Germania Sierra

Germania Sierra was born in Spain on October 5, 1845.  Her parents lived on a very large estate and it was presumed they came from royalty.  Germania fell in love with the foreman, Soledad; she became pregnant and was disowned by her parents.

The couple migrated to Mexico, which is San Antonio or the Alamo today.  So far no record of a marriage has been found in research as a great many were not recorded.  A boy, Celso Tornes Sierra, was born here.  According to U S 1870 San Francisco Census records, Germania was 15 when Celso was born.  Also, the census showed that she went by the name of Sarah.  It is of interest to note that children took the surname of the mother being the custom in the early days.

Soledad became half owner of a gold mine in Mexico.  After selling his share to his partner, the mine hit it big.  Soledad disappeared and it is believed bandits killed him as he was never seen or heard from again.

Germania waited and searched for Soledad with no success.  While in San Antonio with her baby, Celso, she met a young musician named Charles T. Schuppert.  The initial T is unknown as to a name.  Charles took an interest in Germania and son and they all left by ship to go to San Francisco.  They lived together for 45 years.  There were no records kept in San Antonio, Texas, before 1895 and no record of a marriage in any Catholic church in San Francisco are to be found.  Many valuable records were lost or destroyed during the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco.  Common Law marriages were acceptable after a couple lived together for seven years.  This was considered a legal marriage.  It is possible that Germania being a Catholic and not knowing for sure if Soledad was living or not, could marry in a civil service ceremony.  Germania used the surname of Schuppert but Celso kept his name of Celso Tornes Sierra.

Germania died in San Francisco on May 11, 1905 at the age of 60 and interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California just south of San Francisco.