John "Jack" C Hermes
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 9 January 1904, page 8
Drum Major "Jack" Hermes, retired, USA, known from Maine to
California, who resides on Ft Thomas Avenue, is a candidate for the vacancy of
Drum Major in the First Ohio. For many years "Jack" wielded the baton at the old
Newport Barracks, and is known by everybody as a magic manipulator of the stick.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 15 October 1904, page 8
Drum Major John C Hermes, retired USA, who has been ill for several weeks at his home on Ft Thomas av. was yesterday taken to the post hospital in the Government ambulance, suffering from cancer of the stomach.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 17 October 1904, page 8
John C Herms, known for many years in the United States Army as "Drum Major Jack" of late Drum Major of the First Regiment (ONG) Band of Cincinnati, died of stomach trouble at the post hospital, Ft Thomas, Saturday, leaving a widow and several children.
Herms was more than six feet tall and well proportioned. His commanding figure attracted much attention wherever he appeared and especially at West Point. He served as an enlisted man and was retired some years ago.
Page 10-The funeral of John C Hermes Drum Major Jacks, took place from his residence on Ft Thomas av. at 2 pm Monday. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. William Nelson Post GAR of Newport, of which deceased was a member, attended in a body and had charge of the ceremonies. The band of the First Regiment, OVI of which the deceased was a drum major, also attended.
From his long years of service as drum major of Prof. Horn's Band, at the recruiting depots at the old Newport Barracks and afterward at the Columbus O. arracks, Drum Major Jack was one of the most widely known in the army.
Retiring from active service in 1892, he resided at Columbus until 1898 when he moved with his family to this place. Drum Major Hermes never served in the Sixth Infantry himself, but a stepson John Henderson served in Company G and was mortally wounded July 1, 1898 in the charge of that regiment up San Juan Hill in front of Santiago.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 5 April 1905, page 5
The William Nelson Post, GAR of Newport has received headstones to mark the graves of the following dead soldiers who are buried in Evergreen Cemetery; George Glassburner, James Israel, J H Johnson, James Beyer, Isaac Moore, J C Herms, S H Stebbins and G J Streitz.