William John Von Sien was born Wilhelm Friedrich Johann Von Sien in Güstrow, Mecklenberg-Schwerin, (northeastern) Germany. His parents were also born in Mecklenberg-Schwerin.

According to his granddaughter, Lydia Beese Beekman (Lydia's mother was Emma), 'Grandfather VonSien's brothers were professional men and in order to escape two years of military training before going on to school, he decided to come to the U.S." He came to America about 1861 and worked for some time near Waukesha, Wisconsin. He was a naturalized U.S. citizen by the 1870 census. He came to Woodville, Waseca, Minnesota in 1867 and settled south of Waseca. He liked nature and eventually settled at Clear Lake, Woodville, Waseca.

On Nov. 3, 1861, Wilhelm and Fredricke were married in Waukesha, WI.
They had one child:
Erda Von Sien, b. 1868 in WI. and d. May 31, 1949 in Goodhue County, MN. Erda marr. Fred Minske.

According to the June 11, 1870 census, 38 yr. old Wilhelm Vonsein, a farmer and U.S. citizen, b. abt. 1832 in Mecklenberg, Germany, was living in Woodville, Waseca, MN. with his
37 yr. old wife, Fredericka Vonsein, b. in Mecklenberg, Germany
3 yr. old daughter, Erde Vonsein, b. in Wisconsin.

After Fredericka died on Mar. 11, 1871, William ('Wilhelm Von Sin) married, second, seven months later, Katharina (Katrina) 'Kate' Theis (1852 - 1937) on Oct. 5, 1871 in Waseca, MN., according to Vol. A, P. 168 of Waseca Marriage records.

According to their Waseca County, MN. Marriage License, Wilhelm 'Vonsin' of the County of Waseca and Katharina 'Teis' of the County of Waseca were joined in the holy bonds of Matrimony on Oct. 5, 1871 at Waseca, Waseca, MN. by Joseph Krinholz/Kunholz, a minister of the Gospel in the presece of Charles Bauman and August Zimvrer/Timvrer.

William & Kate Von Sien's children were:
1) George Samuel Von Sien, b. Jul. 30, 1872 in Waseca County, MN., and d. Oct. 7, 1944 in
Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, PA. George marr. Hallie Slocum.
2) Emma Louise Von Sien, b. Dec. 23, 1873 in Waseca County, MN. and d. May 18, 1947 in San Bernardino County, CA. Emma marr. Edward D. Beese and Robert Fehmer.
3) Lydia Magdalene Von Sien, b. Jan. 17, 1875 in Waseca County, MN. and d. Mar. 23, 1952 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, CA. Lydia marr. Charles T. Brown.
4) William John Von Sien, b. May 21, 1878 in Waseca County, MN. and d. Sep. 30, 1949 in Waseca County, MN.
5) Benjamin Franklin Von Sien, b. Apr. 26, 1880 in Waseca, Waseca County, MN. and d. Oct. 16, 1961 in Mankato, Blue Earth County, MN.
6) Edward August 'Ed' Von Sien, b. Mar. 23, 1882 in Waseca County,
MN. and d. Sep. 27, 1960 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN.
7) Anna Kathryn Von Sien, b. Oct. 15, 1884 in Waseca County, MN. and d. Nov. 22, 1962 in Alhambra, L.A., CA. Anna never married.
8) Fred Chris(tian) 'Fritz' Von Sien, b. Mar. 21, 1887 in Waseca County, MN. and d. Jun. 8, 1961 in Mankato, Blue Earth County, MN. Fred married Daisy Dean Keller.
9) Clara Dora (Claire Dorothy) Von Sien, b. Oct. 7, 1889 in Waseca,
Waseca County, MN. and d. Apr. 17, 1942 in San Bernardino County,
CA. She marr. Earnest Edwin Perdew
10) Clarence August 'Whitey' Von Sien, b. Mar. 26, 1892 in Waseca County, MN. and d. Feb. 24, 1944 in La Crosse County, WI.

According to the May 1, 1875 Minnesota Territorial and State census, 43 yr. old William Von Sien, b. in Mecklenburg, Germany, was living in Waseca, MN. with his
22 yr. old wife, Katie Von Sien, b. in Mecklenburg, Germany
8 yr. old daughter (from a previous marriage), Erda, b. in WI.
2 yr. old son, George Von Sien, b. in MN.
1 yr. old daughter, Emma Von Sien, b. in MN.
William & Katie's parents were all born in Mecklenburg, Germany.

In the June 15-17, 1895 Minnesota Territorial and State census, 62 yr. old William Vonsien, a farmer, b. in Germany, was living in Woodville, Waseca, MN. with his
42 yr. old wife, Katie Vonsein, b. Dec. 1853 in Germany,
22 yr. old son, G. S. (F.) (George) Vonsien, a farmer, b. in MN.
21 yr. old Emma Vonsein, a domestic, b. in MN.
19 yr. old daughter, 'Liddie' (Lydia) Vonsein, b. in MN.
17 yr. old son, Willie, b. in MN.
15 yr. old son, Bennie, b. in MN.
13 yr. old son, Edward Vonsein, b. in MN.
10 yr. old daughter, Anna Vonsein, b. in MN.
8 yr. old son, Freddie Vonsein, b. in MN.
6 yr. old daughter, Clara Vonsein, b. in MN.
3 yr. old son, Clarence Vonsein, b. in MN.

* Granddaughter, Lydia Beese Beekman, said that he died rather suddenly of a stomach disorder three weeks after her parent's wedding and her mother, Emma, never saw her father again after her marriage.

Obituary from Waseca County Herald, (Waseca, MN.)
Fri., April 9, 1897, P.2, Col. 3:
Wm. Von Sien died on Tuesday night, April 6th, 1897 of heart disease. Mr. Von Sien was well known in this city as an ice man, his farm being on the east shore of Clear Lake. He was born in Mecklenberg-Schwerin, Germany, August 28, 1832. He came to America about 1861, and worked for some time near Waukesha, Wisconsin. He came to Waseca county some 30 years ago, and settled south of Waseca. By his first wife, who died some 27 years ago, he had one daughter, Erda, since married to Fred Minske.
He married Katharina Theis, 25 years ago last October by whom he has had ten children, all living. One of these, Emma, was recently married to Mr. Ed. Beese. He complained of sickness on Sunday and felt continuously worse until his death. He had been a member of the German M. E. church for many years and his remains will be buried from that church today at 1PM. He leaves a large circle of friends.

The Herald (official paper of Waseca, MN.)
Apr. 9, 1897
Mr. Wm. Von Sien’s funeral takes place at the German M.E. church this afternoon at 1 p.m..

The Waseca Radical (Waseca, MN.)
Wed., Apr. 14, 1897, P. 3, Col. 3
Mr. William Von Sien, living on the east side of Clear Lake, died Wednesday morning of last week, of inflammation of the bowels and heart failure. He was feeling well up to Sunday when he began to feel sick and did not get any better. Mr. Von Sien was about 65 years old and leaves a wife and eleven children, some of whom are married. The funeral was held at the German M. E. church Friday afternoon last and the remains laid to rest in the Woodville cemetery.

William died on his farm in Woodville. His wife, Kate, remained there until about 1919 when she moved to California to live with her daughter, Lydia (Von Sien) Brown.