Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Culhan, Robert ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 13, 2006, 5:38 pm Author: History of Grundy County, 1914 Culhan, Robert – Within the limits of Grundy County it would be difficult to discover a citizen who has been of more general worth to his community than is Robert Culhan, whose activities have served to materially aid the development of Erienna Township. Belonging to that self-made class of men of whom the Prairie State has such excellent reason to be proud, he has steadily forged his way to the front, and is today justly considered one of his locality’s most substantial men. Mr. Culhan, as his name would indicate is of Irish descent. He was born April 12, 1859, at Hillsboro, Highland County, O., and is a son of Michael and Jane (Harvey) Culhan, born in Ireland. They were married in their native Erin and soon emigrated to the United States, settling in Hillsboro, O., where Mr. Culhan died in about 1860. Robert Culhan was still an infant when his father died, and the greater part of his education was secured in the schools of hard work and experience. He remained with his mother until reaching the age of six years, when he went to live with a family named Hughes, and when but fourteen years of age began working among the farmers of Highland County. He so continued until reaching his seventeenth year, when he went to Decatur, Ill., in the vicinity of which city he worked for farmers until attaining his majority. At that time he turned his attention to railroading and went to Kankakee, Ill., where he secured employment with the Big Four Railroad, and for the next four years was engaged in construction work. Succeeding this experience, Mr. Culhan came to Seneca, Ill., and soon rented a tract of land in Erienna Township, and at the end of nine years had been so successful in his ventures that he was able to purchased 107 acres of unimproved land. On this he erected a small house and began operations on his own account, improved and tiled the land, erected new buildings, and made a valuable and productive farm. In 1905 he purchased the 210 acres of land adjoining the home place, this tract being partly improved at the time, and he has since improved it all and put it under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Culhan has always been engaged in raising grain, and also breeds Belgian horses, a fine grade of cattle and Poland-China hogs. He built and added to his house, and in 1908 built a hay and horse barn, 40x60 feet, 18 feet to the eaves. His operations have been carried on along strictly legitimate lines, and no citizen is more worthy of the esteem and confidence of his fellows. On February 5, 1884, Mr. Culhan was married to Miss Ellen Barry, who was born in Grundy County, Ill., February 28, 1860, daughter of Richard and Bridget (Barrett) Barry, natives of Ireland. To this union there have been born the following children: Cora Jane, born November 26, 1884; Edward Francis, born March 18, 1886, who died at the age of seven years; James, born September 26, 1887, who died in 1890; George William, born September 9, 1889; Richard, born July 26, 1892, who died in February, 1902; Robert John, born October 12, 1893; Michael Valerion, born August 28, 1897, who died aged three years and six months; and Leo Vincent, born February 28, 1899, who died when six and one- half years old. Mr. and Mrs. Culhan are consistent members of the Catholic Church at Seneca. He is independent in his political views, has served as a School Director for nine years, and since 1906 has been a School Trustee. His fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Columbus, both of Seneca. pages 796-797 Additional Comments: Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Publishers; 1914 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/culhan776nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.3 Kb