Wheat History

Although the town of Hermleigh was surveyed in 1907, its roots were established much earlier elsewhere and later transplanted here.

According to post office records, the post office that eventually became Hermleigh had its beginning two miles northeast of here on the Polnac farm, now known as the James Davidson place. The post office was called "Wheat". So when the townsite was surveyed for Hermleigh Wheat was pulled up by the roots and transplanted here; Two general stores, a cotton gin and the post office. With it came postmaster G.W. McCall, father of the late Mrs. Alice Peterson, longtime resident of Hermleigh. Mrs. Peterson was the mother of Mrs. A.L. McMillan of Snyder.

The first Hermleigh post office records are dated July 1, 1907, five years after McCall became postmaster at Wheat where he had a store.

According to an article in an old issue of The Hermleigh Herald, citizens called this town Hermlin, in honor of the two men on whose land the town was built; R.C. Herm and Harry W. Harlin. But postal authorities would not accept the name because it was so similar to that of another town in the state. (Hamlin) So the town was named Hermleigh.

A record of post office boxes rented in 1907 shows that there are two banks; Exchange Bank and First State Bank. Other businesses: Higginbotham Lumber Co., Holliday and Gentry Hardware, and The Hermleigh Herald. The late B.Y. Rea was connected with the bank as long as it was here, serving at one time as president.

The First Baptist Church had its beginning about 1890 six miles south-east of Hermleigh in the Browning school house. The late O.L. Barfoot, father of Alton Barfoot and of Mrs. Eva May Brackeen, both of Hermleigh, and the late Rev C.E. Leslie attended services there in the early 1890s. The organized church moved its membership to Wheat where it held services in the schoolhouse. After the town of Hermleigh had its beginning, the First Baptist Church built a house on the northeast side of the Santa Fe railroad near where the stock pens later stood. That church burned. The next church building was erected on Highway 84 where it now stands. The Rev C.E. Leslie was pastor of this first church to be built in Hermleigh for many years. The first house in town was built by George Mayo, uncle of Gaither Mayo and it stood where the house stands that is known as the Joe Nachlinger house.