Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographies

Jacob  Kuhn,  Jr.

          On May 13, 1810, there was born in the Province of Bavaria, Germany, George Michael Kuhn, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.  George's parents belonged to the farming class, but he received a good education and inherited the capacity for hard work and unabating energy.  On January 22, 1834, he was married to   Sophia Siapernagia, who was born in the same locality on May 13, 1811.  Four children were born to them, viz:   Conrad,  Andrew W.,  John  and  Jacob, the last named being born August 4, 1849.
          About this time the tide of emigration of German peasants to America was high, and after due deliberation Mr. Kuhn decided to take his family to try the much-talked-of realities of free America.  Accordingly the family bade farewell to the Fatherland, boarded a slow sailing vessel and made the tedious voyage from Germany to New Orleans.  From here they ascended by boat to Cincinnati, where they remained but a short time, coming on soon to Shelby county, where Mr. Kuhn bought some unimproved land in section 36, and set to work to establish his home in what was practically still a wilderness.  Life in the New World was not a disappointment.  Mr. Kuhn soon had matters under way.  The family became active workers in the Evangelical Protestant church, of Union township, and Mr. Kuhn proved one of the successful farmers of the county.  He died February 24, 1885.  His companion in life passed to her reward April 1, 1894.
          Jacob received a common school education and in 1878 was married to  Mary L. Kuhn, daughter of  George M. and Katherine (Houck) Kuhn.  She was born December 5, 1860, and has become the mother of the following children:  Michael Arno, born August 12, 1879, married  Mahala Huntington, and lives in Liberty township, Shelby county, Indiana;  Emma Katherine  was born January 26, 1881, and died November 1, 1883;  Sarah Matilda  was born on October 9, 1882, as was also her twin sister,  Maria Sophia.  Sarah Matilda departed this life February 1, 1884.  George Rheinholt  was born January 6, 1885;  Elizabeth May  born February 25, 1887;  Alice Laurie, born January 30, 1889;  Clarence Jacob, born March 1, 1894;  Idilla, born April 5, 1896;  Claude Henry, born July 12, 1898, and  Katie Ethel, born January 9, 1901.
          The members of the family belong to the German church, and are well known throughout the community.  Mr. Kuhn has developed his farm to a high degree of excellence, and is deeply interested in the general welfare of the neighborhood.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, Edward H. Chadwick 1909.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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