A.E. Koster

Information about this family was taken from their headstones in the Green Bank Cemetery and the Pleasant Mills Cemetery, and the 1885 Census.

Augustus Ernst Koster was born in Hanover, Germany on 17 June 1840. All that is known of his family in Germany is that he had a brother named Charles, according to the Batsto Citizen's Gazzette vol XXIII #1. He came to America at the age of 14, supposedly after his mother had arranged to have him released from military training in Germany. He originally went to New York City, and in 1869 moved to Hermann, a town which no longer exists in Washington Township, supposedly to make glass. His father in law, John H. Rapp, is the investor who purchased the land and opened that glass works, so it is probable that he had some role in Augustus' choice to move to Washington Township. The town is supposed to have had between 40 and 70 homes at that time, plus one hotel. An 1876 Burlington County directory lists August Koster of Green Bank as a hotel keeper there. It was a glass manufacturing town which went bust when the glass industry did; other sources claim he lived in Green Bank, but I believe Herman would be part of what is today Green Bank, so both are probably correct. A 1905 map shows both towns as still being separate entities, but very close to one another.

He married Johanna Augusta Rapp, the daughter of John H. Rapp, Sr., and Johanna Christine Matilda Peiper on 30 July 1868, presumably in New York since he had yet to make his home in Washington Township. According to the Batsto Citizen's Gazzette, vol. XXIII #1, they settled in East Brooklyn. He and Johanna had seven children together before he died in June of 1925. Those children were:

1. Hattie Koster, born on 2 Nov 1949. She married Jessie Ford.
   
2. Emma Koster, born in 1896. Her husband was a Mr. Myde.
   
3. Myrtle Koster, who died on 22 March 1969. She married William H. Brighton or Brighton (?)
   
4. Sylvia Koster, who died in 1950. She was the wife of Alanson Cobb.
   
5. Minerva Koster, who lived from 1887 to 1894.
   
6. John R. Koster ( middle initial may be C.). He married Georgina Rapp, but it is not known if she was related to his mother or not.
   
7. Leon Abbott Koster, born on 13 Sep 1883. He died in May of 1962 and was buried in Green Bank. Leon married Josephine Garton, daughter of Joseph H. Garton and Louise Southard. They had the following children:
   
   1. Rodney G. Koster
      
   2. Glendin A. Koster
      
   3. Janice E. Koster, who married a Mr. Weeks.
      
   4. Augusta W. Koster;he married a woman named Miller
      
   5. Hollis A. Koster
      
   6. Shirley A. Koster, who married a Mr. Bratton
      
   7. Lois H . Koster, who married a Mr. Wilson
      
   8. Kathleen Koster
      
   9. Richard C. Koster
      
   
   A.E.Koster was also chairman of the election board for the Washington Township election of 1894, according to the Poll Book from that election. Additonally, he was also the census enumerator for the state census of 1895.