Adolph Gustav Hahn Biography


	This biography appears on pages 451-452 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ADOLPH GUSTAV HAHN. 

	For about thirteen years Adolph Gustav Hahn was connected with 
the business interests of Sioux Falls as a real-estate dealer, becoming 
president of the A. G. Hahn Company. He was born in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, July 2, 1862, a son of Ferdinand and Amelia (Hennig) Hahn, 
who were natives of Germany. The name was originally Von Hahn, but 
those of the-family who came to America dropped the prefix. Both 
parents were representatives of old and prominent families, the 
mother's family containing many who held some title. Their marriage 
occurred in Berlin, Germany, in 1859, and the following year Mr. Hahn 
came to America. In 1861 he was joined by his wife in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, but spent his last days in Humboldt, South Dakota, where his 
death occurred in the '90s. His widow continues to reside in Humboldt, 
and has reached the age of seventy-four years. In their family were 
nine children: Adolph Gustav, of this review; Henry W., president of 
the Farmers Bank at Humboldt, South Dakota; Bertha, the wife of C. C. 
McCormick, of Humboldt; Emma, who married H. M. Duncan, of Humboldt; 
Emily, the wife of John McGowan, postmaster at Hartford, South Dakota; 
Ida, who married James Conley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles F. 
and William R., residing in Humboldt, this state; and Clara, the wife 
of Dr. Carl Helmey, of Badger, South Dakota. 

	Adolph G. Hahn acquired his early education in the public schools 
of Milwaukee, but laid aside his books when but thirteen years of age 
in order to earn his own livelihood. He entered a sash and door factory 
where his father was foreman and at first earned but forty two cents 
per day for eleven hours' labor. A year later the family removed to 
Sioux Falls in the territory of Dakota, and the father homesteaded one 
hundred and sixty acres of land. Adolph G. Hahn and his two sisters 
lived upon the farm, which he operated, while the father, Ferdinand 
Hahn, remained in Sioux Falls, working at the carpenter's trade. While 
farming, the son also taught in a country school for four terms. The 
father died in the '90s at Humboldt and by that time the other sons 
were old enough to take charge of the farm. Accordingly Adolph G. Hahn 
turned his attention to other business, being first connected with hail 
insurance, of which business P. F. Sherman was manager. He next engaged 
in buying grain for various concerns in Sioux Falls and throughout 
Minnehaha county. He followed that occupation during the fall and 
winter months, engaging in the real-estate and insurance business 
during the summer seasons. In the insurance business he was associated 
with Philo Hall, a lawyer, now of Brookings, under the firm style of 
Hahn & Hall. In 1891 Mr. Hahn settled in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where 
he remained for six years, after which he removed to Elkton. Throughout 
that period he was president of the Northwestern Mutual Hail Insurance 
Company. From Elkton he went to Fulton, South Dakota, where he bought 
grain for a grain company and engaged also in the real-estate business 
for nearly three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to 
Aberdeen, where for one year he conducted an elevator, and in December, 
1902, he arrived in Sioux Falls. There he purchased a stock of clothing 
and became senior partner of the firm of Hahn & McMichael. That 
business, however, was discontinued at the end of ninety days and Mr. 
Hahn turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he 
afterward engaged. He bought valuable tracts of land in eastern 
Colorado, disposing of over two hundred thousand acres in addition to 
twelve thousand acres of irrigated land in the San Luis valley. In 1909 
the A. G. Hahn Company was incorporated and Mr. Hahn remained its 
president until his death The company controlled valuable tracts of 
land in Colorado and in South Dakota and did a large business, its 
interests having been directed by one who was an expert judge of land 
values and who possessed keen business insight and discrimination. 

	On the 2d of November, 1901, at Elkton, South Dakota, Mr. Hahn 
was united in marriage to Miss Frances E. Crook, and they became the 
parents of seven children: Marie, Hazel, William, Walter, Ruth and 
Ellen, twins, and Albert G., Jr. 

	Mr. Hahn was a member of the Catholic church and was connected 
fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. He belonged to the Dacotah Club and gave his political 
allegiance to the republican party. He had many friends in Sioux Falls 
and other parts of the state who greatly mourned his loss when he 
passed away. He had many admirable qualities and enjoyed the friendship 
of the majority of those with whom he came in contact.