Ref: Allen Hermann - Graham-Herman Nuptials

Wednesday evening at seven o'clock at the home of the bride, 630 South Governor Street, occurred the marriage of Miss Effie Graham to Mr. Frank Herman, both of this city. The house was beautifully adorned with carnations and the bride was attired in a traveling suit. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dwigbt Wylie of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Herman left after the ceremony for the South where they will spend their honeymoon and they will be absent about three weeks. The bride, Miss Graham, is a lovable young lady with a host of friends won by her winsome disposition. She was a member of the Dresden's store's staff previous to her wedding. The groom, Frank Herman, is well known to Iowa Cityans although this is not his native home.

He is a graduate of the (Iowa City) Academy and at present is engaged in the express business with Louis Schump. They will be at home on Dodge Street after their return. (Iowa City Citizen February 6, 1907)
Ref: Allen Hermann - George Frank Hermann (Phil’s Father)

George (or Frank as he was called much of the time) was born May 2, 1879 on a farm in Buchanan County north of Walker Iowa (20 miles north of Cedar Rapids), the youngest of 11 total siblings and the only one born in Buchanan County. 4 of his siblings were living on the farm at the time of his birth; John, William, Charles, and Lydia. He moved to Louisiana in October 1897 with his parents, after they sold the farm to his Brother John. One of the pictures of him was taken in Hammond LA when he was about 19. The family moved back to Iowa within a year. According to an article in an Iowa City newspaper, the Iowa State Press on July 11, 1900, his Brother John leased a house from a Dr. Newberry (Frank Newberry) on South Clark Street for George’s use when he attended school at the University in the fall. Upon his return from Louisiana George started working for the Louis Schump Transfer Company of Iowa City (located at 1129 College and also at 220 East Washington St. in 1911) driving wagons (see picture) and he also attended the Iowa City Academy, a preparatory school of the State University and Iowa City Commercial College from which he graduated. George was an election clerk in the 4^th ward in Iowa City in April of 1904. He was appointed as executor of his stepmother’s will (Lena B. Hermann) in May of the same year. July 5, 1905, before they were married, he and Effie were involved in a wreck on the Interurban train between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Effie sustained minor injuries. George was unhurt, while the motorman was killed. George was in the Iowa National Guard starting February 19, 1906 for 3 years. In March 1906, he and Effie were best man and bridesmaid for friends wedding in Iowa City.George (Frank) wrote Effie a love letter when she was visiting her sister Edith in Denver July 25, 1906 where he referenced the “Chautaqua grounds” a highly popular form of traveling entertainment at the time, which combined lectures, musicals, and theater for people of all ages under a canvas tent. George was living on Dodge St in Iowa City in 1907 when he married Effie. He worked for Louis Schump for 17 years before moving to a farm southwest of Hinckley Minnesota March 1, 1915. George and Effie traveled to California in 1940 shortly after Judy was born to see sons Jack and Phil and his family. He died April 22, 1941 (Cert No 011859) in Hinckley Minnesota from heart failure.

Note: The picture of George driving the horse team on the Schump wagon taken in 1908 includes the 1881 Iowa City Hall behind the man at right.  The wagon is backed to the curb in front of the Foster Graham & Shaffer stable, now site of the Englert Theatre which was built in 1912. 
Ref: Allen Hermann - Effie Marguardt Graham (Phil’s Mother)

Effie was born December 4, 1881 in Iowa City Johnson County Iowa (20 miles south of Cedar Rapids) to James K. Graham and Hattie N. Westcott. She grew up in Iowa City, living at 726 Iowa Ave in 1900 with her Mother and siblings. Effie started working at the Dresden China Store in Iowa City in August 1904 and was still there at the time of her marriage February 6, 1907 in Iowa City at her home at 630 South Governor St to George F. Hermann. They traveled on their honeymoon to the South and visited George’s previous home in Hammond LA as a part of their trip. Their first home was at 420 No. Dodge Street Iowa City. Her family moved from the log house to the house located just south of old Highway 23 after 1932 and prior to the death of her husband George Sr. in 1941. This house had a wooden wall phone that her grandson still remembers to this day. Effie lived on the second Minnesota farm until about 1956 when she moved into Hinckley with George Jr. to take care of grandson George after the death of his mother Helen in December 1955. She moved to Moose Lake with her grandson in 1956 when son George left for work in Thule Greenland and remained at Phil and Verna’s home until her death February 17, 1958 from a stroke. She is buried in Brook Park Cemetery. Effie also went by the nickname Dude and loved baseball, following the Minneapolis Millers (AAA team) all her adult life and also loved cards, especially solitaire. She knew numerous variations of this game and spent many hours teaching her grandchildren same. Children – 3 sons; Phillip, Jack and George.

