Page 282 - 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 years on
the School Board of Port Townsend; ten years Justice of the Peace; four years Probate Judge; two terms

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