Edward C. Gamm Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1139-1140 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EDWARD C. GAMM, the leading lumber dealer of Sisseton, was born in 
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on August 24, 1844, being one of the five 
children of Christopher Gamm, a miller by trade, who came to America in 
1865, and departed this life four years later in the state of 
Connecticut. E. C. was reared and educated in his native country and 
when a youth learned cabinetmaking, which trade he followed in Germany 
until 1865, when he came to the United States and secured employment in 
an organ and piano factory in the city of New York. Subsequently he 
engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash and other building material at 
that place, but later, in 1875, went to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he 
carried on the same line of business for some time in connection with 
the general lumber trade. In 1885 Mr. Gamm went to St. Paul as agent for 
the St. Croix Lumber Company, and continued to manage the firm's large 
interests in that city during the ensuing several years, resigning his 
position as manager in 1896. In the latter year he came to Sisseton, 
South Dakota, and started the lumber yard of which he is now general 
manager, the meanwhile building up an extensive business in lumber and 
all kinds of building material, such as doors, sash, lath, etc., his 
establishment being one of the largest of the kind in this part of the 
state. Since coming west Mr. Gamm has manifested a decided interest in 
the affairs of Sisseton and Roberts county, being public spirited in all 
the term implies and ever ready and willing to lend his influence and 
support to enterprises and measures for the general welfare of the 
community. He served six years as alderman and could have had almost any 
local office within the gift of the people had he not positively refused 
to accept such evidence of public confidence. 

	Mr. Gamm holds membership with theKnights of Pythias, Improved 
Order of Red Men, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Sons of 
Hermann, and in politics votes the Republican ticket. He has been twice 
married, the first time, in May, 1869, to Miss Amelia Huhnke, of 
Germany, who died in 1889 at the age of forty-eight years, leaving three 
children: Charles, Emma and Edward. Mr. Gamm, on October 23, 1890, 
contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Louisa Hohlmann, a native of 
St. Paul, but of German parentage, the union being blessed with two 
children, a son, William H., and a daughter by the name of Irene. As 
stated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Gamm is classed with the most 
energetic and progressive citizens of Roberts county and in every walk 
of life he is respected as a courteous, kind-hearted gentleman of 
sterling integrity and genuine moral worth. He has been quite successful 
in business, but has other than this to recommend him to the favorable 
consideration of the community, being interested in everything 
pertaining to the welfare of his fellow men, a liberal donor to all 
public and private benevolences, and a supporter of agencies that make 
for the advancement of his city, county and state: Few stand as high in 
general esteem and no man in Sisseton enjoys greater popularity or is 
more worthy of the success he has achieved.