Music from the Hog Farm

Free Frank is the most celebrated person in the New Philadelphia area. But we remember his step-great grandson, Hermes Zimmerman who farmed at Hadley, sang, preached, and had a music publishing company in the same place. We celebrate his accomplishments during Black History Month.

Hermes was a stepson of George McWorter who married Hermes’ mother; they moved from Louisana, MO to Hadley township in 1895 when Hermes was seven years old. He said, “There were less than six colored families in our farming community, and our first school was rural and mixed. The fact that ours was a mixed school had one advantage. Our mother made us study

all the harder. She said, “You show your teacher that colored children can learn! If you don’t lead your class, you will get this switch when you come home.” We led.” (from “Highways to Faith” by Craig Dougan)

Sister Estelle and brother Sylvester were older than Hermes, but all were taught Bible stories by their grandmother. “Our mother taught us about American Patriots.” Education and music were important.  “Our mother was the community piano teacher; she taught all who wanted to learn, regardless of race. My sister kept at it and became one of the finest pianists in the Middle West. I worked at it too, but my mind was on the baseball and other games.” 

While a child in New Philadelphia Hermes served as church organist and pianist at neighborhood parties. “I did all the popular tunes of the day in “double bass.” Double Bass” was the granddaddy of modern “bebop.”

From grade school in Hadley, the Zimmerman children went to high school in Louisiana and stayed with their grandmother. After graduation, they went to Lincoln College in Jefferson City, MO. Hermes said, “I went to college, in the family tradition but not to become a teacher. I wanted to raise prize-winning Duroc Jersey hogs; I had made a special study of the animals.”

But Hermes was called by his uncle to re-establish a school in Missouri –it was successful– then the uncle called him again to establish another school. That accomplished, he went home where his brother was ill with Tuberculosis. When he died, Hermes realized their plans were lost and he needed a change. It came with Professor Aaron E. Malone of Quincy to travel and sell encyclopedias. This job took him over the Midwest.

He became ill on a trip and bought a train ticket to Illinois. “In Hadley, I specialized again in Duroc Jersey hogs; I hoped to raise some so good they could be entered in the International Livestock Show in Chicago. But Malone and his wife visited us; they urged me to come to St. Louis, MO for the opening of the new Poro College. I said: “No. Too busy with my livestock.” My mother said: “Go help them. They need you.”

“At this gathering, I was inspired to write my song “The Chief Cornerstone,”. Music critics spoke well of it, and I was listed as an American composer.”

From Poro Collee, Hermes returned to his livestock but felt the call of ministry and was advised to attend Garrett Theological school at Northwestern University. 

While a student at Garrett, he started a church in Harvey and was noted in the McHenry Plaindealer newspaper (Feb. 12, 1925). “Mr. Hermes Zimmerman entertained…his compositions showed genius

and the soul of the black race. He gave the following numbers as his own: “I Want to be Ready,” “The Chief Corner Stone,” “America, First and Forever” and “The Oriole.”

The Oakland California Tribune of March 21, 1926, picked up the news. “Hermes Zimmerman, negro composer has the national distribution of his “America, First and Forever”, a hit with Chicago and

Evanston school supervisors and translated into eight languages. “It will be sung in public high schools where emigrants are receiving free instruction on the fundamentals of Americanism.” 

Despite all the churches, Hermes started in Illinois and Wisconsin (Beloit and Milwaukee), he wanted his music publishing company to remain on the farm. If Hershey’s Chocolate Co. and Jones Sausage Co. could have their offices on their farms, so could the Corinthian Music Publishing Company be at New Philadelphia where he raised his Duroc pigs. 

Hermes is buried in Louisiana, MO but still celebrated. His march “American First and Forever” was performed by the Quincy Park Bank, directed by William Camphouse of Perry, IL last summer (2021).

Thank you to Marynel Corton for the Hermes Zimmerman picture and information