Herman Stern was born in 1887 in Oberbrecken, Germany. At the age of sixteen he was an apprentice in a clothing business in Mainz, Germany. In February of 1903 a cousin, Morris G. Straus, who was in the clothing business in Casselton, North Dakota came to Germany and offered Herman Stern a job if he would come to America. Herman's employer refused to release him from his apprenticeship but Herman came without his permission, arriving in New York on October 10, 1903.

David M. Roth, a brother-in-law of Mr. Straus met him at the boat and after showing him some of the sights of New York put him on the train for North Dakota. At Casselton he was welcomed by Morris Straus and his wife, Rickie.

In 1904 the parents of Rickie, Mr. and Mrs. Roth, with their daughter, Adeline, came to Casselton from Cincinnati, Ohio. Adeline then attended high school in Valley, City, staying at the home of her aunt and uncle, Adolf Sternberg. Adolf Sternberg had opened a clothing store in Sanborn in 1880 but had moved the store to Valley City in 1883, locating in the new Kindred Hotel Building.

Adolf Sternberg died in 1907 and Morris G. Straus then purchased the store, moving to Valley City. Herman Stern became the manager of the Casselton store at the age of 20. His friendship with Adeline Roth had blossomed into love and when in 1910 Morris Straus returned to Casselton and sent Herman Stern to co-manage the Valley City Store, Adeline Roth and Herman Stern were married in June, 1912. This union was blessed with two sons. Richard M. Stern has a large consulting engineering firm in Seattle, Washington. Edward Stern is the president of the Straus Clothing Company Stores in Valley City, Jamestown, Fargo and Grand Forks. His sons, John and Rick are active in the Fargo and West Acres stores.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 237