1

Anna Catharina Marcus (Köster) (1787 - 1816)

First wife of Herman Gerhard Köster (1786-1837)

Anna Catharina Marcus was born on 27 February 1787 at Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover, the daughter of Johann Bernedt Marcus and Catharina Margaretha Escher. The children of Hermann Gerhard Köster and Anna Catharina Marcus, born at Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover, were:

. . . . 1. Hermann Bernard Köster, born January 15, 1812; godparents were Herman Köster and Catharina Margaretha Krümpelmann. Hermann Bernard immigrated to the United States in 1844, arriving at the port of New Orleans.

. . . . 2. Johann Gerd Köster, born 20 March 1815; godfather was Johann Gerd Köster. Johann Gerd also immigrated to the United States in 1844, arriving at the port of New Orleans.

Anna Catharina Marcus died on February 1, 1816 at age 28 years.

Added 5/2005

2

Maria Catharina Kreiling (Köster) (1786 - 1822)

Second wife of Herman Gerhard Köster (1786-1837)

From her death record, we estimate Maria Catharina Kreiling was born in May of 1786 in Bersenbrück. She married Herman Gerhard Köster, widower of Maria Catharina Marcus, in Bersenbrück on 29 May 1816 . She is listed as "from Hestrup." We do not yet know her parents, but records from the area show Bernard or Herman Kreiling, and his wife Anna Catharina Adelheid von Höne with several children born in Bersenbrück at about this time period. The children of Herman Gerhard Köster abd Maria Catharina Kreiling, all baptized at Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover, were:

. . . . 1. Herman Heinrich Köster, born 9 March 1817 in Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis-Bersenbrück, Hanover ; married Anna Maria Catherine Lisette Lübbers.

. . . . 2. Catharina Elisabeth Köster, born 1820 in Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis-Bersenbrück, Hanover.

Maria Catharina Kreiling died on 8 January 1822. Her age is listed as 35 years and 8 months.

Revised April 2006

Maria Catharina Elisabeth von der Haar (Köster) (1793 - 1861)

Third wife of Herman Gerhard Köster (1786 - 1837)

Maria Catharina Elisabeth von der Haar was the daughter of Heinrich von der Haar and Elisabeth Athmer, and she was baptized 17 April 1793 at Davlvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. We have not viewed this record. Other records listing her name also say "aus Höfen" or from the farm.

The children of Hermann Gerhard Köster and Maria Catharina Elisabeth von der Haar, all born at Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover, were:
…..1. Johan Arnold Heinrich Köster, born 16 June 1823. He was baptized 19 June 1823 in Berge, KreisBersenbrück, Hanover. Godparents were Johann Hinrick von der Haar, John Arnold Escher and Anna Elisabeth Jürgens.
…..2. Hermann Bernard Köster, born 14 August 1826; married Margaretha Maria Adelheid Krümpelmann.
…..3. Catherine Adelheid Köster, born 22 February 1830.

Maria Catharina Elisabeth von der Haar died or was buried 26 February 1861. The record lists her age as 67 years, 10 months and 6 days. Her parents are also listed in this record as heuerling Heinrich von der Haar and Elisabeth Athmer.

Revised 5/2005

Hermann Heinrich (AKA Harm Koester) Köster (1817 - 1880)

Son of Hermann Gerhard, grandson of Johan Hermann, great grandson of Johan Henrich Köster

Our Thanks to Allen Koster for sharing his reseach on this branch of our family!

Hermann Heinrich Köster was born on 9 March 1817 in Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. He was baptized 12 March 1817 at St. Servatius Catholic Church in Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. Godparents were Theodor Henrich Kreiling and Herman Jürgen Weßendorf "genannt" Oldemann or "known as" Oldemann. He would have been a member of the family in whose cottage Herman Gerd lived. Also listed is Aleid Krümpelman. Parents are listed as Herman Gerd Köster and Maria Catharina Kreiling. He married Anna Maria Catharina Lisette Lübbers on 17 April 1845 at Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. Witnesses to the marriage were Friedrich Schulting and Bernd Schulting.

He immigrated to the United States in 1863, arriving on 11 September 1863. In the United States, he was known as Harm Koester. He changed the spelling of his name when a neighbor had the same name and initial. He came to America with his eldest son, Herman H. and his daughter Anna in about 1860. They likely came because young Herman was about 16 and would soon be drafted into the Prussian army. Four years later, 1864, Wilhelm (AKA William G.) and Heinrich (AKA Henry) came to America. William was 13 years old and Henry was just 10 years old. Harm apparently never applied for citizenship.

He bought 80 acres of land in Minonk Township, Woodford County, Illinois, on 30 September 1869 from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. It was the W 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 30, Township 28 N, Range 2 E of the 3rd Meridian in Minonk Township. The purchase price was $1452. The flat land of Minonk Township was very rich farmland.

He appeared in the census of 1870 in Woodford County, Illinois . Herman Caster (60) is enumerated on a farm in Minonk Township. He is a farmer from Hanover, with personal property worth $450 and land worth $2500. Living in the same household are John (23), William (18), and Henry (16). The younger men are all listed as farm hands.

Herman Heinrich died in Minonk Township, Woodford County, Illinois on 27 April 1880 at age 83.

 Revised 5/2005

Johan Arnold Heinrich Köster (1823 - 1834)
Son of Hermann Gerhard Köster, grandson of Johan Hermann, great grandson of Johan Henrich Köster

Johan Arnold Heinrich Köster was born 16 June 1823. He was baptized 19 June 1823 in St. Servatius Catholic Church in Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. Godparents were Johann Hinrick von der Haar, John Arnold Escher and Anna Elisabeth Jürgens.

There is an added line to the baptism record for Johan Arnold, which says "mort. est 29 or 22 Arpil 1834. He likely died as a child, before he was 11 years old.

Updated April 2006

Catherina Adelheid Köster (Wesseling) (1830 - ?)
Daughter of Hermann Gerhand Köster, granddaughter of Johan Herman, great granddaughter of Johan Henrich Köster

Catherina Adelheid Köster was born 22 February 1830. We believe she married Gerhard Wilhelm Wesseling in Davlers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover on 28 April 1864. Witnesses to their marriage were Gerhard Jansing and Heinrich Rottmann. She may be the Adelheid Köster listed as godmother to some of the children in the Herman Bernard Köster family.

We do not know the death date for Catherina.

Added 9/04

Gerhard Wilhelm Wesseling (1832 - ?)

Husband of Catharina Adelheid Köster (1830 - ?)

Gerhard Wilhelm Wesseling was born 16 January 1832 , the son of Johan Hermann Wesseling and Catherine Adelheid Hufker. We believe he married Catharina Adelheid Köster. The children of Gerhard Wilhelm Wesseling and Catharina Adelheid Köster were:

. . . . 1. Anna Maria Wesseling, born 31 January 1865 in Dalvers bei Berge, Kreis Bersenbrück, Hanover. She died 27 April 1865.

. . . . 2. Herman Heinrich Wesseling, born 29 September 1867 in Delvers bei Berge, Hanover, Prussia. Godparents were Herman Köster, Heinrich Rottmann and Anna Wiebole.

. . . . 3. Margaretha Elisabeth Wesseling, born 3 May 1870, in Grafeld, Hanover, Prussia.

We do not know a death date for Gerhard Wilhelm Wesseling.

Added 5/2005