Biography of
George L. Gahm

p. 1557

     GEORGE L. GAHM. The Johnston City State Bank, one of the most solid and substantial financial institutions in Southern Illinois, has been fortunate in securing for its officers men of wide and varied experience in the banking business, whose integrity and probity have never been questioned, and in whom the people of the community repose the utmost confidence. In this connection may be mentioned George L. Gahm, cashier of this bank, who has spent practically all of his business career in the same line in this section. Mr. Gahm is a product of Jackson county, Ohio, and was born November 25, 1877, a son of Henry J. and Anna Mary (Motz) Gahm.  
     The grandfather of George L. Gahm, Jacob Gahm, was born on the river Rhine, at Keisterlauten, Germany, in 1810, and was there married to a Miss Geip, who died during the forties, having been the mother of these children: Jacob, who is a farmer in Jackson county, Ohio; John, who died in that county as a farmer and left a family; Phoebe, who married Henry Baker and resides in Saline county, Illinois; and Henry J., the father of George L. Gahm. Jacob Gahm came to the United States and settled in Jackson county, Ohio, was married three times here and died in 1883, having been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Henry J. Gahm was born in Jackson county, Ohio, in 1848, and grew up absolutely without mental training in school, being able neither to read nor write when he reached manhood. It is a strange commentary upon fair Ohio, for universal education is one thing for which that state stands. However, conditions sometimes control in opposition to constant temptations to the god of learning, and Henry J. Gahm‘s school was the school of hard work. His task lay frequently in the wood, where, with axe or grubbing hoe, he dealt the forest its death blows and helped to bring under cultivation the soil which was the support of the old folks at home. When he went out into the world, observation taught him many things of value, and it is not surprising to know that he was able successfully to cope with his fellows and literally to carve a place for himself among the modest tradesmen of his community. Coming to Saline county in 1882, he settled on a farm near Galatia, being engaged in agriculture until 1890, when he moved to Ridgeway, there entering the merchandise business and later purchasing a livery and engaging in dealing in horses. He has continued to reside there to the present time and is respected and esteemed by all who know him as a man who has been the architect of his own fortunes. Mr. Gahm married Anna Mary Motz, daughter of John Motz, from Katzweiler, Germany, another Rhine city, and these children have been born to this union: John Jacob, assistant cashier of the Johnson City State Bank and married to Millie Stricklin; Frank K., who is traveling for I. Gains & Company, of Evansville, Indiana; George L.; and Callie, who married C. C. Shewmaker, of Ridgway, Illinois.