Kunst to Kinst in the U.S.
Lambertus Hendrikus Kunst “Lambert”
Lambert’s father died in 1847 when he was nine years old, and three of his four siblings died within a year of their birth. He immigrated to the U.S. sometime in late 1850’s He was living in Illinois when he enlists in the Union Army on November 20 1861
Lambert was in three battles during the Civil War; the battle of Ford Donelson, the battle of Fort Henry, and the Battle of Shiloh. In April of 1862 at the battle of Siloh he was captured and becomes a POW. He was one of 2,000 Union solders captured on the first day of the battle. He was held for eight months in a Confederate prison before being released and sent back to Illinois in December of 1862. He was discharged from the Union Army on March 3rd of 1863. His mother Jane and possibly his young brother Leendert join him in the U.S. in 1864.
Some time around 1866 he met and married Alice De Young in Roseland Illinois. They had four children between 1868 and 1847. In the 1870 cencus they are listed as living in Hyde Park Ill. and owning $ 1,000 in real estate, plus have $ 200 personal estate. He was listed as a farmer living with one year old son Rykert, two year old daughter Jane and his Mother age 63. It is interesting that his wife Alice is not listed.
His war experience and business failures resulted in serious metal issues. A warrant for his arrest was issued on September 26, 1874. He had been declared insane by a jury and was to be conveyed to the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane at Elgin, IL. The inquisition stated that the insanity was believed to be temporary and the cause was unknown. It also stated that he did not manifest homicidal or suicidal tendencies. He was present during the inquisition and was able to defend himself. It is believed he died one year later in 1875.
Eight months after he was sent to Elgin, his wife Alice married William Ooms, the owner of the grocery store where she worked. They would have three sons between 1878 and 1900.
Lambertus Hendrikus Kunst “Lambert” and Alice, Aaltje De Young (de Jong)
Wife Alice born: August 31, 1847 Netherlands
Immigrated to the U.S.: June 16, 1866 New York from Rotterdam Duisburg of Prussia "North German Barg" at age 18
Marries:Lambertus Kunst date unknown
Marries: William Ooms April 1875 Roseland, Il
Died: Jan. 11,1917 Stickney, SD. age 69 yrs 4 mon 11 days
Burried: January 13, 1917 Dudley Cemetery
Daughter: "Ada" Aderzana "Jennie" Jane Kunst (Kinst)
Born: 1868 IL, Died: July 2, 1949 Fortine, Montana
Married: Henry Hellenga c. 1900
Son: Rijkart "Rykert" (Richard)a
Born: June 5, 1869 Hyde Park, IL, Died: unknown
Son: Cornelius Kunst "Kinst"
Born: December 27, 1870 Chicago, IL, Died: June 4, 1947 Geneva, IL
Cornelius appears in the 1880 census, at 9 years old, living in Dist. 56 Chicago with Leonard Kunst as Head of household.
Is this Lambert’s brother Leendert?
In the same census he is listed in Roseland with William Womes (Ooms) as head of household.
Alice De Young
Maggie Piersma and Cornelius Kinst
Cornelius Kinst and Maggie Piersma
Wife Maggie born: March 7, Holland
Immigrated to the U.S. May 4th 1881
Married January 19, 1893
Son: William “Bill” Kinst
Born: October 29, 1893 Roseland,IL, Died: September 26, 1985 Santa Cruz, CA
Married: Eura Marie Freel
Daughter: Grace "B" Margaret Kinst (Larson)
Born: June 26, 1895 Roseland,IL, Died: August 1978 Twin Falls, ID
Married: Rinehold Larson
Son: Henry G. Kinst
Born: April 8, 1897 Roseland,IL, Died: June 12, 1975 Los Angeles, CA
Married: Jessie Kuthan
Son: Cornelius Jr. Kinst
Born: July 6, 1900 Roseland,IL, Died:. December 13, 1963 Lower Lake, CA
Married: Evelyn Irene Weston
Son: Elmer R. Kinst
Born: July 16, 1903 Roseland,IL, Died: February 25, 1992 St. Charles, IL
Married: Florence
Son: Peter "R" Leonard Kinst
Born: November 26, 1905 Roseland, IL, Died: January 23, 1976 San Leandro, CA
Married: Helen Gabrielson
Son: Edward Kinst
Born: March 4, 1908 Roseland,IL, Died: November 1977 Geneva, IL
Married: Ethell
Son: George Kinst
Born: July 3, 1910 Kilbourne, Wis, Died: June 16, 1912, St. Charles, IL
Family photo from 1936
Back Row: Rinehold Larson, William, Henry, Edward,Peter, Elmer, Cornelius Kinst
Center Row: Eura, Jessie, Grace, Evelyn, Helen, Florence (Elmer's first wife)
Front Row: Cornelius and Maggie