Kunkel Family History

First Generation

Hans Kunkel was born about 1530 in Glasshouse, Neuhuetten, Germany. The date of his death is unknown. He married Anna Catharina Wolfgang who was born about 1535. She died in 1571. They had two known children; Johannes Jurg and Johann Heinrich.

Second Generation

Johannes Jurg Kunkel was born about 1565 in Glasshouse, Neuhutten, Germany, and died there in 1640. He married Elisabeth Christina Houser sometime before 1592 in Neuhutten, Germany. She was born 1573 in Glasshouse, Neuhutten, Germany, and died there in 1633. It was recorded that she died in her 60th year. They had six known children; Johann Nicolaus, Johann George, Franz, Joanas “Gunkel”, Lorenz, and Johann Michael.

Third Generation

Johann Michael Kunkel was born about 1600 in Glasshouse, Neuhutten, Germany, and died there May 15, 1676. He married Anna Katharine Nauman during 1624 in Neuhutten. She was born 1605 in Neuhutten, Germany, and died January 1, 1649 or 1650 in Glasshouse, Neuhutten, Germany. They had nine children; Johann Heinrich, Conrad, Jurg, John H. Nicholas, Hans, Sebastian, Johannes, Anna Catharina, and Ana Margaretha.

Fourth Generation

Johannes Kunkel was born December 4, 1645 in Neuhuetten, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany. He married Anna Elizabeth 1668 in Neuhuetten where she was born 1650. They had two known children; Johannes Balthasar and Andreas.

Fifth Generation

Johannes Balthasar Kunkel was born November 30, 1671 in Neuhuetten, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany, and died there November 16, 1737. He married Maria Margaretha on Christmas 1699 in Neuhuetten where she was born in 1680 and died April 22, 1734. They had six children; Johann Phillip, Maria Elizabeth, Johannes Christian, Maria Magdalena, Johann Gottleib and Johann George.

Sixth Generation

Johannes Christian Kunkel was born July 17, 1706 in Neuhuetten, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany. He married Anna Elizabeth Houser. She was born 1711 in Germany. They had six children, Johann Heinrich, Johann Peter, Johann George, Johannes, Anna Maria, and Johann Phillip.

Seventh Generation

Johannes Kunkel was born August 7, 1734 in Neuhuetten, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany, and died there November 12, 1793. He married Anna Catharina Laubach who was born 1741 and died March 14, 1772 in Neuhuetten. They had three children; Johann, Robert Michael, and Johann Heinrich.

Eighth Generation

Johann Kunkel was born April 13, 1770 in Neuhuetten, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany. He married Magdalena Stauter about 1795 in Rothenbach, Germany. She was born March 20, 1776 in Neuhuetten. They had one child; Bernard.

Ninth Generation

Bernard Kunkel was born December 18, 1800 in Rothenbach, Unterfranken, Bavaria, Germany and died there September 22, 1867. He first married Elisabeth Englert on February 17, 1833 in Rothenbuch. She was the daughter of Balthasar Englert and Marie Schwarz. She was born January 3, 1800 in Rothenbach and died there February 27, 1850 or March 1, 1849. Some information suggests Elisabeth had a prior marriage to a Schultzer. An Old Family Bible records "Elizabeth's" death as March 1, 1849 which is a different date than February 27, 1850, the one in the Wurzburg, Germany Archives. Bernard then married Maria Eva Orth June 21, 1859 in Rothenbuch, Germany. She was the daughter of Johann Ort and Barbara Schafer. Maria was born April 14, 1823 in Rothenbach. Maria had a son Michael from another man about three years before marrying Bernard. Bernard and Elisabeth had six children; Gaborial, Killian, Martin, Anna Marie, Balthasar, and Barbara. Bernard and Maria had one child; Michael.

Tenth Generation

Killian Kunkel was born October 10, 1831 in Rothenbuch, Unterfranken, Bayern, Germany and died August 5, 1901 in Haverhill, Marshall County, Iowa. Killian was born and baptized on the same day, October 10, 1831 in the Catholic Church of Rothenbach. The Priest was Pastor Glassen and the sponsors were Margaretha and Maria Englert, Kilian Kunkel of Neuhutten, a laborer, plus Jacob Stenger, a baker apprentice.

