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Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties, State of Washington",  published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     JOHN F. KOCH.  One of the influential Russians of Adams county is John F. Koch, a farmer living three miles northeast of Ritzville.  He was born in Saratov, Russia, November 23, 1865.  His father, Henry J. Koch, is a Russian of German descent, and is still living in Russia.  His mother also a native of Russia, has long since been dead.  Henry J. Koch is the father of three children by his first marriage and five by his second.
     After the completion of his education Mr. Koch worked on his father's farm until the year 1892, when he came to Ritzville.  After working for about one year on different farms he took up a homestead, built a small house and in two years had all his quarter section of land fenced and under cultivation.  He added to his land, buying another quarter section in 1896, and in 1898 the three hundred and twenty acres where he now lives.  In 1901 he sold his homestead and the land he bought in 1896, and in 1902 he built a fine home and accompanying buildings on the remaining tract.
     In 1884 John F. Koch was married to Christine M. Bauer, only child of William and Anna (Meier) Bauer, natives of Russia, where they died.  To this marriage seven children have been born: Fred, Anna E., William, Rudolph, Cora, Martha and Philip, all of whom are living with their parents.
     He is a liberal in politics, and a member of the Congregational church.  He is a popular man, not alone among his countrymen of Adams county, but with the entire neighborhood where he lives.
 
 

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