Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

ILLIAM H. KUHN, of Garner Township, has been a resident here since April 18, 1857, and is well and favorably known. He was born at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in Frederick County, Maryland, October 20, 1832, the son of Joseph and Sarah (Ovelman) Kuhn, the former a native of Maryland, whose father came from Germany, and the latter also a native of Maryland. In their family were six sons and one daughter. The father died in 1854 at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother died in 1873 at the advanced age of seventy-one years, and was buried at Mechanicstown, Maryland.

William H. was reared in his native county and learned the trade of wheelwright. In 1853 he came to Leaven worth, Kansas, where he learned the carpenter's trade. Coming East in 1854 he continued at his trade until 1857, when he returned West, this time coming by way of steamboat from Wheeling down the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi and Missouri to Council Bluffs, being a month and three days on the way. Here he followed his trade, in company with J. P. Williams, an old citizen, during the summer and winter. He then engaged in building a large mill for William Garneron Mosquito Creek. When this was completed, September 20, 1858, he started for Pike's Peak and was one of the first to cross the plains to that point, arriving after a forty days' journey. There he engaged in mining, in company with Mr. Gregory, who first discovered valuable minerals at Black Hawk and Central City Colorado. He remained in the Territories, mining, etc. until the spring of 18509, when he returned to Council Bluffs, working at his old trade of millwright until the spring of 1864. He then again crossed the plains with an ox team to Virginia City, in Montana, starting on the 20th of May and arriving there October 1, by way of Yellowstone and Big Horn. The next year he returned to Council Bluffs, and built a large woolen mill for William Garner on Mosquito Creek. In 1866, when this work was finished, he took charge of the mill for three years, operating it and manufacturing woolen goods. In the fall of 1868 he built his present residence on his farm, which consists of 440 acres, one of the best improved farms in the township. The residence, a two story frame, cost $2,000. There is also on the premises an orchard of twenty acres, with a great variety of fruit. This farm is seven miles northeast of Council Bluffs and Mr. Kuhn has eighty acres be sides in Hazel Dell Township.

In his political sympathies he is a Democrat. He has been Township Assessor for five years, Township Trustee and a member of the School Board. He was married November 13, 1860, to Julia H. Garner, daughter of William Garner, a prominent citizen of the township. She was born in Adams County, Illinois, but received her education in this county. In their family are the following children: Cyrus Frank; Sarah G., a successful teacher; Brick Pomeroy, attending school at the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor; and William H., Jr., at home. Margaret E., a daughter, died in her fourteenth year.

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