H. W. Hahn Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1504-1505 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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	A photo of H. W. Hahn faces page 1504.


	H. W. HAHN, president of the Farmers' Bank, Humboldt, and one 
of the leading merchants of the same place, was born in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, on the 24th day of May, 1870. His parents, Ferdinand and 
Emelia (Hennig) Hahn, moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when he was 
eight years old and it was in the public schools of that city that he 
received his early educational training. The discipline thus acquired 
was afterward supplemented by a course in the Western Normal School, at 
Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was graduated in 1894, but prior to that 
date he taught in South Dakota, also followed the same profession for 
some time thereafter, devoting altogether about eight years to 
educational work. In 1897 Mr. Hahn located at Humboldt, where he became 
associated with Harry Duncan in the mercantile business, forming the 
firm of Hahn & Duncan, which still exists as originally organized. 
During the ensuing five years the subject devoted his attention 
exclusively to the general goods business, but in 1903 became one of the 
founders of the Farmers' Bank of Humboldt, of which institution he has 
been president ever since its organization and the success of which is 
largely due to his able and effective management. Associated with Mr. 
Hahn in the banking business are Harry Duncan, M. Owens, I. D. Maloney 
and F. B. Lockwood. four thoroughly reliable and far-seeing business men 
whose high standing in the community is recognized by all and whose 
ability to carry on successfully this important financial enterprise 
does not admit of a doubt. Although but recently established the bank 
has made commendable progress and the volume of business which it now 
commands indicates its permanence and popularity among the leading 
institutions of the kind in the state. 

	The mercantile establishment with which Mr. Hahn is identified is 
not only the largest and most successful general store in Humboldt, but 
one of the most extensively patronized in Minnehaha county. Every 
article of merchandise for which there is any demand can be found in the 
large and carefully selected stock; the business from a small stock has 
grown to enormous proportions and few establishments in the same length 
of time have come so rapidly and prominently to the front as the annual 
sales, amounting to over fifty thousand dollars, abundantly testify. Mr. 
Hahn is essentially a self-made man and every dollar in his business 
enterprises and in the large private .fortune in his possession has been 
honestly earned through his own efforts. Working his way upward by 
industry and honorable methods, he has become thoroughly familiar with 
every detail of the mercantile business, and his sound judgment and 
discriminating knowledge render him especially eligible for the 
management of large enterprises, such as he today so successfully 
directs and controls. He is recognized as one of the able financiers and 
wide-awake men of affairs in the southeastern part of the state, and his 
influence in promoting the material welfare of the city of his residence 
and advancing the varied interests of the people has been as great if 
not greater than that of any other individual in the community. Upright 
and honorable in all of his dealings, he is as punctilious in the 
discharge of his duties now as he was when struggling against opposition 
in an almost menial capacity, and he attains to a marked degree not only 
the high regard of all with whom he has business relations, but with the 
general public as well. 

	Mr. Hahn is a Republican in politics, but the pressing claims of 
his business affairs prevent him from taking a very active part in 
political work. He has never held office nor aspired to leadership, his 
only public position being that of chairman of the Republican township 
committee, which he held for a brief period and in which his services 
were effective and greatly appreciated by the party. He was married, on 
October 21, 1902, to Miss Carrie M. Rehfeldt, of Williamsburg, Iowa, a 
most estimable and accomplished lady, who moves in the best social 
circles of Humboldt and is popular with all of her friends and 
associates.