic German potato salad.
As the afternoon wound down, the room remained lively with conversations, trading of old photos, and promises not to let another 26 years pass before the next gathering. For the Born family, the afternoon was more than a simple lunch—it was a tribute to the resilience, faith, and family bonds that have sustained six generations on Minnesota soil.
