Bio of William Herman (b.1867), Wabasha Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Martha J. Berryman HERMAN-- William Herman, of Zumbro Township, a good type of the enterprising and modern farmer, recently retired, was born in Trempealeau County, Wis., March 16, 1867, son of William and Mary (Springer) Herman. The parents were natives respectively of Germany and Switzerland, who came to the United States in the early fifties, settling in Wisconsin, where the father was engaged in ordinary farm labor for several years. Later he took a farmstead in Trempealeau County, but subsequently sold that property and in 1880 came to Minnesota, locating on 120 acres of land in Gillford Township. He improved that place and carried on general farming there until his retirement in 1893, when he and his wife took up their residence at Zumbro Falls. There Mrs. Herman died in 1898 and Mr. Herman in 1903. They had eight children: William, Albert C., Edward, Anna, Lizzie, Fred L., Emil and Ida. Anna and Lizzie are now deceased. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Herman (Jr.) in his boyhood attended school at Zumbro Falls. He worked for his father until 1888, and then went to Tacoma, Wash., where for four years he followed the carpenter’s trade. In 1892 he returned to Wabasha County, Minn., and for two years rented the home farm of his father. Subsequently he operated other rented farms in this county. In 1907 Mr. Herman bought 120 acres in section 14, 80 acres in sections 11 and 14, and 40 acres in section 11, making a farm of 240 acres, which he operated for 13 years. He erected all the buildings, installed acetylene lights and the James barn equipment, and carried on general farming to modern methods and with profitable results. He bred high grad Holstein cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, having full-blooded sires at the head of his herds. In addition to these interests, Mr. Herman became president of the Zumbro Falls Shipping Association, also of the Zumbro Falls Co-operative Creamery, and treasurer of the Farmers Elevator Company of the same place. On October 1, 1920, Mr. Herman retired from the farm and is now living in the Village of Zumbro Falls, where he has bought some village property, including besides the land and old house and building. He has now under construction a new barn and garage and will soon erect a new modern residence. For 12 years he has been chairman of the school board of his district. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Episcopal church, while he belongs fraternally to the Modern Woodmen of America. On July 9, 1890, Mr. Herman was united in marriage with Mathilda Scholer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Scholer. Her parents are natives of Germany who settled in Glasgow Township, this county, later moving to the vicinity of Zumbro Falls. Both are now deceased, the mother having died in Zumbro Falls in 1888 and the father in Chester Township in 1895. Their children were John, Andrew, Edward, Charles, Albert, William, Christie, Rose, Emma, Lena and Mathilda. Mr. and Mrs. Scholer were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. William Herman have had ten children, all of whom are now living but one. They are as follows: Edward A., born August 19, 1891; Henry H., born November 10, 1892; Emma D., born March 2, 1894; Esther M., born October 19, 1895; now Mrs. George Reppe of Zumbro Falls; Lydia M., born April 11, 1897, died June 21, 1898; Ethel M., born January 3, 1899, now Mrs. Carl Walker of Olmstead County; Alfred W., born July 23, 1900; Lottie M., born August 26, 1902; Clarence F., born April 9, 1905, and Marion I., born June 23, 1909. Note: This biography was taken from the book “History of Wabasha County” copyrighted in 1920.