The Paffrath name comes from a small village outside of Koln Germany named Paffrath. The name is fairly uncommon in the USA and anyone with the surname Paffrath should be able to trace their roots back to this little German town.

Ancestors in Germany were farmers and they farmed the rich bottomlands along the Rhine River near Flittard. Great-great-great Grandfather Peter Paffrath lived and farmed the area and had several son’s who also were farmers, they all worked hard to make an existence and lived rather simple lives. Peter had one son “Caspar” and for some unknown reason decided to leave the beautiful country side of Germany to immigrate to the USA. There were speculations of why he left because of a lost love, but regardless of the reason, he is the reason the Paffrath family is here today.

Caspar traveled through St. Louis Mo. in the 1850’s and settled in the rich farm lands of south central Minnesota, New Ulm to be exact. He farmed, fought in the Sioux uprising with the Minnesota regiment and raised a family in the area. One of his sons William decided to make a career change and took the knowledge and work ethic he learned from his father and started to get into farm related businesses. He started his endeavors in Springfield MN, which is just west of New Ulm. Springfield was a thriving farm community and William started an agricultural implement dealership, a real-estate company and a bank. He was so instrumental to the economy in Springfield the named the street he lived on “Paffrath Ave”. The bank, William’s home and the street still are there today.

William had four children, three girls and a boy named Rudolf. Rudy or Rud as he was called was a strapping young man with quite an independent personality. By the age of 16 he left home to prove his worth to his father and make a man of himself. Rud ended up in the oil fields of Oklahoma as a dynamite truck starter. It was very dangerous work (he had to hand crank the trucks to start them and if something went wrong the truck and anybody or thing that was close blew up) and it paid very well. Rud did this for several years building up quite a nest egg until his mother sent his youngest sister for him telling him “you have nothing else to prove” and “it was time to come home”.

Rudy’s son Lowell would recall spending time at his father’s store watching him interact with customers and learning the skills of an expert watchmaker and diamond merchant. He was determined to add his talents to his father’s trade.

In 1951 Paffrath Jewelers became Paffrath and Son Jewelers. Lowell proved to have remarkable energy and a natural instinct for the business.

During Lowell’s tenure many changes took place, Paffrath’s stopped selling china and flatware finding it too time consuming to inventory and embarked on a new business model. Lowell took a chance just like every other Paffrath in his family before him, his was specializing in diamonds.

Lowell also broke ground in promoting his new venture by advertising on television. His personally done ads aired weekly.

Lowell’s passion was his family and the outdoors. He fondly remembered Sundays (store was closed back then) after the family went to church and Shirlee (Lowell’s wife) fed the group breakfast, it was off to the farm( yes farm, like all of paffrath ancestors farming is in their blood) for fun with the caring of horses and live stock. Lowell also enjoyed the sports his kids participated in and would even close the business early if an important match or game happened to conflict.

Today there are three Paffrath Jewelry businesses. Todd has the flagship store ”Paffrath & Son Jewelers” which was founded in Willmar in 1926 and has his son Jeffery Paffrath working with him to guarantee a fourth generation of Paffrath’s in the jewelry business in Willmar.

Joel Has “Paffrath ‘Diamond’ Jewelers” in Alexandria, Mn. Joel has his son Jacob working with him also guaranteeing a fourth generation of Paffrath’s in the jewelry business in Alexandria.

While Ted was selling diamonds Marcia was working with local school districts, using her Master’s Degree in Education by fostering and bettering the education process of handicapped students. Together they had two daughters, Alexandra (Alex) and Callan.

Over the years Ted has continued the traditions his grandfather Rudy established in 1926.

Paffrath Jewelers also continues to offer jewelry service and repair “on premise” and the same day in most cases. Jewelry cleaning and inspection is still done at “no charge”, diamonds are “hand selected” for their value and beauty. Ted with an artistic gene from his mother has developed this talent using it draw custom designed pieces to fit paffrath’s customer’s special jewelry needs.

Alex Paffrath is currently a Sr. at University of Minnesota Duluth (where her grandfather was born) and is majoring in Organic chemistry and Micro Biology. She will be taking her Pharmacy entrance exam shortly and wants to earn her MBA and PHD continuing her career in Pharmaceutical research and development all while she uses her last year of eligibility in the lady bulldogs’ varsity soccer program.

Callan Paffrath will be attending the University of Wisconsin Stout and is looking to obtain a degree in Retail Merchandising / Business Marketing with Photography Minor. She will report to college early to play for the lady Blue Devil varsity soccer team. Callan in between College and soccer can be found working at Paffrath jewelers with her father Ted. Callan has found she has a passion for the business, a flare for fashion and loves to meet and greet all of the friends who come to the store. Her insights in art and design have become a wonderful tool for our customers to use to find the perfect gift.

Callan in pursuing this specialized degree looks forward to being the fourth generation of paffrath and to carry on our time tested traditions of customer service, fine had selected diamonds and individual personal service.