Kutzner
Herman H.
1851 – 1913
Herman H. Kutzner, born in Germany in 1851, is the earliest known ancestor in the Kutzner line.
Immigration
Herman is said to have come to the country with a sister leaving his family, including other siblings, behind in Germany. He is believed to have lived near Somonsuk, Illinois for a short time before moving to Marshall County, Iowa, which he made his home for the remainder of his life.
There is a note in Reunion that has Herman immigrating to the US in 1864.
Marriage to Ernstine Stahlert
Herman first married Ernstine Stahlert (Stahlart, Stallart), daughter of Gustav and Sophia Stahert, in Marshall County, Iowa on July 5, 1877. To this union were born two daughters:
- Wilhelmina “Minnie” [m: E. H. “Ivan” Johanns]
- Carolina Mary “Maria” [m: Wilke Aden]
Herman and Esrnstine must have divorced as each of them remarried within a few years of the second daughter’s birth. Herman stayed in Marshalltown, Iowa and Ernstine moved to Nebraska where she married August Meyer. They had 5 children.
Herman and Ernstine’s daughter Maria married Wilke Aden and they lived in Nebraska. They had at least 5 children: Stena (Ernstine), Anna Hannah, Herman John August, Emma Caroline, and Minnie Sophie. Herman and Ernstine’s daughter Minnie married E. H. “Ivan” Johanns. They had four children although only Chris Herman and Elmer Edwin lived to adulthood.
Marriage to Wilhelmina “Minnie” Schmidt
In December 1885, Herman united in marriage with Wilhelmina “Minnie” Schmidt (This name is sometimes recorded as Smith), the daughter of Wilhelm Schmidt and Caroline Eichler (This name is sometimes recorded as Isler). Minnie, who had also been born in Germany, first moved to South Dakota and it is unclear how Minnie and Herman met.
Minnie and Herman became parents to ten children:
- Ludwig Georg Arthur A. “Otto”
- Herman A. (August Louis Herman) [m: Herma Prosser]
- Emma Augusta Bertha [m: John Schlender]
- Wilhelm Ernst Albert “Bobby”
- Minnie Louisa Caroline ♥ [m: Philipp (Jacob) Helm]
- Ernest Wilhelm Louis/Levi Sr. [m: Rosamund Alice “Rose” Busse]
- four unknown children that did not live to adulthood
Herman A., Albert, and Ernest stayed in Marshall County, Iowa while Otto, Emma, and Minnie ventured into nearby Nebraska.
Herman A. married Herma Prosser and they raised a small family. Ernest married Rosamund Busse and they had at least 7 children. Emma married John Schlender and they had 7 children. They lived near Syracuse, Nebraska. No marriages or children are known for Otto or Albert. Otto spent part of his adult years near Syracuse.
The particular branch of the family that is the focus of this webpage descends from Herman and Minnie’s daughter Minnie Kutzner, who married Jacob Helm. She was known to interact with her half-sister Minnie Kutzner Johanns at least prior to her marriage. See the Helm page for more details regarding Minnie and Jake.