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There is some consideration being given that Jacob had a brother, Reverend John KUHN who also lived in Westmoreland County, PA. Other researchers have shared data with me that show some KUHN families leaving PA and moving to Schuyler County Illinois. It is believed that Reverend John KUHN died in the home of his son Phillip KUHN while he was living in Schuyler County. No proof has yet been found that link these two KUHN families even though they originate from the same area and moved to similar neighborhoods.
The known children of Jacob KUHN were:
Second Generation
[1]
William Henry KUHN was born on 20 Dec 1829 probably in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Oral tradition has told us that William Henry Kuhn was a coal miner who moved to California in 1849 to take part in the gold rush and that he walked behind a 2 wheeled cart pulled by oxen. He came back to Illinois to homestead government land in Buenabista Township outside of Rushville IL. William Henry Kuhn's house still stands and has been restored. Skyrush Park in Rushville IL stands on land once owned by William Henry Kuhn.
The following appears in the History of Schuyler County 1908; page 955:
"On December 24, 1906, Mr Vancil (Benjamin F. Vancil) bought 187 acres of land in section 18,Bainbridge Township, which was known as the William Kuhn farm,.....
The 1850 Census of Schuyler County, IL, Woodstock Twp; shows William Kuhn living in the household of Alexander LAWLER in Woodstock Township. William is 22 at the time and must have been a hired hand for the Lawlers. Also living in the Lawler household was 15 year old Hannah E. LAWLER who would later become Mrs William Kuhn. So now we know how they met and where they fell in love.
They were married on March 1, 1855 in Schuyler County and in 1856 they moved to their farm. Hannah E. LAWLER was the daughter of of Alexander LAWLER and Margaret Buckner White LAWLER. Hannah was born on 14 Jan 1835 in Zanesville, Muskingum County, OH and had a twin brother Washington LAWLER. The author has not yet learned the origin of her middle name, only the initial.
[For more on the LAWLER family read the Descendants of James LAWLER of Faquier County Virginia]
In the 1860 Census we find William age 26 and Hannah age 24 have taken in a young boy by the name of Joseph BUTLER. Joseph was born October 23, 1854 and was the son of Nellson and Sarah Atkinson BUTLER. Sarah died shortly thereafter and both Joseph and his older brother Samuel A. BUTLER were fostered out. Samuel went to the household of Jonas B. Lung who later moved to Adams County, IL. Joseph was still living with the KUHN's in 1870 at the age of 16. Joseph Butler was most likely fostered out to William and Hannah very shortly after they were married.
On August 5, 1870, Charles Augusta KUHN was born, the first son of William and Hannah. They had been married for 15 years and had only Joseph Butler living with them all that time. One wonders the joy at having a son after such a long time. Four or Five years later son Hubbard KUHN was born. Nelson Butler, aged 74, who is most likely Joseph's birth father, is living with James Lawler (also age 74) in Bainbridge Township
The 1880 Schuyler County Census of Bainbridge Township shows William Kuhn age 50 a farmer living with Hannah and their children, Charles age 9 and Hubbard age 5. Also living with them is William's father Jacob aged 80. William is recorded as a farmer and a stock raiser. Although he was living in Bainbridge Township his post office address was in Rushville. The 1892 Atlas of Schuyler County shows William owning 320 acres in the East 1/2 of Section 18 and 120 acres in the West 3/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 7.
By now Joseph Butler has moved out of the KUHN household and is living as a laborer in the household of Jeremiah Jackson in Bainbridge Township.
Obituary: Hannah E. Lawler - Rushville Times February 13, 1896 "Hannah E. Kuhn- Hannah E. Lawler was born in Muskingum County Ohio, January 14, 1835 and died Feb4, 1896, aged 61 years and 21 days. She came to Illinois with her parents Mr and Mrs. Alexander Lawler, when she was 8 years old. she married to her now bereaved husband, William Kuhn, in march 1855. One year later they located on the farm where she lived until her death. She leaves 3 brothers, 3 sisters, a husband, and two sons to mourn her loss. She never made a profession of religion until the day before she died, but often sought the Lord. On Sunday previous to her death she was much concerned about her soul and wanted attendants to talk to her about salvation, and on MOnday, when asker about her future prospects she replied, 'the Lord has saved my soul'. Funeral services were held at the home on Thursday, conducted by Reverend Sanderson of Ipava. 'Our home is now so lonely, Where once was all so bright, with bleeding hearts we linger, around the fireside at night" - a son"
William died on the 7th of July in 1897 at 11 pm after a "protracted illness". William was age 67 at his death. The services were held at their residence and conducted by Reverend Sanderson and he is buried in the Rushville Cemetery.
