Mathias Hemmesch Jr. was born in Kruchten, Bitburg-Prum, Rheinland-Pfalz. He was not yet two years old when his family escaped political turmoil in Germany to find a new life in America. They journeyed on the ship Maidland and passed through Ellis Island on June 15th, 1852. The family settled first in Dubuque, Iowa, where three more sons were born. By 1859 they had moved to a small community called Munson in Stearns County, Minnesota. At age 23 Mathias married Catherine Schlener and moved to Richmond, Minnesota. They were a farming family. In 1883 he purchased the Kuhn & Hess brewery in Melrose, Minnesota, a firm he ran until his death on November 6th of 1901.

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