Earnest Bentler (Ernest Beutler, St. Augusta) and – Kahn (Kuhn), through Aug. Rines, have purchased the NW1/4 of Sec. 20, two miles north of the village and paid spot cash for the same. There is a fine brick clay bed on the land and Messrs. Bentler & Kahn propose to put in a large brick yard in the spring. This brick industry, when fully developed, promises to be of great importance to Princeton. If the railroad company does the fair thing in the matter of rates 20,000,000 brick will be manufactured at the Princeton yards next season, as there will be two if not three new yards started and Mr. Woodcock intends to double or treble the producing capacity of his yard. If the railroad company are not blind to their own interests they will encourage the development of the brick-manufacturing industry at Princeton. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, November 24, 1892, Volume XVI, Number 49, Page 4)
For Kuhn Bros., the new firm, this season has been one of experiments, but they are confident now that they have mastered the difficulties which confronted them and are ready to do a big business next year. This season they made only 600,000, and these were all sold before the last kiln was burned. This firm has been to a great expense as all their machinery was put in new but they are perfectly satisfied with the results of the year. They are handicapped in making shipments as they are obliged to haul their brick to Woodcock’s spur to load, but they hope to get a spur of their own next year. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, September 1, 1898, Volume XXII, Number 38, Page 1)
Princeton. Brick Manufacturing. – Kuhn Bros. First Inspection 1899. Adults – Male - 20. Total No. Employed - 20. No. Hours Labor Each Day - 10. Average No. Weeks Employed in Year – 20. Second Inspection 1900. Adults – Male - 18. Total No. Employed - 18. No. Hours Labor Each Day - 10. Average No. Weeks Employed in Year – 26. (Seventh Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of Minnesota, 1899-1900, Pioneer Press Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1900, Page 117)
Kuhn Bros.’ brick yard at Brickton was obliged to shut down a few days ago owing to a break in one of the most important parts of the machinery. They expect to start up again as soon as the necessary repairs can be made. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, July 24, 1902, Volume XXVI, Number 32, Page 5)
The brick yard plants at Brickton are all now in full blast, having started up last week. Kuhn Bros. started up on Wednesday and the other yards followed suit Thursday. They have all started in to make a record breaker run for the season and Brickton should turn out a lot of cream brick this year if the weather is good. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, May 14, 1903, Volume XXVII, Number 22, Page 5)
Woodcock & Oakes are burning the largest kiln on record here just now. Kuhn Bros.’ also have one afire. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, September 10, 1903, Volume XXVII, Number 39, Page 8)
Page 298. Princeton. Brick and Tile – 1903. Kuhn Bros. Total Number Wage Earners - 21. Adult Males - 20. Males Under 16 Years – 1. Number of Hours Each Day - 10. Number of Hours Each Week - 60. Average Number Weeks Operated During 1902 - 18. Number Employed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. – 4. Number Persons Regularly Employed Sunday – 4. Established in Year – Illegible.
Page 299. 1904. Total Number Wage Earners - 20. Adult Males (Excluding Office Force) - 20. Number of Hours Each Day – 10. Number of Hours Each Week – 60. Average Number Weeks Operated Last Year - 14. Number Employed between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. – 2. Number Persons Regularly Employed on Sunday – 2. Changes in Name of Firm or New Inspections – None. (Ninth Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of Minnesota, 1903-1904, Volume 2, Great Western Printing Company, 1904)
Kuhn Bros. are the only one that are making brick as yet. Cream Brick company will start up in a few days. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, May 11, 1905, Volume XXIX, Number 22, Page 8)
Kuhn Bros. have purchased from J. C. Herdliska a six-horse-power air-cooling gasoline engine and are using the same to pump the water from their clay pits at Brickton. The work of the engine is declared to be perfectly satisfactory. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, May 10, 1906, Volume XXX, Number 22, Page 5)
Kuhn Bros. have rented their brickyard at Brickton to Rufus P. Morton and moved to St. Cloud for the winter. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, November 29, 1906, Volume XXX, Number 51, Page 5)
Fred Kuhn of St. Cloud was here last week to visit his brothers, Henry and Joseph, and to look over the half interest he bought in the Joseph Kuhn brickyard some time ago. The name of the firm will hereafter be Kuhn Bros., and will be managed by Joseph Kuhn, who is now at the yards buying wood for the highest cash market price. Fred left for St. Cloud well satisfied with Princeton, and will move here with his family in the spring to make his home. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, December 10, 1910, Volume XXIV, Number 49, Page 1)
Joseph Kuhn will again take charge of his brick yard at Brickton on May 1 and operate the plant. For the past four years Rufus P. Morton has rented Mr. Kuhn’s yard. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, April 13, 1911, Volume XXXV, Number 16, Page 5)
Joseph Kuhn has resumed operating his yard at Brickton, Minn., this season. The plant has been operated under a lease for the past four years by Rufus P. Morton. (Brick and Clay Record, Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, June 1, 1911, Volume XXXVIII, Number 11, Page 547)
Kuhn Bros. shipped a car of brick to Pelican Rapids on Saturday and now have nearly all their brick sold. Farnham & Kuhn finished burning a 15-arch kiln of brick on Thursday evening, the Eaton yard has two 15-arch kilns completed ready to burn, and the Paine yard has started to ship out the new product. The combined yards have made over four million brick so far this season. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, July 10, 1913, Volume XXXVII, Number 29, Page 6)
Joe Kuhn has sold his brickyard to his brother, Fred, and expects to move to St. Cloud to reside. "As I am no longer actively engaged in business," says Joe, "I prefer to live where an American citizen is given the liberty to which he is entitled – where, if he feels like drinking a glass of beer, he can do so openly like a gentleman." (The Princeton Union, Thursday, April 16, 1914, Volume XXXVIII, Number 17, Page 5)
Henry Kuln started burning a 24-arch kiln this week. (The Princeton Union, Thursday, November 12, 1914, Volume XXXVIII, Number 47, Page 8)