Page 291 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Joseph A. Kuhn

1882-1883

HON. JOSEPH A. KUHN, a resident of Port Townsend and a
representative in the development of that city, was born near
Gettsburg, Adams county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1841, and
was the fourth in a family of six sons born to Colonel Joseph J.
and Jane (McCabe) Kuhn, natives of the same State.

Joseph A. was reared upon the farm, and attended the public
schools until his eighteenth year. He was then sent to Calvert
College, Maryland, and remained until 1859, when he determined
to strike out for self-support. In June, 1860, he arrived at Omaha,
Nebraska, which city was his headquarters for the following six
years, he being engaged in the arduous and adventurous business of freighting to various points in
the Rocky mountains, -- Denver, Salt Lake, Fort Laramie and Virginia City. In 1866, with a mule
train, he crossed to Stockton, California; thence by steamer to Portland, Oregon; and then across
to Olympia and down the sound to Port Townsend, for the purpose of shipping before the mast.
The vessel not being ready, Mr. Kuhn opened a small photographic gallery, and at the same time
began reading law in the office of Judson & McFadden. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and
engaged in practice in the offices of his preceptors.
In 1872 Mr. McFadden was elected to Congress, and the firm then became Judson & Kuhn, which
was continued until 1876; then changed to Kuhn & Burke, with Judge Thomas Burke, of Seattle,
as copartner; and in 1880 the firm dissolved, and Mr. Kuhn continued alone up to 1890; then retired
from active practice.

He has also been closely identified with the development of the city, and to him and Mr. Eisenbeis,
who were associated, is the city indebted for the enterprise of building 1,320 feet of sea-wall
between Taylor and Van Buren streets, thus adding materially to the appearance of the city, and
improving the water front. He has also erected some of the finest improvements of the city, in
residence and business property, -- the Chetzamoka block being his latest investment. He was one
of the incorporators of the Commercial Bank in 1890, and served two years as president. He was
one of the organizers of the Merchants' Bank, and is a stockholder and director of the First National
Bank. He was active in organizing the Port Townsend Southern Railroad Company, and served as
president to the time of the sale of the road in 1890. He aided in organizing, and is president of the
Point Hudson Foundry, Port Townsend Construction & Street Railway Company, and vice-
president of the Port Townsend Gas & Fuel Company, besides owning valuable timber lands in
contiguous counties of the sound.

As a Democrat he has held a high rank in his party. In 1872 he was elected to the Legislature of
Washington, and by re-election has filled seven terms, serving in both houses. He served twelve