Hermon Aiken was born in Deering, New Hampshire on November 27, 1809. Reared in Illinois, and left home at age fourteen to support himself. He arrived in Texas in 1833 and in 1835 was captain of a vessel carrying men, ammunition, and supplies for the Texas revolutionary army from New Orleans to Galveston. After the war he began a prosperous trade business. He later served in the U.S. Army during the Mexican War. Aiken served as a volunteer ranger fighting Indians on the Texas frontier.
He lived in Texas with five children from his marriage to Mary Ann (Taylor). In New Orleans he met and wed German-born Margaret E. (Louchious) and in 1851 settled near Belton on Cedar Creek. The couple had seven children, and Hermon worked as a surveyor.
Upon moving to Salado about 1859, he played an active role in the growth of Salado. He surveyed the land donated for the building of Salado College. He was one of the founders of Salado College and served on the first Board of Trustees. Hermon died in 1860 and is buried in the family plot in the Old Salado Grave Yard.
New Hampshire native Hermon (Herman) Aiken worked in Illinois and Tennessee before moving to New Orleans. There, he served as a ship’s captain taking supplies to Galveston in support of the Texas revolution. He lived in Texas by 1840. In 1846, with five children from his marriage to Mary Ann (Taylor), he wed German-born Margaret E. (Louchious) and in 1851 settled near Belton on Cedar Creek. The couple had seven children, and Hermon worked as a surveyor the family moved to Salado in 1859, and Hermon served as trustee for the New Salado College. A community leader, he was active in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Freemasons.
Ref: Grave marker in Salado cemetery
Salado Historical Society
Texas State Historical Association
