RAHM, MARTIN
RAHM, REID, NEUMAN, FERSTEL, SEILER, RASKOPF
Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 9/26/2003 at 16:48:57
Biography reproduced from page 311 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:
Martin Rahm has for many years been one of the enterprising and successful business men of Kossuth county and since 1900 has been a resident of St. Benedict, where he is engaged in the banking business, being president of the Peoples Savings Bank of that city. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 20, 1850, and is a son of Martin and Elizabeth (Reid) Rahm, also natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1862 and located in Beaver Dam, Dodge county, Wisconsin. The father came to Kossuth county in 1873, and here he was for many years engaged in farming. He afterward retired from agricultural pursuits and maintained his residence with his son, Martin, until his death, which occurred in 1897, being buried in the Catholic cemetery at St. Benedict. The mother died in 1886 and was also buried in St. Benedict. To them five children were born: Alios, who is a resident of Dolan, South Dakota; Martin, the subject of this review; Joseph, a retired farmer, now identified with banking interests as vice president of the Peoples Savings Bank, of St. Benedict, Iowa; Anton, who resides in Dolan, South Dakota; and Mary, the wife of Leonard Neuman, of St. Benedict.
Martin Rahm of this review was reared on his father’s farm and received his early education in the schools of Germany. In 1862 he emigrated with his parents to America and in 1869, at the age of nineteen years, settled in Webster county, Iowa. In 1870 he came to Kossuth county, where for sometime he was an employe of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company and later worked for Samuel Reed during harvest time. He was afterward employed in the harvest fields of Minnesota for sixteen days and then returned to Kossuth county in 1871, thence removing to Wisconsin, where he was married. During the year of 1872 he removed to Kossuth county and settled on a farm which he had purchased near St. Benedict in 1871. He there established his home and continued to reside until 1900, when he retired from agricultural pursuits and removed to St. Benedict, at which place he had built a beautiful residence on six acres of land adjoining the city limits. He was one of the organizers of Peoples Savings Bank of St. Benedict and was the first vice president of that financial institution, of which he is now the president. The bank was organized in 1900 and its first president was George C. Call, of Algona, Iowa. The present officers and members of the board of directors are: President, Martin Rahm; vice president, Joseph Rahm; cashier, E. F. Rahm; the board of directors: Martin Rahm and Joseph Rahm, of St. Benedict; E. J. Murtagh, of Algona; L. J. Wegman and J. L. Raskopf, both of St. Benedict. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Rahm is the owner of four hundred acres of highly developed land, one farm being located in Prairie township and one in Irvington township. He is also half owner in a profitable lumber and coal business in St. Benedict, it having been established by him some years ago.
Mr. Rahm was united in marriage in 1872 to Miss Barbara Ferstel, of Wisconsin, and by this union thirteen children have been born, ten of whom died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are Mary, the wife of Henry Seiler, who resides on the old home farm; Anna, the wife of J. L. Raskopf, of St. Benedict, who is associated with Mr. Rahm in the lumber business; and Teresa, the wife of N. H. Raskopf, of St. Benedict, Iowa.
Mr. Rahm is associated with the democratic party and has held many township offices since its organization thirty years ago. He has been for many years one of the influential and leading citizens of Kossuth county. His extensive and varied business interest have brought him in contact with the leading business men of his state and among his acquaintances he is known to be a man of strict integrity and one of the progressive and enterprising citizens of the community in which he resides.
Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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