# William John Hahn *American lawyer and politician; seventh Minnesota Attorney General (1881–1887)* William John Hahn (November 5, 1841 – September 23, 1902), a lawyer and politician in [[Minnesota]], held the office of [[Minnesota Attorney General]] from 1881 to 1887. He was the seventh person to hold it.[^1] Governor [[John S. Pillsbury]] appointed him in March 1881, and he then won election to the office twice.[^2] Before becoming attorney general he spent six years as [[county attorney]] of [[Wabasha County, Minnesota]]. Afterward he worked as trust officer of the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company, having moved to [[Minneapolis]] in 1882. In 1901 the governor named him to the Tax Commission.[^2] ## Biography ### Early life and legal training Hahn was a native of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, born in 1841.[^2] He went to Philadelphia in 1866 and studied law under Judge Morris and at Pennsylvania College.[^2] The following year he came back to Lake City and was admitted to the bar there in May 1867.[^2] ### Practice and county attorney His first law partnership, with W. W. Scott, ran from 1867 to 1875. A second, with J. M. Martin, ran from 1876 to 1882.[^2] Hahn won election as Wabasha County's county attorney in 1872. He was returned to the post twice more, the final time unopposed, for a total of six years.[^2] ### Attorney General Pillsbury appointed Hahn attorney general in March 1881.[^2] Two subsequent elections kept him in the office until 1887.[^1][^2] In May 1882 he relocated to Minneapolis and joined Charles H. Woods in the firm Woods & Hahn. The partnership lasted until 1886, and its successor firm is [[Gray Plant Mooty]].[^2] ### Later career The Minnesota Loan and Trust Company elected Hahn its trust officer in 1886. The source reports that he kept the position until his death in 1902.[^1][^2] The governor appointed him to the Tax Commission in 1901.[^2] ### Family On September 16, 1868, Hahn wed Emily Loretta Martin, who was also from Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. The couple had two sons and three daughters before her death in 1891.[^2] His second wife, Matilda Richardson of Minneapolis, outlived him, as did three of his daughters.[^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - William John Hahn, lawyer and politician in Minnesota.[^1] ### What - Seventh Minnesota Attorney General, 1881–1887.[^1] - County attorney of Wabasha County for six years.[^2] - Trust officer of the Minnesota Loan and Trust Company from 1886.[^2] - Member of the Tax Commission by gubernatorial appointment in 1901.[^2] ### When - Born November 5, 1841; died September 23, 1902.[^1] - Appointed Attorney General in March 1881; served until 1887.[^1][^2] - Elected Wabasha County attorney in 1872.[^2] - Married Emily Loretta Martin on September 16, 1868.[^2] ### Where - Born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.[^2] - Admitted to the bar at Lake City in May 1867.[^2] - Moved to Minneapolis in May 1882.[^2] ### How - Appointed Attorney General by Governor John S. Pillsbury, then elected to the office twice.[^2] ### How many - Five children from his first marriage: two sons and three daughters.[^2] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *William John Hahn* (revision 1349225156, retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes his name, dates of birth and death, and service as seventh Minnesota Attorney General from 1881 to 1887. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Hahn [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *William John Hahn*, Biography section (revision 1349225156, retrieved 2026-10-25) — establishes his birthplace, legal training, bar admission, partnerships, county attorney service, Attorney General appointment and elections, move to Minneapolis, trust officer post, 1901 Tax Commission appointment, and family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Hahn