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On May 19, 2007 I received an intriguing query from John Dittmer of Illinois. John and his wife are passionate antique collectors and always attempt to learn the history of the items they procure. They had recently obtained an Empire Game table from the auction of the estate of a physician, Dr. Coeur, in Carthage, IL. Upon examining it more closely they observed written in pencil on the underside of the table "Jacob Kunsman January 3, 1833". John performed an internet search on Jacob Kunsman and discovered this web site. He became specifically interested in Jacob Kunsman b.1807, my great great grandfather. Jacob and his wife Julianna nee Hoover were married on December 9, 1832. Based on that date John suspected a possible wedding gift, and though knowing it was a long shot, wrote me asking if there was any known Illinois connection to Jacob.
I immediately began researching the possibilities. It wasn't too long before I found that Jacob's oldest daughter Elizabeth married Daniel Richards about 1855. After marrying and beginning a family here in Pennsylvania they moved to Harlem Township in Stephenson Co., IL sometime between 1867 and 1870 and resided near the town of Freeport. There they and their children farmed for many years. While a positive Illinois connection had been established I found myself wishing I had more. I continued researching. Where would Jacob, who by all indications lived a humble existence, obtain such an exquisite piece of furniture? I soon stumbled on a possible answer. Jacob's older brother Thomas was a master cabinet maker residing in Nazareth, PA. Putting all of this together fit the following scenario quite well.
Jacob's brother Thomas crafted this table for his brother and new sister-in-law as a wedding gift. The date on the bottom being the date he presented it to them. Jacob's daughter Elizabeth obtained the table either via gift from Jacob or after his death in 1877 as part of his estate. From there the table could have been passed down to other Richards descendants. A mystery I would like to one day resolve is if the Doctor who's estate the Dittmer's purchased the table from was somehow related to the Richards or did he obtain the table through an antique dealership or auction. And finally for the paranormalists out there, May 19th, the date John Dittmer first contacted me is the wedding anniversary of my wife and I.
Below are photos of the table that John sent to me. It is quite a work of art and was a great find for John and his wife. I have included two photos of the pencil writing on the bottom of the table. One original and one where I exaggerated the contrast/brightness to bring out the writing in more detail. I've come to believe this table was made by Thomas Kunsman. Many thanks to John for providing the information and photos essential to this story. If anyone has any more details to add please e-mail me.
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