Immigrating to the Texas Hill Country from Nassau, Germany, in 1845, Johann Friedrich Sauer and his family finally settled on farmland in today's community of Stonewall in 1869. Beginning in a small one-room log cabin, the family and farmstead continued to grow. A stone house with a loft was added east of the first residence, accomodating the family's 10 children. As the children aged and moved away, the large farm become too much work for the aging couple. By the onset of the 20th century Hermann Beckmann bought the 400 acre farm for his two sons for about eleven dollars per acre. By 1915 Emil purchased his brother's interest in the farm, added a new barn, and enlarged the second Sauer house and steadily improved the property.
   Added as part of the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site in 1966, the site has preserved the Sauer-Beckmann homes and farm buildings. Other buildings on the property include a cistern, chicken coops, storage buildings, and what appears as an original limestone smokehouse. Park workers, wearing historical clothing, demonstrate the daily chores on the farm. Work includes animal care, cooking, canning, butchering, cleaning, weeding the garden, working in the blacksmith shop, and knitting.
   The farm is open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and the last Tuesday of every month. Touring the farm is free, but donations are always welcome. Tours are self-guided, with rangers and friendly volunteers on hand to chat and answer questions.

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