He was born one year, and four months before his parents were married on February 17, 1833. Killian emigrated from Germany; departing from Le Havre, France, and arrived in New York, New York on September 5, 1854, age 22 years old. Killian lived in Peru, Miami County, Indiana from 1854 - 1859. He married Elizabeth Ehmer there on May 20, 1855. She was born November 4, 1831 in Rothenbuch, Bavaria, Germany and died April 12, 1907 in Haverhill, Marshall County, Iowa. Killian declared his intention to become a U.S. Citizen on October 9, 1855, in Miami County Circuit Court in Peru, Indiana. He signed his first name with one 'L'. Killian then moved to Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa and lived there from 1859-1872. He worked as an architect and contractor. Some newspaper reports say Killian moved to Haverhill, Marshall County, Iowa earlier than 1872. Killian built the first store in Haverhill. It was on the northwest corner of Main Street and also contained the post office.

Killian lived in the vicinity of Haverhill from 1872 until 1899 as a farmer and then moved into town the last few years of his life. He died of heart complications and asthma. Killian was appointed Haverhill Post Master April 11, 1882. Killian was a prominent citizen of Haverhill, holding various public township offices, and served his church in many positions. Killian and Elizabeth had eight children; Barbara Patill, Edward Bernard, Lucy Marie, Martin Killian, Christopher, Anthony Francis, Joseph Jacob, and Josephine Savina.

Eleventh Generation

Joseph Jacob Kunkel was born May 1, 1868 in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa and died December 10, 1947 in Kimball, Stearns County, Minnesota. He married Marie E. Mayer on May 3, 1892 at Immaculate Conception Church in Haverhill, Marshall County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Johann Mayer and Walburga Wilhelm and was born January 1869 in Haverhill. Marie died May 12, 1917.

While farming in Iowa, Joseph experienced wet field conditions that were so bad that he told a story about how "his team broke the double tree on his corn picking wagon while pulling it down hill and empty!” He moved to Pearl Lake, Minnesota sometime before March 1900. Joseph was known as a brilliant thinker and loved gardening and fishing. He became one of the largest land owners in Central Minnesota and owned 340 acres in one tract plus additional tracts of 80, 40, 160, 24, and 200 acres. Joseph built a brick house with a brick making machine of his own design. The house had modern conveniences way ahead of the time. Joseph raised purebred cattle, chickens and turkeys. He also had an apple and plum orchard. He was the local Justice of the Peace for many years. Joseph and Marie had ten children; Leo, John Anthony, Joseph Martin, Paul Francis, Albert, Elizabeth, Louis Aloysius, Marie, George, and Anna.

Twelfth Generation

Joseph Martin Kunkel was born March 30, 1895 in Haverhill, Marshall County, Iowa and died December 21, 1959 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. He married Rose A. Holthaus May 7, 1919 in Pearl Lake, Stearns County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Herman Holthaus and Elizabeth Beumel. She was born November 12, 1899 in Richmond, Stearns County, Minnesota and died February 28, 1961 in St. Augusta, Stearns County, Minnesota. Joseph was a WWI Veteran, farmed in Pearl Lake and then St. Augusta Plus ran an insurance agency in St. Cloud. He was buried in St. Mary's Church cemetery in St. Augusta. Joseph and Rose had twelve children, Harold Albert, Donald Anthony, Victor Joseph, David Louis, Bridget Katherine, Aloysius Andrew, Beatrice Helen, Hermina Ann, Daniel Vincent, Vera Ann, Joan Susan, and Delrose Helen.

Thirteenth Generation

Donald Anthony Kunkel was born May 25, 1922 in Pearl Lake, Stearns County, Minnesota and died January 28, 1989 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota. He married Helen Marie Gohmann January 6, 1944 in St. Augusta, Stearns County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Bernard Gohmann and Margaretha Leisch. She was born December 6, 1923 in Lynden Township, Stearns County, Minnesota and died November 5, 2004 in St. Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota.

Don served in the Army during WWII and worked in heating and air conditioning. His funeral was held at St. John Cantius Catholic Church, St. Cloud with burial at St. Mary's Help of Christians Church Cemetery, St. Augusta, Stearns County, Minnesota. Helen cooked at many local restaurants until she was employed by School District 742 as a cook. Don and Helen had seven children; Lawrence Bernard, Kathleen Margaret, William John, Linda Marie, Mary Ellen, Laurel Anne and Donald Anthony.