Manufacturer
Abraham (Bram) ten Dam was born on 14 July 1834 in Kerkstraat in Aalten, the son of silversmith Harmen Jan ten Dam and Petronella Johanna Gerber. On 6 June 1861, he married Elisabeth Manschot.
In 1871, Abraham and his brother-in-law Bernard Manschot founded a comb factory on Damstraat in Aalten: Ten Dam & Manschot. They lived opposite each other on Bredevoortsestraatweg; Bram in the house that now characterises the Van Panhuis physiotherapy clinic, and Bernard in the white villa across the road. Bram’s son (and successor), Herman, commissioned the construction of the house at Bredevoortsestraatweg 52.
Ten Dam also served as a local councillor and alderman in the municipality of Aalten.
Abraham ten Dam passed away on 1 February 1915, at the age of 80, and was buried at the Old Cemetery in Aalten.
