Max Herman
Born: 1854. New York, New York.
Died: February 16, 1891. Denver, Colorado.
Anna (Harris) Herman
Born: 1857, Russia
Died:?
Ella (Herman) Stern
Born: January 28, 1879, Boulder, Colorado.
Died: September 14, 1946.
Maybelle Herman
Born: October 30, 1881, Boulder, Colorado
Died: December 21, 1945. San Antonio, Texas Never Married
Solomon “Sol” Herman
Born: 1850
Died: December 3, 1906. Commerce City, Colorado.
Sarah (Harris) Herman
Born: 1860, New York, New York.
Died: October 28, 1943. Aurora, Colorado.
Connections to:
Harris, Meyer
Monheimer, Joseph
The Herman brothers, Max [1] and Solomon, [2] were born in New York and moved to Boulder, Colorado, sometime in the mid-1870s. There they partnered with their father-in-law, a clothier named Meyer Harris. The Herman brothers married two of the Harris daughters; [3] Max married Anna Harris [4] and Sol would tie the knot with her sister Sarah. [5] Looking to expand his business, Meyer Harris opened a new storefront in Leadville, which the Herman brothers would operate, and in 1877 Sol and Sarah moved to Leadville to establish full-time residency. Meyer Harris owned a chain of clothing stores in Boulder, Leadville and Denver, but it appears that the Leadville location was a partnership with his sons-in-law which carried the marquee of Harris & Herman. [6] Sol clerked at the Leadville location from 1877 until sometime in 1881 and Max split time between the Boulder and Leadville locations from 1877 to 1884.
Sol Herman and his wife Sarah came to Leadville along with Meyer Harris in 1877. Leadville city directories were not published prior to 1879 so prior residential and storefront locations cannot be verified. However, the initial Leadville location for Harris & Herman was 112 East Chestnut. Sol and Sarah resided onsite and that condition remained the same until 1882. [7] Both Herman couples were very socially and politically active during their time in Leadville and Sol Herman delivered a speech at the International Association of B’nai B’rith Banquet on November 9, 1879 to establish the Congregation Israel and their charitable organizations. [8]
Although Max did not establish residency in Leadville until 1883, he travelled for business between Boulder and Leadville until that time. It is likely that Anna and their two young daughters, Ella [9] and May, [10] only travelled to Leadville on special occasions. For example, both Herman/Harris couples were in attendance at the Tabor Light Cavalry Ball at The Saint George Episcopal Church, which is located across the street from the future site of Temple Israel, on January 27, 1881. [11] Max, the younger of the two Herman brothers, clearly had political ambitions in Boulder and Leadville and in 1880 was a Republican candidate for the University of Colorado Board of Regents. [12] It is unknown whether or not his campaign was successful.
At some point during the year of 1881 Harris & Herman changed proprietorship and began operating as Herman Brothers, still located at 112 East Chestnut. [13] It is clear that at some point the Harris and Herman enterprises operated separately but may have initially maintained the partnership covertly. Sol and Sarah were very active in the community during this year and attended the Altman-Schloss wedding in January, [14] the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society’s Pink Domino Hop in March, [15] along with the Yom Kippur celebration at the Knights of Pythias Hall on September 23. [16] Sol and Sarah were also present at the Purim Bal Masque which raised funds for the Congregation Israel on March 6, 1882. [17]
1882 was a significant year in the operation of the Herman Brothers’ enterprise. At some point during the spring the brothers opened a second storefront around the corner at 218 Harrison Avenue. [18] Sol and Sarah finally set up housekeeping at 121 East Chestnut, [19] their first residence separate from the Herman’s business location. Initially this was a sign of the brothers’ success but that may have quickly soured when both stores suffered damage and a loss of stock as a result of the infamous Palace Of Fashion Fire on May 19 in which many Leadville businesses were destroyed or suffered heavy damage along Chestnut and Harrison. [20] Although newspaper reports show that these losses were insured, surprisingly, both stores ceased operations without notice on October 19. The brothers cited bankruptcy as the cause and assigned their business operations to Joseph Monheimer who estimated the Herman Brothers’ debts in Leadville and Boulder were somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000. [21]
