Herman and Augusta Just

Herman Just

1833-1918

Herman Just was born in Pomerania (a historical region on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, split between Poland and Germany). He immigrated to the United States in 1873, settling in Wood Lake, Minnesota.

When Herman was an infant, his father was thrown from a horse, broke his neck, and died. His mother remarried and gave Herman to her brother, a pastor, who taught him how to read and write but also mistreated and abused him. He ran away after his confirmation.

Herman enlisted in the military and remained active for 12 years. He reportedly left when he struck an officer in front of a group of enlisted men. The officer may have been a Junker (member of the privileged, militaristic landowning class in Germany). Herman was not in favor of the unification of Germany since Pomerania was the last area the Swedes had left and would lose its independence and be more closely controlled being within Germany.

Herman worked on the Von Seiden estate as an overseer based upon his acquaintance with the estate and with Latzke, the estate’s blacksmith, during his military period. Herman always wore white gloves and leggings which created a presence but he was not wealthy and had no knowledge of farming. Herman and Augusta were not allowed to remain on the estate as a married couple.

Herman was always known as a spiffy dresser, with well cared for horses, and was the secretary of the Wood Lake Lutheran Church for many years.

Augusta Gross

1845-1929

Augusta Gross was raised in Stettin (now Szczecin, Poland) where her parents owned and operated a large butcher shop which the family continued to run until World War II (lasting over 100 years). Her grandmother once had trouble in 1815 with Napoleon’s troops over hiding chickens.

Augusta was kept at home until she was confirmed. Her first job was to herd geese when she was 12 years old. She then became a gofer for a wealthy family, but when it was found that she was being abused her father took her home.

Eventually, Augusta became the household manager for the Von Seiden family’s estate - where she met Herman Just. She once prepared dinner at the estate for Otto von Bismarck - a conservative German statesman and diplomat who masterminded the unification of Germany and served as the first Chancellor of Germany. She was given a 5 mark gold coin with which she bought an onyx brooch. Herman and Augusta were married in 1872 and immigrated to the United States in October of the following year. They spent 11 years in Belle Plaine, MN before moving to Wood Lake, MN in 1883.

It is noted that Augusta knew more about farming than her husband and that it was due to her knowledge that the Minnesota farm was successful.