Transcribed by Mary Ann Kaylor
Page 1376:
KUHN, MICHAEL, who owns an excellent farm of 114 acres in Clear Lake Township, Sangamon County, has lived on his present farm since 1883, and has met with very fair success in carrying it on. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in March 1828, son of Charles and Louise (Fisher) Kuhn, natives of Germany, where they spent their entire lives. The parents resided on a farm and were useful and respected members of their community. Michael Kuhn attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and later worked on his father's farm. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and has followed them the greater part of his life.
In 1854 Michael Kuhn followed his desire for a new field of endeavor, and sailed from Bremen for New York. He came west to Chicago, thence to Springfield, where he lived twenty years, and for ten years was employed in the yard of the Miller Brick Company. He has made several improvements on his present farm, and has a very comfortable home. He has now retired from active life. His land is in a high state of cultivation and he has been an industrious, energetic farmer. He was established himself in the good-will and esteem of his community and has many warm personal friends. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church and ins interested in many worthy objects.
Mr. Kuhn was married in Germany, in 1853, to Minnie Lueck, also a native of that country, whose parents were early settlers of Springfield, where her father now resides, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. He spent his entire active life at his trade of tailor. Eight children were born to Mr. Kuhn and his wife, of whom seven survive: William a farmer living near Loami; Bertha married Jacob Rook, and they live on a farm near Springfield; Henry, a farmer of Clear Lake Township; Minnie married Henry Leder, a blacksmith by trade and they live in Omaha, Neb.; Fred, a member of the city police force of Springfield; Herman, a farmer living near Curran. There are twenty-five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.