August Hohn, a leading merchant of Marysville, and one of the successful business men of northern Kansas, is a native of Prussia. He was born near Cologne, December 11, 1844, and is a son of Heinrich and Regina (Frackenpohl) Hohn, both natives of Renish Prussia. The father was a farmer and also a merchant, engaged in selling hard wood and lumber. The parents spent their lives in their native land and are both now deceased.

August Hohn was reared and educated in his native country, and after finishing school was employed in the wholesale silk and velvet business until 1868, when he immigrated to America, locating in Lasalle county, Illinois. He remained here one year, when he came to Kansas, driving the entire distance overland. He settled on a farm in Marshall county, where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Marysville, which was then a town of about 300 population. Here he was employed as a clerk for Watterson & Schmidt, general merchants, and in 1876 he engaged in business for himself, opening a general store at Marysville.

At first he started in a small way, occupying a small store building, but he met with good success from the first, and his growing business soon required a larger store. In 1901 he purchased the corner on which his present store is located, which is the largest business place in Marshall county. When he first came to Marshall county the stage line ran from Marysville to Frankfort, the Central Branch railroad having been completed to the latter place. Marysville was then the trading center for a large territory north of the town, there being no other towns of consequence between there and the main line of the Union Pacific. Mr. Hohn was quick to realize the advantages of Marysville as a business point, and has been richly rewarded for his foresight. He is now the most extensive merchant in Marshall county, and by his square dealings he has built up an extensive patronage. When he began business here there was but one bank in the town and the rate of interest at that time was 2 per cent. per month. He, with some other business men, among them Perry Hutchinson, organized what was known as the Marshall County Bank and Mr. Hohn became one of the directors.

After the death of S. A. Fulton, the first president of the bank, Perry Hutchinson was elected president and Mr. Hohn became vice-president, and has since held that position. The bank has been reorganized and is now the First National Bank, of Marysville, the largest bank in the county. Mr. Hohn has been active in many enterprises since coming to Kansas and is always willing and ready to support any project for the commercial or social betterment of the community. He has served as county commissioner two terms, and was treasurer of the State board of charities from 1881 to 1883, during Governor George W. Glick's administration. He has also served as mayor of Marysville four years, during which time many municipal improvements were carried out.

Mr. Hohn was united in marriage, January 20, 1870, to Miss Minnie, daughter of Louis and Kate (Hinz) Zimmermann, natives of Prussia. Mrs. Hohn was born in Prussia, where she was reared and educated, and came to America with her parents in 1868. Her father was a dyer, and followed that occupation until he came to America. After that he was not actively engaged in any business. The family first located in Illinois, where they remained only one year, and in 1889 removed to Nebraska and settled near the Kansas line, north of Marysville. Mr. and Mrs. Hohn are the parents of seven children: Hugo, assistant cashier of the First National Bank, of Marysville; Arthur, associated with his father in the general mercantile business at Marysville; Minnie, the wife of George T. Mohrbacher; Emil, assistant cashier of the First National Bank; Otto (deceased); Nellie (deceased), and Meta (deceased).

Mr. Hohn is a Republican and has taken an active part in the politics of the State and county, having been a delegate to congressional and State conventions at numerous times. He is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of Corinthian Commandery No. 40. Mrs. Hohn is a member of the German Evangelical church.