Jacob L. Kehm Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1583-1584 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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	JACOB L. KEHM, one of the representative business men of 
Harrisburg, Lincoln county, is a native of the state of Illinois and a 
scion of one of its pioneer families, having been born in Shannon, 
Carroll county, on the 13th of January, 1864, a son of Jacob and 
Katherine Kehm, both of whom are still living. The father was engaged in 
the lumber business in that place until 1892 and is at present a 
resident of Canton, South Dakota. The subject completed the curriculum 
of the public schools in his native town, having been graduated in the 
high school as a member of the class of 1880, after which he took a 
course in the commercial department of the Northwestern University, at 
Naperville, Illinois, being graduated in 1882. After leaving school Mr. 
Kehm initiated his practical business career by entering the employ of 
the lumbering firm of Kelly, Weeks & Company, at Racine, Wisconsin, with 
whom he remained about one and one-half years. In 1885 he went to 
Hastings, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the lumbering trade for 
several years. In 1892 he came to Harrisburg, south Dakota, where he 
entered into partnership with L. P. Meinger in the lumber and hardware 
business, under the title of Meinger & Kehm, the firm being the first 
merchants in the town, and here they have ever since continued 
operations in these lines, having built up a prosperous and extensive 
business and having gained unqualified confidence and esteem in the 
community. 

	In politics Mr. Kehm has ever been an uncompromising advocate of 
the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has rendered 
most effective service. He has manifested no political ambition in a 
personal way, but in November, 1902, a distinctive mark of the hold 
which he has upon popular regard and confidence in Lincoln county was 
given when he was elected a representative in the state legislature, 
receiving a gratifying majority. Fraternally he is identified with 
Hastings Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, in Hastings, Nebraska. 

	On the 17th of October, 1888, in his native town of Shannon, 
Illinois, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Kehm to Miss Lillie 
McDowell, who was born in Freeport, that state, a daughter of E. R. 
McDowell, a prominent citizen of that city. Of this union have been born 
two sons, Harry and Arthur.