The Children of William Henry Kuhn and Hannah E. Lawler were:
[2]
Konrad KUHN was a another son of Jacob that we learned about in the obituary of William Henry KUHN. It was noted that Konrad was living in Butler County Kansas.
Third Generation
[11]
Charles Augusta KUHN was born on August 5, 1870 in Bainbridge Township. In 1880 while Charles Augusta was 9 years old and his brother Hubbard was 5, his grandfather Jacob KUHN moved in with them on their farm in Bainbridge Township.
Oral tradition tells an interesting story about Charles Augusta's conversion to Christianity. It seems that while he was going to college, he and a friend went to a tent revival of a black lady preacher with the intent of causing mischief by throwing eggs and rotten fruit at her. However, during this encounter he was saved and later he became a minister in the Free Methodist or Nazarene Church.
In 1894, we know that Charles KUHN was serving as constable based on the following article in the Schuyler Citizen Thursday Jan 4, 1894.
"Lee Grist choked Vernon Dace aged 14 years, son of Michael Dace. Mr. Grist was arrested on Saturday morning by constable Charles KUHN and brought before Squire Hodge who assessed Grist $3 and cost - $7.55 in all."
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Charles Augusta KUHN married Eunice Elizabeth O'Neal on Nov 7, 1894. Charles and Eunice were 24 years old at the time. |
| Eunice Elizabeth O'NEAL was born on October 5, 1870 in Woodstock Township of Schuyler County Illinois. Her parents were Henry Clay O'NEAL and Martha ECKROY O'NEAL. Read the O'NEAL family history to learn about this line of our family. Eunice was born in the O'Neal homestead in a log cabin. She later became a school teacher in Erwin Illinois at Lynn School in Woodstock Township. At Hazel Dell school in the country she met Charles Augusta KUHN. |
A newspaper article describing the event states:"Charles Augusta Kuhn of Bainbridge married Eunice Elizabeth O'Neal of Woodstock Twp. at the bride's parents (Henry Clay O'Neal) on the 7th of November 1894. Witnesses were Thamer Myers and Magie O'Neal (sister). Minister of the Gospel was R. W. Sanderson. The list of well wishers included TH Myers.. Margret Boice.. Hannah Kuhn (mother)... Martha [Eckroy]O'Neal (mother-in-law)... H.C. O'Neal(father-in-law)... Grace Howell.. Hubbard Kuhn(brother)... George Illman(husband to Ina Bell O'Neal)... Will W. O'Neal(brother-in-law age 19)...Arioe Foster... Clyde O'Neal(brother-in-law age 11)... R.W. Sanderson (minister)...Emma C. Sanderson... Maggie L. O'Neal... Eva Keith... Birch O'Neal... D.W. Sala... Martha Halfield... Laura Dillan... James W. Frisby... Sadie Frisby... Offie E. Eale... Lilie First... Ina B. (O'Neal) Illman... Addie Long."
In 1895 their first son William KUHN was born followed by son Herman KUHN in 1896. That same year Charles mother Hannah died. During the following year, 1897, Charles father died and his Charles Dwight KUHN was born in 1898. Son Robert Walter KUHN was born in 1900 and a child was stillborn in 1901. Next to Eunice's grave is a small headstone that simply says "infant". Oral tradition tells us that this child was carried for 12 months and was quite large when delivered.
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Oral tradition tells us that Charles Augusta KUHN became a preacher in 1910 and was a farmer who also had a thriving thrashing machine business as well as being the elected constable on occasion. A certificate of election of 1911 states:
"I, Isaac Lewis, clerk to the county of Schuyler County do certify that Charles KUHN was duly elected constable in and for the town of Frederick at an election in the several towns of Schuyler County of the 4th day of April AD 1911, as appears from the returns of said election now in my office."
We have also located records where Charles Augusta KUHN leased some property from John Wieher and George Mooberry on March 7, 1911. This was in Woodstock Township the NE 1/4 of Section 9 also part that lies between NE1/4 aned the Illinois River also south half of section 9 and bounded on the south side by the Illinois River; all being in the Township One North Range One East of the 4th principal meridian..from Mar 1st 1911 to Mar 1st 1912..
