Herman, J. M.

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He is listed in the 1916, 1917, 1918 , 1919 and 1920 Chandler City Directories as an apiarist, or beekeeper.

-Mr. Herman is a well known bee man, who has just purchased 35 acres of land in Chandler. Ten acres in alfalfa in section 15, and 20 acres are in section 27 on unimproved land.

He plans to go into the bee business at an extensive level. He has 400 hives, and has also bought five acres from D.M. Arnold, a short distance west of town. He will use it for his home place and build hives and other buildings on it.

The reason for the distance between fields is so the beees can swarm different fields. He recently sold his land in Casa Grande. He now can handle a larger amount of bees.

Mr. Arnold and George C. Smith handled the sale. (Chandler Arizonan 6/6/1913)

-Mr. Herman has exchanged his contract with the Chandler Improvement Company for a deed for his different pieces of land. (Chandler Arizonan 6/27/1913)

-Mr. Herman has completed three bee sheds on his place west of town. The sheds are 200 feet in length, and are covered with sheet iron. Hives for the bees will fill the sheds. (Chandler Arizonan 7/4/1913)

-Mr. Herman holds the 1912 record for the largest apiary in the world. He was awarded this honor by Ernest Root of Gleanings and Bee Culture. He had 900 hives.

At the time of the record, all his bees were kept on the same piece of land, but now has spread out. He can no longer hold the recorrd.

He still keeps 800 colonies, but has to change to alfalfa honey, since the mesquite is disappearing due to encroachment of settlers. Mesquite honey gets more money.

He plans to ship out a carload of honey of 290 mesquite and 140 alfalfa honey cases.

He's been in the bee business most of his life, and he doesn't wear protection. He says he is imperfious to stings. It's like a fly biting him. (Chandler Arizonan 7/25/1913)

-Mr. Herman is building a warehouse, 20 x 50 feet, with cement floors to be used for storage for his honey. He wants it built by the railroad for easy shipping. It will cost about $2,000, and will be fireproof. (Chandler Arizonan 8/15/1913)