Frank Kenstler (1840-1913)

Frank Kenstler (1840-1914)

Research
Paula Windler wrote in 2012: "The first Kenstler was Frank Kenstler from Baden Germany. He was born around 1832 and came to this country in 1849, and apparently went to Texas for some reason. (I don't know if he came with other family or set out on his own, but I'm guessing the latter.) He fought in the Civil War and played in the regiment band. He ended up in Dover, NJ and he's buried there. He lead a band in Dover and was a barber in town. His son Frank Albert also lived in the Dover area, but I can find out little about him and his wife Martha Rudzinski (Rudzinsky) who also came from Germany, except that they lived around the corner from my grandparents in Morristown at some point. Frank Albert had one son Francis Allen who was my grandfather who lived and died in Morristown, NJ. Of course, the original Frank Kenstler could have been Franz Kunstler or Kunzler, etc. The original Frank Kenstler was married to Mary W. Payne who apparently came from NY of Irish decent. I'm not sure if she immigrated with her parents or if her parents were born here."