Dieter Damm, living on section 11, Linder township, has throughout his entire life carrie don general farming and stock-raising and is today the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He is one of the native sons of Greene county, his birth having occurred upon the farm upon which he no resides on the 8ith of November, 1851. His father, Dieter Damm, Sr., was a native of Germany, born in Hesse-Darmstadt in 1814, and there he was married in 1939. He came to the new world the same year, going first to Ohi, and in 1840 he located in Greene county, Illinois, where he purchased the land and opened up a farm, becoming the owner of eighty acres, to which he afterward added by additional purchase until he owned three hundred and sixty acres of rich land. Upon that farm he reared his family and spent his remaining days, his death occurring there in 1879.

Dieter Damm, Jr., was one of a family of five children who reached mature years and four are yet living. He attended the common schools in his boyhood days and worked in the firlds when not engaged with his text-books. Thus he learned the buseinss methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and when he began farming on his own account he had good practical experience to aid him. He inherited a part of the old homestead and purchased the interests of the other heirs, so that he now owns the entire farm. He has kept the place in good shape, everything being in the state of excellent repair, and to the property he has added many modern equipments and accessories, using the latest improved machinery in the development of the fields and in harvesting the crops. He has also raised high grades of cattle and annually feeds and ships a large number of cattle and hogs.

On the 24th of November, 1870, Mr. Damm was married to Miss Elizabeth Meister, who was born in Linder township, Greene county. They became the parents of seven children: Elizabeth, the wife of Oscar Burger, of Alton, Illinois; Dieter H., who is married and follows farming in Wrights township; Bena, at home; Katy, also at home; Elias, who is married and follows farming in Rockbridge twop; Mary, and George, both at home.

In his political views Mr. Damm is a stanch republican, having supported the party since he cast his first ballot for General U.S. Grant in 1872. He has since voted for each presidential nominee of the party and is in hearty sympathy with its principles. He was elected and served for three years as highway commissioner, was supervisor for two consecutive terms, and has been a member of the honorary county board. The cause of education has found in him a stalwart support, for he believes in good schools and the employment of competent teachers, and for sixteen consecutive years he served as school director and has been clerk of the school board. He and his wife attend the Presbyterian church and contribute to its support. Mr. Damm has been a resident of Greene county throughout his entire life, always remaining on the old homestead farm. He has a wide acquaintance in Carrollton and in this part of the state, and the sterling qualities of his manhood have rendered him a citizen worthy the esteem and regard which are uniformly extended to him.

Transcribed by: Carole Ann Heller