Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2023

Josephine Sand was born Dec. 23, 1854, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Her father was Heinrich Henry Sand who was born Dec. 25, 1824, in Schrondweiler, Canton de Mersch, Luxembourg, and died June 13, 1911. He is buried at Marystown Cemetery. Her mother was Katharina Klehr Sand, who was born Feb. 8, 1822, in Vichten, Canton de Redange, Diekirch, Luxembourg, and died Aug. 6, 1895, in Marystown, and was buried at St. Mary’s of Marystown Cemetery.

When she was one year old, Josephine and her parents headed to Marystown, Minnesota Territory, crossing in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. They built a farm located southeast of Marystown village.

Josephine lived with her parents and her siblings, including Michael (1852-1912), John (1857-1924), Catherine Sand Pieper (1860-1934), Nickolous (1863-1926), and Henry N. Sand (1864-1930).

Josephine married John Baptist Grommesch, who was born Sept. 26, 1831, in Consdorf, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, and died Nov. 20, 1885, at 54 years old. J.B. and Josephine married on June 20, 1857, at the Church of St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown, according to the Family Ancestry of Rademacher-Thomas and Grommesch Family by Gladys Thomas on Dec. 1, 1980.

John’s first marriage was to Katherine Mechtel (1939-1872). She was the daughter of John Mechtel (1810-1878) and Katherina Mallet Mechtel (1805-1885), who were both born in Luxembourg, where they were married on May 1, 1830. Katherine Mechtel Grommesch’s parents are buried at Marystown Cemetery.

John and Katherine lived together in a large log cabin which they built without a single nail. They had three boys: John Baptist in 1860, Mathias in 1862, and John in 1865, all born near Marystown. Katherine died in January 1872 and was buried at the Church of St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown Cemetery.

After J.B. Grommesch and Josephine Sand Grommesch married in 1857, they had seven children: John Francis (1873), Henry (1875), Catherine (1878), Mary (1880), Cecelia, called Susan (1883), an infant who died at birth (1885), and Cecelia (1886).

John Baptist Grommesch died in 1887 and was buried at Marystown Cemetery. Josephine moved to Shakopee. While in Shakopee, she met and married Jake Clemens.

Jake was born in Germany in November 1837. His first marriage was to Cecelia Sander. He married Josephine on Sept. 3, 18XX. They lived in Shakopee until Jake and Josephine moved to St. Paul in 1908. The two of them had no children. He died there Nov. 4, 1924.

According to an article in the Shakopee Argus-Tribune on May 29, 1930 called “Pioneer woman is laid to rest,” Josephine had been in a fair state of health until last Christmas Day. “She had attended a Christmas dinner at the home of her daughter…in St. Paul. Afterwards while descending the stairs she missed a step and fell fracturing her right hip. She was taken to the hospital where she remained for three weeks. She was then brought to her home and her hip healed alright, but other complications set in as a result of which she gradually failed and on May 20 (1930) she quietly passed away.”

Josephine was “a most hospitable and friendly woman and made new friends easily and always retained her old friends. She was naturally ambitious and whatever she undertook to do she did it well. She was a kindly neighbor and friend, a good mother, and an ideal homemaker.”

Josephine was survived by her three sons and four daughters, 24 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She took pride in the distinction of being the godmother of 18 children.

According to the Shakopee Argus-Tribune article on May 22, 1930 called “Mrs. Josephine Clemens Died in St. Paul,” the funeral was held from her home in St. Paul, with Fr. Klein of St. Mary’s church officiating. Josephine was buried at the Church of St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown Cemetery.