| In the village of Nitzelbuch, Bavaria both Georg Kugler and Barbara Rupprecht were born and raised. Georg was born about 1762 and Barbara was born about 1766. They married and continued to live in the village and raise their family. Nitzelbuch was predominetly a Catholic Village during this time and the main occupation was farming. October 11, 1788 a son, Georg was born to them. He grew to manhood and took as his wife, Anna Vogel. They married February 5, 1810 at St. John the Baptist Church in Auerbach, District of Oberpfalz. Anna was the daughter of Johannes and Maria Anna Fick Vogel, from the nearby village of Welluck. Two sons were born to them: John (1820/21) and Georg (1826) From records available and from family histories I have read, Georg and his brother John were the only two children to immigrate to the United States. I have found what I believe may be information regarding John's immigration date. I have no positive proof of this except to say family histories suggest that John came in about 1846 at about the age of 24. I have no date or any idea if Georg came with him or if he came at a later or earlier date. |
| On September 10, 1850, Georg Kugler, age 24, married Maria Thekla Ritter, age 18. Maria, who most often went by the name Thekla, was born February 1832. Georg and Thekla had 14 biological children and one adopted daughter: 1. Maxmillian 2. Joseph 3. John 4. Mathus 5. Cresentia 6. Mary Cresentia 7. Marta 8. George John 9. Mathilda 10. Frank 11. Frank 12. Anna 13. Edward 15. Elizabeth 16. and an adopted daugther, Germane |
| In 1860, Abraham Ritter, father of Thekla, was already living in Waconia (Carver County) Minnesota. Maria and their daughter, Cresentia were still living with Georg and Thekla in St. Mary's, Elk County, Pennsylvania. Census 1860 Hollywood Township. Carver County, Minnesota Abraham Ritter (spelled Rytter on the census record) Abraham served in the 4th Minnesota Infantry, Company E as a Private during the Civil War. |
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| Photos from the private collection of Brenda Conzet. Civil War Monument Waconia, Minnesota Headstone, St. Joseph's Cemetery "Thank you, Brenda" (photos are clickable) |
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| Joseph Henry born February 29, 1888 died February 14, 1972 He married Mary Magdelene Schmitt They had 5 children: Joseph, Lawrence, Loretta, Raymond & Bernadette |
| 4. Matthew Kugler born January 7, 1857 died February 13, 1942 He married Mary Theresa Mueller February 26, 1889 They had 6 children: Marie George Loretta Matthew Magnus Albert |
| 8. George born February 24, 1864 died October 2, 1942 Joined the Jesuit Order and he spent most of his life serving the Indian Missions. He was also Superintendent of St. Regis Mission Kettle Falls, Washington |
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9. Mathilda born May 31, 1867 died April 30, 1927 She married Frank Wickenhauser April 17, 1888 They had 11 children William John Bernard Albert Joseph Eleanor Frances Elizabeth Thekla Mary Clara |
| 11. Frank born July 28, 1871 He married Mary Steinhagen They had 4 children, John (1895-1974) Married Christina Heck in 1920 Gertrude (died 1969) Married Mr. Temple Alphonse Frank |
| 12. Anna Kugler born August 25, 1873 died July 10, 1960 She became Sister Basilia of the Order of the Franciscan Sister. From 1932-1947 she was Provincial Sister of the order. |
| 13. Edward Kugler born March 14, 1876 died September 14, 1905 He married Mary Gransom September 11, 1900 They had 2 children, Helen Carolina Mary married Joseph Korman after Edward's death. |
| 15. Elizabeth Kugler born February 12, 1880 died July 24, 1981 She married Peter Mihm November 27, 1906 Elizabeth and Peter had three children: Gertrude Marie Anne |
| 16. Germane Adopted daughter of Georg and Thekla Became a Nun. |
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| 1. John (Photo) married his first wife, Catherine Schober on October 19, 1846. Catherine died July 4, 1861. Ten children were born to John & Catherine: Francisca (about 1844-1863) Barbara (born about 1846 Johannes (1849-1851) Barbara (1850-?) George (1851-?) Photo George & wife Kunigunda (1853-?) Catherine (1855-?) Magdalene (1856-?) Margaret (1858-?) Anna (no information) If anyone has any information about the births of Francisca (born about 1844 and Barbara born 1846), please e-mail me. I was wondering if they were actually born before John and Catherine's marriage. |
| Thank you! to Brenda Conzet, Minnesota; Ginny Eakin, Pennsylvania and Kate Bower for contributing some of the information & photos found on this page. |
| 2. John married #2--Anna Eichenmuller, February 13, 1869. Their daughter, Elizabeth was born in January 1871. Anna had a son, Joseph born 1862, from her marriage to Fred Wolf. 3. John married #3--Catherine Rhaum April 30, 1889. Catherine's first husband was John Rhaum (Raum) John's Will page 1 page 2 John died on September 17, 1908. |