In 1883, Meyer Harris re-established the 218 Harrison Avenue location under his own name. [22] Sol and Sarah moved their home to the corner of 4th and Harrison and Sol continued to work for his father–in-law. [23] Sol remained active in the community and helped to organize the Jewish Festival in honor of Chanukah at City Hall on December 28. [24]
Max, Anna, and their daughters, Ella and May, finally established a Leadville residence by sharing a home with Sarah, Sol, and Meyer Harris at 231 West 4th Street in 1884. [25] Sarah and Anna joined the Pleasant Hour Club (formerly The Coffee and Tea Party Club) that met every Thursday and held informal dances on Sunday nights once a month. [26] Sol served on the organizing committee for the 1884 Purim Masque Ball on March 11, [27] a particularly important event this particular year as it raised funds for the Temple Israel building’s construction. [28] Both couples attended the Athletic Club Ball on June 25, [29] and the Moonlight Picnic on July 9. [30] Five year-old Ella Herman profiled in a local paper as one of the more graceful dancers in the city. [31] Talent must have run in the family as her aunt Sarah was also a member of the Temple Israel Choir. [32]
In 1885, Sol and Sarah returned to Boulder. Sol continued to work for the Meyer Harris clothing operation there. Meyer Harris opened a second Leadville clothing store location at 418 Harrison Avenue. [33] Whatever sting remained from the failure of the Herman Brothers clothing operation must have subsided as Max was promoted to manager of Harris’ new location. [34] It is unclear how much of Sol and Sarah’s time was split between Leadville and Boulder that year, however Sarah was noted at several community functions. She was present at Mrs. Moses Shoenberg’s farewell party in January [35] and both Max and Sarah were sighted at the first annual ball for the Leadville Athletic Association on February 6, [36] although it is unclear whether or not Sol or Anna attended. May and Ella Herman attended the Hebrew Children’s Masque Ball, a fundraiser for Congregation Israel, on May 8. [37] Both couples were present at the Athletic Club Hop on July 31. [38]
1886 is the last year showing any activity in Leadville for either of the Herman couples. Neither couple is listed in the city directory. Meyer Harris moved the location of his second Leadville store to 322 Harrison Avenue. [39] Both couples were still shown as residents in a newspaper article that placed them in attendance at another of the Harris daughters in Denver. [40] Despite both couples returning to Boulder in 1886, they did make appearances at several Leadville social events that year. Max and Anna were present at the Purim Bal Masque on March 24 [41] and stayed at the Monte Cristo Hotel when in Leadville. [42] Both Sol and Max were members of the controversial Patriotic Order of The Sons of America Lodge Number 13 for which Max served as secretary. [43] The P.O.S. of A. was responsible for the city’s Independence Day Parade on July 4th [44] and both couples attended.
The Herman brothers and their wives remained in the clothing business after leaving Leadville in 1886 and continued to work for the Meyer Harris clothing store chain at his locations in Boulder and the Denver Metropolitan area. Both brothers died young, Max in 1891 at the age of 37, [45] and Sol in 1906 at the age of 56. [46]
1 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7B-ZKQ7 : 21 June 2017), Max E Herman, 1891; Burial, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America, Congregation Emanuel Cemetery; citing record ID 179369068, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
2 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2BB-G5J4 : 10 March 2017), Solomon Herman, 1906; Burial, Commerce City, Adams, Colorado, United States of America, Rose Hill Cemetery; citing record ID 173724226, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
3 “Personal Paragraphs”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 19, 1885. P4. For more information see: http://www.jewishleadville.org/harris .
4 For more information see: http://www.jewishleadville.org/harris .
5 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGV-NZ6X : 13 December 2015), Sarah Herman, 1943; Burial, Aurora, Arapahoe, Colorado, United States of America, Mount Nebo Memorial Park; citing record ID 127054195, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com. For more information see: http://www.jewishleadville.org/harris .
6 “Max Herman”. Boulder, CO; USA: The Colorado Banner. October 25, 1877. P5.
