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JACOB POHLMANN through his own unaided efforts has won a name and place in the industrial life of Benton county, his splendid energy and progressive spirit enabling him to overcome many obstacles and reach the height of success. He is now prominently known as a retired farmer and as the president of the German State Bank at Keystone. He was one of the nine children born to Jacob and Margaret (Lau) Pohlmann in Holstein, Germany, born December 31, 1844, and of this once large family only two sons are now living, the elder, Herman, residing in Germany. The parents spent their lives and died in that country.
Coming to the United States during the winter of 1868 Jacob Pohlmann located first in Scott county, Iowa, where he worked one year on a farm, and then during a similar period was engaged in buying stock at Davenport. Coming at the close of that period to Benton county he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 14, Kane township, this being then virgin soil, undeveloped and unimproved, and he set at once to the task of preparing his land for cultivation. In 1900 he retired from the work of the farm and came to Keystone, erecting him a modern home here. He owns five hundred and thirty acres of land in Kane township, and has also been an extensive dealer in western and northwestern lands. While identified with agricultural pursuits he was a prominent stock raiser, and was withal a successful man. He is a heavy stockholder in the German State Bank of Keystone, and has been the president of that institution since 1904.
Returning to Germany in the fall of 1872, Mr. Pohlmann was married there to Marie Krey, who was born in Holstein May 17, 1850, and they have had the following children: John, living in Rock county, Minnesota; Herman, a Kane township agriculturist; Margaret, the wife of Otto Selk, of Kane township; Annie, deceased ; Emma, wife of Fred Nebendahl, of Kane township; Mary Etta, at home with her parents; and Jacob, a farmer of Kane township. The family are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Pohlmann is a Democrat in his political allegiance. He is a splendid type of the German-American business man, industrious, upright and highly respected by all.
Comments and corrections from Mardean Hix (July 2010):
The husband of Margaret is Adolf Selk. The 2 infants, William died in Jan. 15, 1883 age 2 months and 4 days and Louie died Jan. 3, 1884 age 1 month 21 days. Mary is a daughter and Henrietta is another daughter. The article is written as one daughter Mary Etta. It should read Mary and Etta at home with their parents. Mary married Henry Selk, a farmer in Homer Township and Henrietta married Herman Steinford a farmer in Kane Township.
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