CHRISTIAN KUHLMANN, one of the substantial farmers and highly respected citizens of Monroe precinct, Cass County, Illinois, was born in the kingdom of Eilstad, Germany, in April, 1827. His parents were natives of Hanover, and passed their lives there. When Christian was three years old his father died, leaving a wife and three children.

Mr. Kuhlmann attended school until he was fourteen, when he began to earn his own living, working by the year on a farm. The first year he received only $3 and his board. In 1851 he came to America. Setting sail from Bremen in April in the sailing vessel Capanica, he landed at New York after a voyage of forty-two days. He there found employment in a sugar refinery at $26 per month, and thus earned the money to pay his way to the West. In 1852 he came to Illinois, coming via the Hudson river to Albany, Erie canal to Buffalo, the lakes to Cleveland, canal to Portsmouth, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis. He found employment on a farm in St. Louis county, and remained there till 1854. That year he came to Cass county and was employed at farm work by the month. He was very industrious, saved his earnings, and in the course of time rented land and began farming on his own account. In 1864 he made his first purchase of land, 160 acres, located on section 26, township 18, range 11. There was a log cabin on the place, into which the family moved, and he at once began to make further improvements on the land. Prosperity attended his well-directed efforts, and as the years rolled by he added to his original purchase and erected suitable farm buildings. His home farm now contains 375 acres, and he also owns another farm, 437 acres, in the same township. Besides these Mrs. Kuhlmann has a farm of 120 acres. Mr. Kuhlmann is indeed a self made man. His life and achievements serve well to illustrate what a poor young man with ambition, good judgment and plenty of energy can accomplish in this free land of ours.

In 1855 Mr. Kuhlmann was married in Cass county, to Mary Middlebusher, also a native of Hanover. She came to America with her parents. Their union has resulted in the birth of two sons, George H. and John H. The younger resides with his parents. George H. is engaged in farming on his own account. He married Miss Kate A. Heminghaus, a native of Morgan County, Illinois, daughter of German parents. They have three children: Christian, Adelia and Lydia.

The Kuhlmann family are members of the Lutheran Church at Beardstown.