7 Clark, WM, Root WA and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory Of Leadville And Business Directory Of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. Daily Times Steam Printing House And Book Manufactory; Denver, CO: USA. 1879. P78.
8 “B’nai B’rith”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Weekly Herald. November 15, 1879. P3.
9 "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39Z-HTM : 5 December 2014), Max Herman in entry for Ella Herman Stern, 14 Sep 1946; citing certificate number 39555, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,423.
10 "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K393-CW2 : 5 December 2014), Max Herman in entry for Maybelle Herman, 21 Dec 1945; citing certificate number 51780, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,187.
11 “Sought To Shuffle”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. January 28, 1881. P1.
12 “Republican State Ticket”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. September 9, 1880. P2.
13 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Second Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1881”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1881. P157.
14 “The Society World”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Democrat. January 30, 1881. P8.
15 “Pink Dominoes”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 16, 1881. P4.
16 Don L and Jean Harvey Griswold. History of Leadville And Lake County, Colorado: From Mountain Solitude To Metropolis. Vol. 1. 1996. P 912.
17 “Birds Of Passage”. Leadville, CO; USA: Herald Democrat. December 8, 1886. P2.
18 Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Third Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1882”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1882. P309.
19 IBID. P156.
20 Griswold. History of Leadville And Lake County, Colorado: From Mountain Solitude To Metropolis. Vol. 1. 1996. P 966. For More information see: http://www.jewishleadville.org/palaceoffashionfire.html
21 Griswold. History of Leadville And Lake County, Colorado: From Mountain Solitude To Metropolis. Vol. 1. 1996. P1053-4.
22 Corbett, TB and Balanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1883”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1883. P144.
23 Corbett, TB and Balanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1883”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1883. P149.
24 “A Brilliant Affair”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. December 29, 1883. P12.
25 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1884”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884. P136.
26 “Prominent People”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. January 20, 1884. P4.
27 “The Jewish Festival”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 12, 1884. P4.
28 “Events Of A Week”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. February 23, 1884. P4.
29 “Ball Of The ‘Muscle Men’”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. June 26, 1884. P4.
30 “A Moonlight Picnic”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. July 11, 1884. P4.
31 “A Week’s Social News”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. August 9, 1884. P4.
32 “A Week’s Social News”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. August 9, 1884. P4.
33 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1884”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884. P132.
34 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1884”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884. P136.
35 Don L Griswold and Jean Harvey Griswold. History of Leadville And Lake County, Colorado: From Mountain Solitude To Metropolis. Vol. 1. Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1996. P 1617.
36 “The Athletic Association”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. February 7, 1885. P1.
37 “Children’s Ball”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. May 9, 1885. P3.
38 “Athletic Club Hop”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. August 1, 1885. P2.
39 Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1885”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885. P137.
40 “The Nuptial Knot”. Leadville, CO; USA: Herald Democrat. January 12, 1886. P1.
41 “The Purim Bal Masque”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Evening Herald. March 25, 1886. P3.
42 “Birds Of Passage”. Leadville, CO; USA: Herald Democrat. December 8, 1886. P2.
43 “Lodge Directory”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Evening Chronicle. January 6, 1886. P1.
44 The Patriotic Sons Of Liberty is an existing organization that has historically had some confusion in regards to their political alignments they present to the public (We won’t attempt to explain them here). Essentially it is an organization that believes in minimizing legislation, and appears to have risen in the United States in the wake of increased US immigration around 1847, but appears to have originated in early 18th century England. Modern resources contain either the bias of the organization or the bias associated with denouncing the organization. Leadville’s 1884 Independence Day parade was marshaled by the organization and in this article, which contains lengthy interview segments with the parade’s grand marshal, W.R. Hall. For more information on the Patriotic Sons Of Liberty and their philosophical ideals during this period in Leadville please see: “The P.O.S of A. Doings”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. P4. For more information see: https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/cgi-bin/colorado?a=d&d=LDH18840706.2.23&srpos=305&e=-------en-20--301--txt-txIN-Max+Herman+-------0-Lake#
45 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7B-ZKQ7 : 21 June 2017), Max E Herman, 1891; Burial, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America, Congregation Emanuel Cemetery; citing record ID 179369068, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
46 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2BB-G5J4 : 10 March 2017), Solomon Herman, 1906; Burial, Commerce City, Adams, Colorado, United States of America, Rose Hill Cemetery; citing record ID 173724226, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
Bibliography
“A Happy Occasion”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. June 21, 1884.