"To deliver 2/5ths of corn grown on said premises in cribs on farm except on such ground as is cleared by party of the second part...party of the 2nd part is to have all crops grown on all ground cleared by him...party of the 2nd part is to deliver 1/3 of all pecans gather without expense to party of the 1st part...party of the 2nd part to deliver 1/3 of all fish as he shall be able to catch in said waters upon said farm without expense to party of the 1st part...party of the 2nd part is to use due diligence to prevent parties from trespassing upon said farm and gathering pecans or seining said lake in case a suit for trespass is brought by party of the 1st part..."
Eunice Elizabeth O'Neal KUHN met a very tragic death on the 19th of October in 1915, in Frederick Illinois.
Killed by Train in Frederick
Rushville Times Oct 21, 1915
Eunice E. Kuhn, wife of Charles Kuhn, was instantly killed on Tuesday at 54:15pm when she was struck by a freight train at a crossing in the village of Frederick. Mers Kuhn had been in town and started to return home. When she reached the railroad crossing she noticed a freight train approaching from the south. she stopped at the edge of the track, standing facing the train. There was also a train approaching from the north on the very track on which she was standing. She failed to hear the whistle and when the engine struck her she was hurled a distance of 30 feet and death was instantaneous. The only injury found was a two inch incision at the base of the skull. Coroner I.M.Sparks went to Frederick Wednesday morning and the following jury was impaneled: Foreman E.L.Cain; F.H. Hinderer; Robert Boyd; H.C.Ren; Frank Pelton; and C.C. Cummings. After hearing the testimony of a number of witnesses the following verdict was rendered: that Eunice E. Kuhn came to her death by being struck by engine 6111 pulling south-bound train No. 80 at main railroad crossing in Frederick Illinois on October 19, 1915. The train crew were exonerated from blame. Mrs Kuhn was the daughter of Mr and Mrs henry Clay O'Neal of Woodstock Township, and was born October 5th 1879, her being 45 years and 14 days. Besides her husband she leaves a family of grown children to mourn her sad and tragic death. Funeral Services will be held Friday morning t 10 o'clock from the Christian Church of Frederick. Interment in the Rushville Cemetery. It should be noted that her son Robert was on a store porch nearby and saw the unfortunate incident. He ran to her but not in time to do anything. He was 15 years old at the time.
The children of Charles Augusta KUHN and Eunice Elizabeth O'NEAL KUHN are members of the fourth generation:
Charles Augusta KUHN married Sylvia Suddeth Hamilton in 1917. When Charles married Sylvia, he and his 4 sons moved into her house with her children from her marriage to John Wesley HAMILTON. Sylvia was born on 31 January 1882 in Jasper Township in the County of Polk Iowa. Sylvia had 4 sons and 4 daughter from her previous marriage. The children attended school together and Charles's two sons (Robert and Herman) were already courting her two oldest daughters and later married. The oldest son, William KUHN married Alice Dora HINDERER in January of 1917.
Their fist son by this new union was born on 20 August 1918 in Frederick
of Schuyler County Illinois, Charles Hebert KUHN. So now there were
two Charles KUHN's who became half brothers ! This new family left Illinois
in 1919 and moved to Black Oak Arkansas where Charles became a preacher and
a saw mill operator. He purchased timber rights and set up sawmills.
At the time there was much virgin timber there. Genealogy researcher Frances
Berk shared the following quote of Charles Augusta: "My occupation was
sawmilling, but my business was preaching". A second son was born in
Black Oak Arkansas on 2 February 1923 and was given the name Ernest Given
KUHN.
The children of Charles Augusta KUHN and Sylvia HAMILTON were:
[12] J. H. Hubbard "Hub" KUHN married Dora Williams and they moved to Jewell Kansas. Dora's sister married Charles Montgomery Icenogle, another familiar name to the KUHN family tree. In fact, Charles and Sarah Williams Icenogle also lived on a farm in Jewel Kansas. Hubbard died on 5 Apr 1944 in Beloit, KS. He and Dora had no children.
Fourth Generation
111. William Henry KUHN was born on 5 Nov 1895 in Bainbridge Twp, Schuyler, IL. He continued to live with his parents in Bainbridge Township.
