Los Angeles County
Biographies
JOHN FREDERICK KANST
The late
John Frederick Kanst, nationally known as an art collector, had over a period
of thirty-seven years gathered many notable and priceless subjects for his Los Angeles art
gallery. He was born in Illinois on the 5th
of April, 1863, a son of Christian and Caroline (Schaffer) Kanst. In the acquirement of an education he
attended the public schools of Lyons, Illinois, until 1878 and during the succeeding three
years was a student at the Cook
County Normal
School. He
next mastered telegraphy at the Western School of Telegraphy in Janesville, Wisconsin,
and in 1882 entered the service of Green Bay,
Western & St. Paul Railway at telegraph operator and railroad agent at Dexterville, Wisconsin,
where he was thus employed for three years or until 1885. During the succeeding decade he was employed
by the Northern Pacific Railway as freight and ticket agent at Bearmouth,
Helena, Garrison, Rimini, Elliston and Philipsburg,
Montana, winning rapid promotion
as he demonstrated his ability and trustworthiness in the discharge of the duties
devolving upon him. It was in 1895 that
Mr. Kanst came to Los Angeles,
California, and purchased a half
interest in the art firm of McClelland, Jr., & Company, which was
incorporated as the McClelland-Kanst Company in 1905. He succeeded to the
presidency of this concern and in 1911 purchased the interest of the other
stockholders, thus becoming sole owner of the business, where he developed an
extensive patronage as a dealer in art goods and fine paintings, also doing
artistic picture framing. As an art
collector he became known throughout the country. He was descended from a family whose name
means art, and he inherited his natural talent.
He was called upon frequently by insurance companies to appraise
paintings generally and objects of art.
In 1924 he erected a modern building for a home and art gallery at 6182
Mulholland highway, being the pioneer in this unit of Hollywoodland. His purchase includes a permanent concession
on all art objects. This was the
fulfillment of his desire for a private gallery.
Mr. Kanst
was married in 1895 to Miss Alice C. Fitch who died in Los
Angeles leaving two children, John Lyman Kanst and Mrs. Gladys
Youtsey, of Corcoran, California.
For his
second wife he married Jannette Van Frank in June, 1915, and they had a
daughter Jannette. On October 20, 1919,
he was united with Lura Marcia Gilliam, a native of Missouri
but a resident of Los Angeles. She is descended from the French Family of
Guillaume, a member of which was knighted by William the Conqueror. The first to locate in American was John
Guillaume, who came in 1635, with two brothers, William and Devereaux, with the
royal commission from King Charles I to survey the colony of Virginia.
The Gilliams are noted in art circles in France.
Mr. Kanst
was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, in which he was a member of the art
and education committee; the Merchants and Manufacturers Association, a life
member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club; the Hollywood Athletic Club; a charter
member of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the City Club, and the Gamut Club;
while fraternally he was affiliated with the Maccabees. His death, which occurred September 10, 1933,
when he had reached the age of seventy years, was sincerely mourned in art
circles as well as among his many friends in other walks of life. The widow and daughter Jannette make their
home at 6182 Mulholland highway.
Transcribed
By: Michele Y. Larsen on July 22, 2012.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 217-218,
Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Michele
Y. Larsen.
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