Rockford, MN to Buffalo, NY: Mary Barbara Schaar

Mary Barbara Schaar was born and raised on her father’s farm in Medina, MN just East of the St. Peter and Paul’s cemetery in Loretto. She was the 4th child born to Anton and Barbara Schaar. Mary had 3 older brothers: Joseph, John and Charles. Joseph married Ernestine Steinke and settled just North of Rockford on the “Schaar Ranch”.

Mary married a Printer from Buffalo, NY named Heinrich “Henry” Faller in 1908. They had 3 sons: Anthony, J. Harry and Charles. Her family traveled from New York a number of times to visit her brother Joseph and others in the Rockford area as evidenced by the Schaar Collecion photos from the visits in 1913, 1915, 1930 and 1932.

It’s noted on the back of the family picture that Mary was a very skilled seamstress/dressmaker, “even working on Mrs. Cleveland’s wedding dress”. Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsum in the blue room of the White House, June 2, 1886. Although the tag for her dress no longer exists, it is believed it was made for her at the most popular Parisian fashion house at the time, not in New York. In her husband’s first term Mrs. Cleveland became a regular customer of American dressmakers in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. She gained a reputation for “buying American”. The dressmaker, Madame E. Stauffer from New York made her 1893 Inaugural gown, maybe that’s where Mary Schaar came in?

Henry and Mary’s sons stayed in the Buffalo, New York area. Look for more pictures of them visiting the Schaar Ranch in future posts.

Anthony was born and remained in the Buffalo, New York area. He returned with his family several times to visit the Schaars in Rockford, MN. Anthony became a Grinder for an optical company but ultimately worked as a jeweler for Heintz Brothers Jewelery in Buffalo, NY. After marrying and having 2 sons, he and his family returned to Minnesota for another visit to the Schaar Ranch with his younger brother Charles.