Miliss..... It doesn't seem that your ancestor would have gone to China on the USS Minnesota in 1885 (its China service was in the 1850's):
"It was built in the Washington Navy Yard in 1854, launched in late 1855 and commissioned in 1857 and named for the Minnesota River. The steamship was part of the East India Squadron and visited ports in Japan, China and Hong Kong in 1857 but was soon decommissioned in 1859. It was re-commissioned in 1861 at the start of the Civil War and served as the flagship of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. The squadron was commanded by Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough, who selected the U.S.S. Minnesota as his flagship."
See:
http://thisweekinthecivilwar.com/?p=1021/