“ , Effie, 28, b. IA, F b. IA, M b. NY

“ , Philip N., 2, b. IA, Pts b. IA

Wescott, Senate R., 44, b. NY, Pts b. NY, RR Engineer, Uncle

“ , Louisa, 44, b. IA, F b. PA, M b. NY, Aunt

George & Effie md. 3 yrs; Effie had 1 ch/ 1 liv; Senate & Louisa md. 24 yrs; Louisa had no children.

“ , Effie M., 38, b. IA, F b. IA, M b. NY

“ , Philip, 11, b. IA, Pts b. IA

“ , Jack, 8, b. IA, Pts b. IA

Graham, Hattie, 64, b. NY, Pts b. NY, wd
Ref: 1930 Mission Creek Twp., Pine Co., MN census, pg. -; 46/44.
Hermann, George F., 49, b. IA, Pts b. US, Farmer

“ , Effie M., 48, b. IA, F b. IA, M b. NY

“ , Philip N., 21, b. IA, Pts b. IA

“ , Jack J., 19, b. IA, “

“ , George F. Jr., 9, b. MN, Pts b. IA

George & Effie m1 at ages 27 & 25 yrs. respectively.

.1 Phillip Norwood b. 13 Apr. 1908

.2 Jack Jerome b. 19 Feb. 1911

.3 George Frank b. 31 Aug. 1920

1.2.3.3.1 Hermann, Phillip Norwood b. 13 Apr. 1908, Iowa City, Johnson Co., IA, d. 30 Sep. 1988, Mercy Nursing Home, Moose Lake, Carlton Co., MN, cremated, bur. Brook Park Cem., Brook Park, Carlton Co., MN, Served as Cpl in WW #2, md. 25 Nov. 1938, Grantsburg, WI to Verna Ruth Sandell b. 24 Apr. 1916, MN, d. 9 Oct. 1993, St. Louis Co., MN, bur. Brook Park Cem. Res. 1958, Moose Lake, MN.
Ref: Allen Hermann - Phillip Norwood Hermann (also spelled Phillipp)

Phil was born April 13, 1908 at 420 No Dodge Street Iowa City IA to George and Effie Hermann. March 1, 1915 Phil moved to a farm outside Hinckley with his Father, Mother and Brother Jack. Their first house in Minnesota was a sod house, followed by a log house located under the present Highway 23 at the junction with County Road #17 about 2 miles west of Interstate 35. It was located just south of the no longer in existence District 81 School house. They eventually moved sometime before 1933 to a house which also no longer exists located south of the log house at the junction of County Road #17 and old Highway 23. Phil graduated from Brook Park High School (no longer in existence) in 1927. Phil and his brother Jack played for many years on the Mission Creek and Pine City baseball teams, Phil as an outfielder and Jack as shortstop. Phil also learned to play the violin as a child but never played later in life. Phil was employed by Great Northern Railroad for several years in the 1930’s making about $25 per week and was also a rural newspaper carrier on Sundays making about the same amount of money. He attended Lincoln Airplane & Flying School located in Lincoln Nebraska from January 1, 1938 and graduated on March 24, 1938, staying in Lincoln at 425 South 27^th St. He paid $285 for this course and did 120 hours of part-time work for his room and board. (Note: Charles Lindbergh learned to fly in Lincoln. He took lessons in 1922 at Lincoln Airplane and Flying School where Lincoln Memorial Park is today. Class rooms may also have been at 24^th & O St.)

Phil married Verna Ruth Sandell November 25, 1938 in Grantsburg Wisconsin. July 1, 1939 Phil and Verna moved to North Hollywood California where Brother Jack also was living. Phil worked as a rose gardener and later for Douglas Aircraft. While in California, Phil and Jack’s

Dad George died and they, Verna, and daughter Judy drove straight through from California to Minnesota to attend the funeral. Phil, Verna and Judy moved from California to Omaha Nebraska in about 1942. Then they moved to St. Cloud Minnesota, probably before May 1943 when son Jerry was born in Pine County, probably Rush City, and then in 1944 to Minneapolis where Phil worked for Northern Pump. In April 1945, they moved to Hinckley to a farm just north of the Sandell farm across the railroad tracks renting from Wagner Tenquist. This farm house had an unfinished upstairs and a closed in porch where bunks beds were eventually located for the boys to sleep in. Phil (Service No. 37796505) joined the Army May 1, 1945 (one day after Adolph Hitler committed suicide), serving until April 30, 1946 as a prisoner escort when he received his honorable discharge as a Corporal. During his service time he was stationed at various locations including basic training at Ft. Lewis WA, then at Ft. Oglethorpe GA, Turlock Rehabilitation Center CA, and Camp McQuaide CA. (In 1943, Camp McQuaide was converted to the West Coast Processing Center, the official stockade for all the stateside Army AWOLs and other troublemakers.) Phil also transported prisoners to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth Kansas also known as the “Castle” (a movie “The Last Castle” was made in 2001 starring Robert Redford).

