Erle Cullen Herman

b. 30 December 1887, d. 8 December 1966

Erle Cullen Herman, 1887-1966
  • Erle Cullen Herman was born on 30 December 1887 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • His name was recorded as Dexheimer in his Philadelphia birth record, without a given name.
  • Charles Herman Dexheimer and Margaret Rutherford Cullen appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Camden, Camden County, New Jersey, at 227 Cooper. Other members of the household included Erle Cullen Herman, Rutherford Herman. Also in the household is servant Betty Banks, age 40.
  • Erle Cullen Herman registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey, while single and living at 181 Valley Road in Montclair, employed as assistant to the sales manager for the Barrett Company chemical department in New York City.
  • He served during World War I as a captain, Chemical Warfare Service.
  • Margaret Rutherford Cullen appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Manhattan, New York, at 50 West 94th Street. Other members of the household included Erle Cullen Herman, Rutherford Herman.
  • He applied for a passport on 23 January 1920 while living in New York City. intending to visit Cuba, deaprting about 1 February 1920 from Key West, Florida..
  • He was manager of a coal tar products business, according to the 1920 census.
  • Erle Cullen Herman arrived in the Port of New York on 9 March 1920, aboard the SS Morro Castle, having departed Havana on the 5th.
  • The following appeared on 27 June 1920 in the Philadelphia Inquirer: Dr. and Mrs. Joseph F. C. Luhan, of 220 East Seventy-second street, New York city, have announced the engagement of their daughter, Olga Marie, to Mr. Erle Cullen Herman, formerly of Germantown. During the war Mr. Herman held a commission as captain in the Chemical Warfare Service, U. S. A., and was detailed for service with the Gas Defense Division.
  • He married Olga Marie Luhan, daughter of Franz Josef Chmelicek and Emily J. Rezac, on 19 October 1920 in Manhattan, New York, at St. James Church.
  • The following appeared on 26 October 1920 in The New York Times: Dr. J. F. C. Luhan and Mrs. Luhan of 220 East Seventy-second Street, announce the marriage of their daughter, Miss Olga Marie Luhan, to Erle Cullen Herman on Oct. 19 at St. James's Church. The Bride's only attendant was her sister, Miss Betty Luhan.
  • Erle Cullen Herman and Olga Marie Luhan appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Woodmere, Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, at 130 Prospect Avenue. Other members of the household included Dorothy Emily Herman and Erle Cullen Herman Jr.
  • He was proprietor of a chemical corporation, according to the 1930 census.
  • Erle Cullen Herman and Olga Marie Luhan appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Hewlett, Nassau County, New York, at 9 Princeton. Other members of the household included Dorothy Emily Herman and Erle Cullen Herman Jr. In 1935 the family was living in Woodmere, Nassau County.
  • He was a salesman of chemicals, according to the 1940 census.
  • The following appeared on 19 December 1956 in the Long Island Star-Journal: After hearing Mrs. Mimi Boomhower declared legally dead by a Los Angeles judge, a Rego Park brother-in-law expressed the belief that she was murdered for the diamonds she wore.
         Erle C. Herman Sr. of 61-10 Alderton street said he had been suspicious of foul play since the attractive, 48-year-old widow of Novice Boomhower mysteriously vanished from her Bel-Air Calif., home Aug. 18, 1949.
         "Mimi was always wearing three or four pieces of valuable jewelry worth around $25,000," Herman told reporters yesterday.
         "I think she was spotted by a person or persons who found out that she lived alone. I believe she was abducted in a car and murdered for those jewels," he declared.
         Herman's wife, Olga, said today she concurred in her husband's "suspicion," but added that Bel-Air police have thus far been unable to uncover a "single piece of evidence" which might substantiate it.
         Yesterday Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Harold W. Schweitzer, noting that the required seven-year statutory period had elapsed, declared Mrs. Boomhower legally dead.
         The judge appointed Herman executor of the Boomhower estate, consisting of $36,000 in government bonds. Under law the bonds will be held in trust for three years.
         A handwritten will dated march 1, 1946, leaves the estate in equal parts to a brother, Joseph L. Luhan of Paris, and three sisters -- Herman's wife, Olga; Mrs. Josephine Shomo of Gulfport, Fla., and Mrs. Betty Vogt of Morristown, N. J.
  • At the time of his death Erle Cullen Herman was living in Margate, Broward County, Florida, at 1533 West River Drive.
  • Erle Cullen Herman died on 8 December 1966 at age 78 in Plantation, Broward County, Florida, at Doctors Hospital.
  • Olga Marie Luhan became a widow at his death.
  • He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.
  • Last Edited: 18 Oct 2014

Family: Olga Marie Luhan b. 23 June 1895, d. 16 January 1985