My name is Gary Gauer and I have a collection of data on our family history and am in search of more. This branch of the Gauer family stems from my Great Grandfather Mathias Gauer and Elizabeth Graf originally from Switzerland. They raised a family of 3 in Center Township, Dubuque County, Iowa. Their first child was Elizabeth born in 1858, then Mary in about 1862 and then (my grandpa) Mathias born in 1864.
My Grandfather Mathias left Dubuque County and married my Grandmother Magdalena Finger in Grundy County, Iowa in 1893.
Matt and Lena started a large family and moved in 1900 to continue farming in East Lake Lillian Township in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. Matt and Lena both died young in 1923 leaving eight survivors. These 8 all married and had familys so that I am one of 42 cousins. My dad, Otto, was born in 1909 and died in 1970.
The Annual Gauer Reunion has been held every year on the second Sunday in August since 1930 in or near Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.
The most recent reunion was attended by 71 people on Sunday, August 12, 2007, at the Guri Endresen shelter in Robbins Island Park in Willmar, Minnesota.
The next reunion will be on Sunday August 10, 2008 at the same site above.
Revised February 24, 2008