BIO: Jacob N. Herman, Cumberland County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ ______________________________________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania. Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. Illustrated. Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm ______________________________________________________________________ PART II. HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. CHAPTER LV. PENN TOWNSHIP. 529 PENN TOWNSHIP. JACOB N. HERMAN, marble cutter and dealer, residence Hockersville, P. O. Dickinson, was born in Straban Township, Adams Co., Penn., March 4, 1843. His parents, Col. Jacob and Sophia Herman, moved to York County, Penn., in 1864, where they resided until their death; the former died in 1875, and the latter in 1876; they had a family of ten children, five still living: George, in Sheridan, Nev.; David, in Adams County, Penn.; Mrs. Irene Knaub, in York County, Penn.; Mary, in Jacksonville, and Jacob N., our subject. Mrs. Herman was a daughter of Jacob and Margretta Gilbert, whose residence was near Arendtsville, Adams Co., Penn. Col. Herman's occupation was house carpenter and undertaker, which he carried on quite extensively. He was formerly an active officer in the militia service of the state, having received four different commissions from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served one year as lieutenant, seven years as captain, seven years colonel, three years as brigade-major of the Second Brigade of the Fifth Division, composed of the militia of the counties of York and Adams, Gen. Craig Miller being commander of the Second Brigade of the Fifth Division. J. N. Herman entered upon an apprenticeship with Micah Arnold, of York County, August 7, 1865, remained there until the spring of 1866, when his employer bought out an establishment in Mechanicsburg, where our subject finished his trade as marble cutter August 7, 1868. Mr. Herman worked for Mr. Arnold from 1865 until the spring of 1877, with the exception of a short time in Lancaster City and Glen Rock, Penn. His recommendation from his employer, Mr. Arnold, reads as follows: "Mechanicsburg, April 6, 1877. This is to certify that J. N. Herman has served three years apprenticeship with me at marble-cutting, and afterward has been foreman in one of my shops for about seven years, and I can recommend him as a first-class workman and a reliable man. (Signed) M. Arnold." (This is quite a compliment to Mr. Herman's integrity and judgment as a skillful artist.) In the spring of 1878 Mr. Herman moved to Middletown, Dauphin Co., Penn., to engage in the marble business with S. A. Landis, of Mechanicsburg, as partner, but remained only there until October 1, same year, at which time J. N. Herman moved to the upper end of this county, to a place known as Big Spring; remained there one year and then moved to Jacksonville, this county, which is on the line of the Harrisburg & Potomac Railroad, and finally settled in Hockersville, this county, in 1883. Here he has carried on a shop ever since, and has an influential patronage in the surrounding community. Mr. Herman married Miss Maggie Harper, a daughter of the Hon. William Harper of Penn Township, who died March 3, 1873, a strong supporter of the Democratic party, and by that body was elected two terms as member of the Legislature; his wife, Isabella Harper, died March 13, 1863. J. N. Herman gave his services in defense of the government in September, 1864; he was a member of Company I, Two Hundred and Ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers; served in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the memorable battle known as Fort Steadman.