| After coming to the United States, the brothers took up residence in St. Mary's (Elk County) Pennsylvania. |
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| 1860 Elk County, Pennsylvania Census John Kugler 1860 Elk County, Pennsylvania Census George Kugler |
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| St. Mary's Elk County, Pennsylvania was also home to Abraham and Maria Seitz Ritter. They were the parents of 7 known children. One son and one daughter were stillborn, another daughter who was also named Maria Thekla only survived about a year (1830-1831). There were four other children, all daughters; namely Martha, Maria Regina, Cresentia and Maria Thekla (#2) |
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| These four children died at birth or in infancy: 1. Maxmillian born and died in 1852 5. Cresentia born and died in 1869 7. Marta born between 1864 & 1866 and died 1866 10. Frank born and died 1869 The dates of death are too early to support the probablility of finding death records. |
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| Nine children were born to Joseph and Henriette: Anton born November 3, 1877 died June 3, 1903 He drowned in a creek in Oliver County, North Dakota He never married. |
| The surviving children of Georg & Thekla |
| 2. Joseph Georg Kugler born December 15, 1853<><>died April 28, 1932. He met Henriette Kusserow, born November 16, 1854, (she also went by the name Anna) she was the daughter of Christian Kusserow. Joseph and Henriette were of different religious backgrounds, she was Lutheran and Joseph Catholic, and it was against his parents wishes that they marry. But they did marry on January 23, 1877. I have been trying to find proof that Henriette was the sister of my great-grandmother, Johanna Kusserow Dresow. The immigrated to the US at the same time on the same ship "The Ohio" If anyone can offer any information on Henriette it would be greatly appreciated. Joseph and Henriette moved from Waconia and settled in Nobles County, Minnesota. Land Record |
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| Juliana Rosa born February 13, 1879 died October 23, 1904 She married Joseph Willits She died in childbirth and is buried in Riverview Cemetery. I do not know if the child survived. (I apologize for the poor quality of this photocopy.) |
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| John George born March 23, 1880 died March 30, 1969 He married Laura Olson November 24, 1907 They were the parents of 8 children: Joseph, Anthony, Bernard, Bertha Lillian, Mabel, Julie, Hazel. (I apologize for the poor quality of this photocopy.) |
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| Rose Mary born February 20, 1882 died December 25, 1969 She married James Roan March 2, 1908 I believe they had one daughter. |
| Edward Frank born December 21, 1883 died March 22, 1921 He married Lillian Smith I do not know if they had any children. |
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| Otto born January 16, 1886 died August 18, 1983 He married Tillie Haken They had 5 children: Alice, Walter, Anna, Leona, Edward. |
| Elizabeth Ann born January 18, 1888 died April 29, 1910 She never married. Kathryn born November 21, 1889 died September 10, 1902 Arnold born April 20, 1892 died October 30, 1892 According to There is no recorded record of Arnold's Death. Henriette died giving birth to Arnold. I have written to Nobles County for Henriette and Arnold's death record. Their deaths were not officially recorded. |
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| 3. John born 1856 died January 11, 1894 He married Barbara Miller/Mueller They had 3 children: Mathew, Frances, Joseph |
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| Mathew born November 1, 1882 died August 5, 1952 He joined the Franciscan Order and was ordained, Rev. Justinian Kugler, O.F.M. on June 24, 1910 and said his first mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Waconia, Minnesota. When he passed away he was the parish priest of the St. Victoria Catholic Church in Victoria, Minnesota. |
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| Frances born June 18, 1884 died March 28, 1978 She married Lawrence Henke. They had 2 children: Anna Mae and Ray |
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| 6. Mary Cresentia born November 2, 1862 died May 29, 1930 She married John Aretz January 18, 1881 They had 12 children: Elizabeth George Anton Anna Barbara Maria Frank Edward Edward Martha John Anton |
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| Thank you to Charleen Feekes for taking this headstone photo. Please also visit Henriette's memorial on Findagrave.com |
