John Stephen Theodore Dahm was born in Prussia to Joachim and Friedericke Dahm. John, at the age of 8, arrived in America with his parents and two siblings, Carl aged 3, and Sophie, aged 6,aboard the Sir Robert Peel , 14 Sept 1855 from Hamburg to New York. John's parents came to the U.S.A. to avoid military draft for their children, which was mandatory in Germany. The family arrived in Berlin, Marathon, Wisconsin before the 1860 U.S. Census.

On 7 Feb 1869, John, born in the town of Mosine, Germany, married Bertha Caroline Friedricka Voight by an Evangelical Luthern minister in the Village of Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Their parents are Joachim and Friedrika Dahm and Carl and Henriette Voight. Information found in the book of Registration of Marriages, pg 13, record number 01606.

To this union was born 13 children: 6 girls, 7 boys. Six of the children were born in Wausau, Wisconsin; Gus, Herman who died as an infant; Otto; Clara, who died young; Anna; and William, who also died quite young. The family then moved to Watson Township (near the Shea Bridge on the Maple River) in Cass County, ND, where four more children were born: Robert, who remained single; Margerite; Emma; and John.

From Watson Township, the family moved into Sheldon where the last three children were born: Ella, who died quite young; George; and Martha. They operated a meat market and hotel at the site of the present Standard Bulk Station (now Jalbert's) in Sheldon.

John's work on the railroad brought them from Wisconsin to North Dakota. We believe he had went to visit with relatives in Oregon where he died in a railroad related accident. His oldest son, Gus, transported his father's body home for burial.

The 13 children and their birth/death dates and spouses are:

1. Gustav Carl Richard Dahm,(#20159859) b. 12 Feb 1870, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. 30 Oct 1928, Spokane, Spokane, Washington. Wife: Florence Eva Schossow
(#20159826)

2. Herman Carl Albert Dahm, b. 8 Aug 1871, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. abt. 1873, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin

3. Otto Email Robert Dahm,(#113178996) b. 1 Jul 1873, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. 20 Jan 1943, Elk, Spokane, Washington. Wife: Lily Mae Weymouth

4. Clara Emma Matilda/Martha Dahm, b. 12 Dec 1874, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. 2 Sept 1876, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin

5. Anna Emma Elizabeth Dahm, b. 27 May 1876, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. 17 Sept 1955, Enderlin, Cass, ND Husband: Martin Kaspari

6. Wilhelm Albert Robert Dahm, b. 27 Oct 1877, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, d. 9 Dec 1877, Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin

7. Robert Henry August Dahm, (#60123150), b. 20 Dec 1878,Wausau, WI, d. 28 Feb 1942, Ransom County, ND

8. Margaret Emma Matilda Dahm, b. 7 Nov 1880, Watson, Cass, ND, d. 1959, Denver, CO Husband: Wonzo Melvin Shaw

9. Emma Maria Ida Dahm, b. 6 Aug 1882, Watson, Cass, ND, d. 17 Apr 1968, Spokane, Spokane, Washington Husband: Harold Sherwood Jewell

10. John Albert Dahm,(#60114829) b. 7 May 1884, Watson, Cass, ND, d. 25 Feb 1965, Cass, ND Wife: Amanda Solboken

11. Ella Maria Dahm,(#122433461) b. 5 Jan 1886, Watson, Cass, ND, d. 1886, Sheldon, Ramsey, ND

12. George Albert Dahm,(#60123174) b. 16 Sep 1887, Watson, Cass, ND, d. 1948, Sheldon, ND Wife: Anna O. Froemke

13. Martha Erinstina Dahm, b. 20 Sept 1890, Watson, Cass, ND, d. ? Husband: George Lillicrop, Jr.