“A Moonlight Picnic”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. July 11, 1884.
“A Week’s Social News”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. August 9, 1884.
“Athletic Club Hop”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. August 1, 1885.
“Ball Of The ‘Muscle Men’”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. June 26, 1884.
“Birds Of Passage”. Leadville, CO; USA: Herald Democrat. December 8, 1886.
“B’Nai B’rith”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Weekly Herald. November 15, 1879.
“A Brilliant Affair”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. December 29, 1883.
“Children’s Ball”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. May 9, 1885.
"Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8W8-2W4 : 1 April 2016), Solomon Ehrman in entry for Myer Harris, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,503.
Clark, WM, Root WA and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory Of Leadville And Business Directory Of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. Daily Times Steam Printing House And Book Manufactory; Denver, CO: USA. 1879.
Corbett, TB, Hoye, WC and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1880”. Democrat Printing Company; Leadville, CO: USA. 1880.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Second Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1881”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1881.
Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Third Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1882”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1882.
Corbett, TB and Balanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1883”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1883.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1884”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884.
Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Leadville For 1885”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885.
“Events Of A Week”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. February 23, 1884.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL7B-ZKQ7 : 21 June 2017), Max E Herman, 1891; Burial, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America, Congregation Emanuel Cemetery; citing record ID 179369068, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGV-NZ6X : 13 December 2015), Sarah Herman, 1943; Burial, Aurora, Arapahoe, Colorado, United States of America, Mount Nebo Memorial Park; citing record ID 127054195, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2BB-G5J4 : 10 March 2017), Solomon Herman, 1906; Burial, Commerce City, Adams, Colorado, United States of America, Rose Hill Cemetery; citing record ID 173724226, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com
Griswold, Don L and Griswold, Jean Harvey. History of Leadville And Lake County, Colorado: From Mountain Solitude To Metropolis. Vol. 1. Denver, CO: Colorado Historical Society, 1996.
“Lodge Directory”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Evening Chronicle. January 6, 1886.
“Max Herman”. Boulder, CO; USA: The Colorado Banner. October 25, 1877. P5.
“Personal Paragraphs”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 19, 1885.
“Pink Dominoes”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 16, 1881.
“Prominent People”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. January 20, 1884.
“Purim Bal-Masque”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Evening Chronicle. March 22, 1886.
“Republican State Ticket”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. September 9, 1880.
“Sought To Shuffle”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. January 28, 1881.
"Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K39Z-HTM : 5 December 2014), Max Herman in entry for Ella Herman Stern, 14 Sep 1946; citing certificate number 39555, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,423.
"Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K393-CW2 : 5 December 2014), Max Herman in entry for Maybelle Herman, 21 Dec 1945; citing certificate number 51780, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,218,187.
“The Athletic Association”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. February 7, 1885.
“The Jewish Festival”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 12, 1884.
“The Nuptial Knot”. Leadville, CO; USA: Herald Democrat. January 12, 1886.
“The P.O.S of A. Doings”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. July 4, 1886.
The Purim Bal Masque”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Evening Herald. March 25, 1886.
“The Purim Ball”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Daily Herald. March 7, 1882.
“The Society World”. Leadville, CO; USA: Leadville Democrat. January 30, 1881.
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFD6-BZF : 29 July 2017), Max Herman, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district ED 24, sheet 517B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0089; FHL microfilm 1,254,089.
“Wednesday Evening Social”. Leadville, CO; USA: Carbonate Chronicle. February 14, 1885. P
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Jeffrey P. Grant
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Herman
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, Colorado; USA. 2017.
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishleadville.org/herman.html
