Martin Herman’s Descendants hold a Centennial Celebration in 1871

Having arrived in Philadelphia from Germany in July 1752, Martin Herman settled on a tract of land in Silver Spring Township on April 15, 1771. He named his tract “St. Martin’s.” On September 26, 1871, a large contingent of Herman descendants celebrated the 100^th anniversary of their ancestor’s settlement in Cumberland County.

According to an article about the family celebration,¹ the “St. Martin’s” tract was still in the family. When Martin Herman died in 1804, the tract descended to his son Christian, and when he died in 1829, it descended to the present owner, Martin Herman, who was born in 1801.

The celebration, attended by about 150 descendants of the original settler, gathered at the old family mansion, the residence of the current Martin Herman. Martin Herman and Mrs. Abraham Bosler, of Carlisle, were the only two members of the third generation present.

The celebration began at noon when everyone was assembled in front of the house. The program began with music by the Widner Band from Carlisle and a prayer given by Rev. R. H. Fletcher of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. Next came the singing of “America” and “My Country tis of Thee.” That was followed by an historical address, given by M. C. Herman, Esq. of Carlisle, and then the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Another address and another song followed, and the program ended with the Benediction.

Dinner was then served under the trees, on a table 200 feet in length, and after dinner people strolled “around the old ancestral place, discoursing together in groups upon the events of the past, and reviving old friendships.”²

Rev. R. H. Fletcher gave details about the Herman homestead as well as a more detailed account of the celebration in a letter that was published in the October 5, 1871 edition of the American Volunteer. Rev. Fletcher wrote that “something over 300 acres was added to the original “St. Martin’s” tract by Christian Herman (the son of Martin, the settler) and subsequently divided into five farms.”³ He also wrote that Martin C. Herman’s address included a view of the original deed to the land as well as other papers in his possession. Herman then gave an account of several of the families that descended through Christian Herman and talked about the trials, tribulations and customs of the early settlers. Rev. Fletcher noted that The Rev. A. W. Lilly of York, Pennsylvania was there with his wife and children. Mrs. Lilly was the daughter of Martin Herman, the present occupant and owner of the mansion.⁴

The Martin Herman stone house, built before 1798, sits back a lane off N. Locust Point Road. Photos of the house, as well as the architectural survey of the property, are on file at the Cumberland County Historical Society.⁵