Frederick Hermsmeyers History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894 May be copied for non-profit purposes. USGENWEB Montana Archives Frederick Hermsmeyer, one of Sheridan's leading citizens, is a native of Prussia German, Born April 13, 1832, his parents being natives of that country. The Hermsmeyers were a family of farmers and mechanics-- industrious and respected people. Frederick Hermsmeyer's father served in the German army during the war against Napoleon and his sufferings in that campaign were such that the result was his death. At the time of his father's death our subject was seven years old. He received his education in his native land and remained there until he was twenty years of age, at which time he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York and going from there to Cincinnati, where he had relatives. For a year and a half he worked at the carpenter's trade in Cincinnati. In 1854 he went to California, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama and landing at San Francisco sick with the Panama fever. After he recovered he began work at his trade there and continued thus occupied for five years and a half. Then for some time he was engaged in mining at Goddy's bar in Sierra county. While he was successful in the mines and took out considerable gold, he had the misfortune to lose it in an enterprise that proved a failure. In 1860 he went to the State of Nevada and turned his attention to farming, making hay and pasturing stock. After a residence of four years and a half in Nevada he came to Montana arriving at Alder Gulch on the 2nd of July 1866. At Alder Gulch Mr. Hermsmeyer purchased a mining claim and for eight years he was successfully engaged in mining, during that time taking out about $80,000 in gold. His mining operations, however, were expensive. The next enterprise in which he embarked was sawmilling. Purchasing the third mill that was build in Montana, he remodeled it and ran it for ten years. This mill was located on Mill Creek, six miles from Sheridan, and supplied the whole valley with lumber during the time he ran it. In 1890 he sold his mill, retired from the business and came to Sheridan, where he invested in town property and began to aid in the upbuilding of the place. He purchased and improved a pleasant residence and also built the Ruby Hotel and in addition to dealing in real estate he is loaning money. Mr. Hermsmeyer was married in the spring of 1870 to Miss Minnie Willmire, a native of Germany and since 1866 a resident of Montana. They have two interesting daughters, Rosie and Annie. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.