Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



picture
Judge Martin Christian Herman and Josephine "Josie" Adair




Husband Judge Martin Christian Herman 1 2

           Born: 14 Feb 1841 - near New Kingston, Silver Spring Twp, Cumberland Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 19 Jan 1896 2
         Buried: 


         Father: Martin Herman (1801-1872) 3 4 5
         Mother: Elizabeth Wolford (1802-1852) 1 4 5


       Marriage: 5 Jan or 5 Jun 1873 1 6



Wife Josephine "Josie" Adair 1 6

           Born:  - Cumberland Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: S. Dunlap Adair (      -      ) 6 7
         Mother: Henrietta Gray (      -      ) 6 7




Children
1 M J. Adair Herman 6 7

           Born: 17 Apr 1876 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



2 F Henrietta G. Herman 6 7

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



3 M Joseph B. Herman 6 7

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



4 F Bessie H. Herman 6 7

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



5 M [Infant] Herman 6

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in infancy
         Buried: 



6 M [Infant] Herman 6

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: in infancy
         Buried: 




General Notes: Husband - Judge Martin Christian Herman


He worked on the old farm with his father, and attended school during the winters, until the age of sixteen. He then entered the academy at York, Pennsylvania, presided over by George W. Ruby, and remained there until the close of the summer term of 1858. He then entered the freshman class of Dickinson College, in September, 1858, from which he graduated June 26, 1862. In his junior year at this institution he took the silver medal for oratory at the junior prize contest, and on June 24, 1862, delivered the seventy-sixth anniversary address of the Belles-Lettres Society; but prior to this, in January, 1862, he registered as a law student in the office of B. McIntire & Son, at Bloomfield, Perry County, Pennsylvania. In April, 1863, he transferred his registry as a student of law to William H. Miller, of Carlisle; studied law with him, and was admitted to the bar of Cumberland County, January 13, 1861; began the practice of law in Carlisle. He was elected by the people of Cumberland County president judge of the Ninth Judicial District, composed of the county of Cumberland, at the general election of 1874, at that time being not quite thirty-four years of age. He took the bench on the first Monday of January, 1875, and served for ten years until the first Monday of January, 1885. Was renominated by acclamation in August, 1884. [CBEDC, 380]

He remained at home attending the country district school and assisting his father on the farm until he was sixteen years of age when he entered the York Academy, then in charge of Prof. George W. Ruby. There he continued for one year. In September, 1858, he entered Dickinson College, from which institution he graduated June 26, 1862. In a prize contest during his junior year at college he won the silver medal for oratory and through his entire course was conspicuous for his ability and scholarship. On June 24, 1862, he delivered the seventy-sixth anniversary address of the Belles-Lettres Society of Dickinson College.
In January, 1862, Mr. Herman registered as a student-at-law with B. M. McIntyre & Son, at New Bloomfield, Perry County. In April of the following year, he transferred his registry to William H. Miller, Esq., of Carlisle, and continued his law studies with him until Jan. 13, 1864, when he was admitted to the Cumberland County Bar. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Carlisle, and continued at it until 1874, when he was elected President Judge of the 9th Judicial District, consisting of Cumberland County. He was not yet thirty-four years of age when, on the first Monday of January, 1875, he took his seat upon the Bench, but he administered the duties of his high office so conscientiously and carefully that at the close of his term his party renominated him without opposition. He was unsuccessful at the general election, and upon retiring from the Bench resumed the practice of the law, soon being in command of a large and lucrative business. Against his wishes his party nominated him for President Judge in 1894. He reluctantly accepted, but the general trend of political sentiment was against his party and he, with nearly all of the ticket, was defeated by a small majority. While arguing in a will case in court on March 4, 1895, he was stricken with a paralysis which proved the beginning of the end. He rallied from its effects sufficiently again to give his practice some attention, and, at times, his family and friends had some hope, but the stroke had irreparably shattered his strength, and he died Jan. 19, 1896, of pneumonia. He was a man of most excellent character, a lawyer who was a credit to his profession, and in temperament and in training thoroughly qualified for the responsible position which he so long filled, and the duties of which he discharged with a conscientious dignity and impartiality that won the respect of the public in a high degree. One of the Carlisle papers, at the time of his decease, commented editorially as follows:
"In the death of ex-Judge Herman this community loses an honored and useful citizen. Born in this county; always living in it; sharing in its political contests, and through struggles and heated rivalries rising to a proud eminence at its learned Bar, his name became entwined in the memories and hearts of its people as few names of its history have. He was a man of pronounced convictions, contending loyally and earnestly for the rights of his clients, yet so fair and just and courteous in all his relations with men that the persons were few who did not respect and honor and love him. Yet honorable and upright as he was in his professional and business relations, within the sanctity of his home he was a still more exemplary character. His kindness, his gentleness and devotion to those of his own household were more marked than any of the high qualities that in the struggle of his life won him the praise and admiration of the world. He was not only an able lawyer, an upright judge and a distinguished citizen, he was also a husband and father in the most loving and tender sense." [BACC 1905, 715]

The earlier generations of Hermans were Lutherans, but the Adairs were Episcopalians, and after their marriage Judge Herman, out of respect for his wife's religious preferences, united with the Episcopal Church, and served as vestryman in it.

picture

Sources


1 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 380.

2 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 715.

3 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 380, 539.

4 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 714.

5 —, History of Adams County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 466.

6 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 716.

7 —, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warners, Beers & Co., 1886), Pg 381.


Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List

This Web Site was Created 15 Apr 2023 with Legacy 9.0 from Millennia