Penmanship

 I still have some questions about my Mother's side of the family.  I know that her Paternal Grandmother was a twin and was born in Germany in 1878.  Not sure what ship they came over on  but I do know the year...1884. The parents (Christina and Fritz Kuhn) came along with eight of their children according to an old obituary...but I believe that only six of the children were born in Germany and came along on the voyage and two children were born after their arrival in the United States. Children with their parents were ages 14,12,10,9, 6 and 6.  Hattie or Hadwig ( My Great Grandmother) was 6.

 First they settled in Kansas (Olathe) and then in Missouri before they came to Minnesota in 1896. 

My hunch is that they came with other relatives to the United States.

This is a postcard of a hotel in Onaga Kansas...is that where they lived for a time? 

The postcard is from a cousin by the name of Fred Berg.   Fred had beautiful penmanship...was he a teacher?  Fred Berg is a common name so no luck there...which side of the family was he related to???Christina or Fritz???  Perhaps someday I will unravel the mystery.

Far Side

Update from Frank who did some research! 

The Top Candidate: Fred Berg of Onaga

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Onaga, Pottawatomie County, Kansas, there is a record that matches the author’s clues almost perfectly:

• Name: Fred Berg

• Birth Date: May 1879

• Birthplace: Germany

• Immigration Year: 1883 (Aligns closely with the Kuhn family's 1884 arrival).

• Connection to "Penmanship": While later records show him as a caretaker or laborer, census records from that era often show young men with "beautiful penmanship" working as clerks or in postal service before settling into other trades.

The Kuhn Family Link

The author mentions her Great-Grandmother Hattie (Hadwig) Kuhn was born in 1878 in Germany. This Fred Berg was born in 1879, also in Germany.

• The Hunch: Given their nearly identical ages and birth country, Fred was likely a first cousin.

• The "Fred Berg is a common name" Problem: The author is right—there were many Fred Bergs. However, this specific Fred lived in Mill Creek Township (Onaga), exactly where the Kuhn family postcard originated.

The "Hotel in Onaga" Clue

The author asks if the Kuhns lived at the hotel in the postcard. Historical records for Onaga show:

• The Landon House (Landon Hotel): Built in 1877, this was the first hotel in Onaga and a major hub for travelers and new settlers.

• The Connection: If Fred Berg worked or lived near the Landon House, he would have had easy access to the postcards he sent to the author's family. In 1900, many young single men in Onaga lived in boarding houses or hotels while establishing themselves.