On January 25, 1917 he married Alice Cora HINDERER in Virginia Illinois of Cass County. Alice was the daughter of William Hinderer and Etta Brown and was born in 1894. The 1920 Census lists their address as 1210 4th St, Beardstown IL.
"William's obituary reads" Oct 2, 1969; William H. KUHN, 73, of Beardstown dies Sunday night, Sept 21. Funeral Services were held on Thursday at 1:30 pm by Rev JB Nicholson of Pleasant Plains officiating and Rev Robert Schall of the Assembly of God Church of Beardstown assisting. burial was in the Rushville Cemetery.... Mr. Kuhn was a retired Burlington engineer, having retired on Sept 10, 1962. He was a member of B of L and F and E...."
The children of William and Alice KUHN were:
112. Herman Clyde KUHN was born on January 19, 1897 in Schuyler County Illinois. He married Olive Annette HAMILTON on 13 April 1921. Olive was the daughter of Mr. John Wesley Hamilton and Sylvia (Suddeth) Hamilton, his stepmother. Olive was born on 24 Apr 1903 . She died on Sep 24, 1931 in Coquille, Oregon at the age of 28 years and 4 months. She died of Pulmonary T.B. and was cremated. Herman married again after his first wife died but his second wife's name is unknown at this time.
The children of Herman and Olive KUHN were:
113. Charles Dwight Kuhn
Charles Dwight Kuhn was born on 5 Aug 1898 in Bainbridge Township in Schuyler County Illinois. Oral tradition tells us that Charles Dwight found one of the largest freshwater pearls ever found in the Illinois River. His father, Charles Augusta KUHN sold it for $300. The man Charles sold it to later resold it for $1800 within 4 hours. Charles grew up on his father's 900 acre farm just outside of Frederick Illinois. Charles related to his son Glen KUHN that Charles Augusta was a part time preacher and was very extravagant with religion, only working when money was needed.
Charles Dwight Kuhn married Viola Elizabeth ADKINSON, in Cass County Illinois on December 31, 1917. The minister was Max B. Miles and he married them in Virginia Illinois. Viola, was the daughter of Jesse ADKINSON and Sarah Elizabeth ICENOGLE, and was born on 7 Mar 1897.
Report of Frederick School for month closing Dec 6, 1903 "Primary Department - Number enrolled 61, ave daily attendance 53. Present every day:...Hazelle and Alice Hinderer (later to become the wife of William Kuhn); Ada Suddeth; Viola Adkinson.(age 6); Ernest Icenogle.... Grace Bader, teacher"
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After they were first married they lived in Frederick Illinois where they moved into the house once owned by Sylvia Hamilton, second wife to Charles Dwight's father. Viola had been raised by a neighbor to the Hamilton's when her father could not take care of her. Charles and Viola had their first five children in Frederick The 1920 Census of Schuyler County, Frederick Township shows Dwight Kuhn age 21 living with Viola age 22 and two children Helen age 2 and Orval age 11 months. Dwight's occupation is listed as a machinist for a Steam Railroad. They later moved to Canton where June, Helen, Orval and Glen attended John Dean school. Later they again moved back to Frederick. Dwight started working at International Harvester and lived in Mrs. Green's boarding house on the 100 block of 2nd Avenue and came home to Frederick on weekends. The flood in Frederick came around 1942 and with that Viola said "that was enough". The levee had broken and the family went and lived with June and Llyod Kinnamon in Rushville. When the waters receeded they went back to their house in Frederick and decided to move back to Canton in about 1943.
Charles Dwight was 74 years of age at this death when he died of heart disease. He had been a grinder at the International Harvester Company in Canton Illinois. He had resided at 159 Van Buren Court in Canton. He died June 9, 1973 at 7:15 pm. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Canton Illinois on June 12, 1973.
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The children of Charels Dwight and Viola are members of the fifth generation:
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114.Robert Walter KUHN was born on the 13th of August in 1900 in Rushville, Illinois. He moved with his father Charles Augusta KUHN to Arkansas. He lived in Caraway Arkansas from 1900 until 1940 when he moved to Humphrey where he lived 19 years until his death.. Robert Walter was a rice farmer and had worked as a saw miller probably with his father.
He married Hazel Corrine Hamilton. Hazel was the daughter of Mr. John Wesely Hamilton and Sylvia (Suddeth) Hamilton, born on 7 Aug 1904. Hazel Corrine Hamilton married her step brother . He was a member of the Humphrey Baptist Church
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Their children were:
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