Adolph Koch Biography


	This biography appears on pages 201-202 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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				HON. ADOLPH KOCH. 

	Hon. Adolph Koch, one of the leading citizens of eastern 
Minnehaha county, owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 32, Highland township, which is one of the best 
improved properties in the county. He has also represented his district 
in the state legislature for one term, being elected in 1911. His birth 
occurred in Scott county, Iowa, on the 18th of September, 1870, and he 
is a son of John H. and Dora (Hanneman) Koch, who were born, reared and 
married in Germany, in which country two of their children were born. 
About 1844 they emigrated to the United States, locating in Davenport, 
Iowa, where John H. Koch found employment in the works of the John 
Deere Plow Company and was connected with that concern for two years. 
Subsequently he conducted a blacksmith shop for some years, having 
learned the trade of a blacksmith in Germany. Some time in the '50s he 
turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, operating a farm 
in Scott county, Iowa, until within a short time prior to his death. 
His last days were spent in Davenport, where his demise occurred in 
September, 1912, when he had attained the venerable age of ninety-three 
years. 

	Adolph Koch was reared under the parental roof and attended the 
common schools in the acquirement of an education. He remained at home 
until twenty-three years of age, and in 1893 started out as an 
agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Scott 
county Iowa, for one year. On the expiration of that period he took up 
his abode in Rock county, Minnesota, one mile from the South Dakota 
line, and there continued farming as a renter. In 1903 he removed to 
his present South Dakota farm, which he had purchased about two years 
before and on which he has resided continuously during the past twelve 
years. The place comprises one hundred and sixty acres and has been 
developed into one of the most highly improved farms in Minnehaha 
county. Mr. Koch has replaced all the old buildings with modern and 
commodious structures, including a handsome residence, substantial barn 
and outbuildings. He follows general farming in accordance with 
scientific principles and his efforts have been attended with a most 
gratifying measure of success. He is a stockholder and a member of the 
board of directors of the Farmers Elevator Company of Sherman, and also 
acts as vice president of the Farmers Savings Bank of Sherman. 

	In 1893 Mr. Koch was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Damman, of 
Eldridge, Iowa, by whom he has a son, Richard, who was born on the 15th 
of January, 1894, and has been educated in the common schools and at 
Brookings College. Mr. Koch gives his political allegiance to the 
republican party and for the past six years has ably discharged the 
duties devolving upon him in the capacity of township supervisor. In 
1911 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature 
and in that important body served with honor to himself and 
satisfaction to his constituents. His fraternal relations are with the 
Modern Woodmen of America. He possesses many qualities that have 
commended him to the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he 
has come in contact, and he deserves to be classed with the 
representative residents of South Dakota.