While in Hinckley Phil attended Dunwoody Institute studying to be an electrician and graduated June 1, 1949. Prior to moving to Moose Lake Phil and his brother George formed Hermann Electric (electrical contractors) which was in business until about 1952. Daughter Judy attended grade school in Hinckley.

The family moved to Moose Lake June 14, 1950 (House closed August 9, 1950). Shortly after Hermann Electric ended business, Phil went to Sonderstrom Greenland for 2 nine month sessions (1952 – 1954) working to pay for the new house. While in Sonderstrom, Phil worked on the base generating system, fed Artic foxes, found some small fish fossils, made custom popcorn poppers and lived in a Quonset hut. While working here, Phil suffered some of his later hearing loss from the noise of the large generators he worked on. (See further information on Greenland below). Phil was able to get their home paid off February 8, 1954. Upon returning from Greenland, Phil worked for several years for various electrical contractors in Minnesota, including Bergren Electric. Phil joined the Moose Lake Co-op Store (no longer in existence) as hardware manager in about 1959, working there until his retirement in 1971. He was a councilman on the Moose Lake City Council for several years in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Phil was also a volunteer ambulance driver for the Moose Lake Mercy Hospital for many years. Phil enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and agate collecting and cutting/polishing all kinds of rock. Subsequent to his retirement Phil became a Master Gardner and had a gardening radio show on Radio Station WKLK in Cloquet MN and a gardening column in the Moose Lake Star Gazette. He died September 30, 1988 of heart failure while at the Moose Lake Community Hospital and was buried in Brook Park Minnesota Cemetery. (SSN 704-01-3842) 

Sonderstrom Greenland, which was also known as Sondre Stromfjord and is now called Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in west Greenland that was also known as Bluie West Eight during its time as an American Air Base. Permanent settlement of the site at the east end of Kangerlussuaq fjord commenced in 1941 with the building of the air base. Following the fall of Denmark in World War II, responsibility for the security of Greenland passed to the American military. Military leaders responded by building several bases in Greenland, the largest of which were Bluie West One in Narsassuaq in southern Greenland and Bluie West Eight at the Kangerlussuaq fjord. These two sites remain Greenland's best equipped airports. Kangerlussuaq became an important stopover point for cargo bound from the United States to Europe. The base returned briefly to Danish control in 1950 but, following mounting concerns about the Cold War

George Hermann, Phil’s brother was at Thule Greenland for several years in the mid 1950’s to early 1960’s working on the Radar installations and was able to go to Camp Century, a “city under the ice” which had the first portable nuclear reactor for power. It was 138-150 miles from Thule, and was an entire city built beneath the snow for 85-200 residents with a main tunnel 1100 feet long, 26 feet wide and 28 feet high. The camp was opened in 1959 and was officially operated by the Army Polar Research and Development Center from Fort Belvoir and closed in 1967 due to unexpected rapid flow and movement of the glacial ice.

.1 Judith Jean b. ca 1940

.2 Jerry Phillip b. 30 Apr. 1943

.3 Allen Phillip b. 19 Oct. 1945

.4 Jay Thomas b. 23 Apr. 1947
1.2.3.3.1.1 Hermann, Judith Jean b. ca 1940, m1 to Richard Frank Gillen b. 24 Feb. 1936, Dakota Co., MN, s/o Lawrence & Bonita (Bergeron) Gillen, later div.
Ref: MN Birth Index (1935-2002) – Richard Frank Gillen b. 24 Feb. 1936, Dakota Co., MN, s/o Lawrence & Bonita (Bergeron) Gillen. MN File No. – 1936-MN-039800.
Ch:

.1 Teri Rene b. 20 Jul. 1962

.2 Laurie Kay b. 8 Aug. 1963

.3 Thomas Richard b. 15 Oct. 1965

.1 Philip Stephen b. 5 May 1985

.1 Marcus Lawrence b. 6 Jan. 1987

.1 Shelley b.

.1 Paul Jay b. 11 Nov. 1971