J. B. Hahn, 1899 Biography

HAHN, SCHÖPPE, SCHOEPPE

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 12/20/2006 at 22:37:07

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa, between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

J. B. Hahn

It is a special pleasure for us to be able to say a few words about Mr. J. B. Hahn, who indeed is among the most popular citizens and business people of the town and who, since he has lived in Carroll, has gained the respect and esteem of all the residents.

Since 1889, Mr. Hahn has operated a successful alehouse [tavern], and since 1894 has operated a wholesale business dealing in the well-known beer of the Dubuque Malting Company, which enjoys an excellent reputation among all beer connoisseurs. Our readers can imagine the extent of the flourishing business when we allow ourselves to disclose that Mr. Hahn sells on average five wagon loads of beer every month.

But he is not one of those who are only in business for themselves. He is one of the most enterprising citizens of the town. He keeps workers employed through winter and summer, for which they are naturally very grateful to him. A few years ago, he was honored to the extent that he was elected to the city council, which office, however, he immediately relinquished.

Mr. J. B. Hahn first came to Carroll back in 1881, but he only remained a few days. He then traveled through several states of North America, and in 1885 he traveled back again to his old hometown in Germany. But after two years, he returned again to the United States and married the virtuous Miss Martha Schöppe [Schoeppe], to whom Mr. Hahn has been happily married ever since.