Kungold Hauenstein

  General Notes:

Mrs. Kungold (Hauenstein) Wetters was born in Switzerland and was united in marriage with Jacob Wetters in her native country in 1837. They emigrated to America the same year, lived in Pennsylvania for several years and in 1843 the came to Huntington County, Indiana, where she spent the remainder of her life, a period of 51 years. She was the mother of 8 children, seven of whom are still living and were present at the funeral. She was a member of the German Lutheran Church near Bippus where the services took place with the Rev. Thurston giving the services in German and the Rev. D. A. Kuhn delivering the English sermon. She had been a member of the German Lutheran Church 62 years.

Kungold and her husband's home was on the edge of the big bear-swamp west of West Point, now where Bippus is located. From Fort Wayne they came to Huntington, Indiana on the canal and stopped temporarily at Jacob Weber's Hotel, which stood near the dock. Only two cabins were passed when they traveled along the blazed trail. One of these was the Henry Kunce place and the other was owned by people by the name of Kyser. They stayed with a family named Dailey until a cabin could be built.

Kungold had a padded ring that she brought from Switzerland. It was used to carry things on her head. The padded ring fit down over her head and made a flat platform on which a bucket could be balanced and carried successfully. She used this here in the wilderness of Warren Township for toting things same as in the old country. One day during a dry spell, it was necessary to carry water from a shallow well down in the woods some distance from the cabin. One day the pioneer woman was proceeding along in the dark woods carring a bucket of water on her head and suddenly, a huge Indian confronted her. He made all kinds of signs and jabbered away but not a word contained any meaning to her. She said that no human being can comprehend how dreadfully frightened that she was. After considerable suspense, she interpreted signs to mean that the Indian wanted her to remove the bucket from her head and give him a drink, which she did. He was greatly pleased with the privilege of examining the strange headgear, and after a while, went his way without having molested her in any way except to frighten her speechless. She poured the water out, took the empty vessel to the cabin, washed and scoured it to remove all possible contamination caused by contact with the redman. Then she bravely went back and brought clean water for the house. Such were the shocks that occasionally came to mother of the pioneer days.

(other variations of the Kungold are: Kungould, Catherine & Kathrina. Hauenstein variations are: Howenstine, Houenstine & Howenstein.

Kungold married Jacob Wetters on 7 Mar 1837 in Tegerfelden, Switzerland. (Jacob Wetters was born on 3 Mar 1802 in Switzerland, died on 9 Nov 1870 in Huntington Co. In. and was buried in St. Johns Reform Cemetery, Huntington Co. In..)