Herman Weiss came to Kansas in 1877. He was one of the ten men who signed a constitution as charter members of Zion Lutheran Church.

Christian Hermann "Herman" Weiss was born in Germany in 1852. At age 20, he came to America and settled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, where Christena Siebert was born in 1854. The two were married on June 4, 1874.

Two of their eleven children were born in Illinois before Herman headed west to Kansas.

In October 1877, Herman rode the train for five days and homesteaded on land south and west of Offerle. Christena and the two little boys arrived in December. Like many settlers before them, the first few years were a challenge to establish a family farm. Herman worked for the railroad as it was extending into Colorado. Christena did her part by selling eggs and homemade butter to citizens in Dodge City. She would travel along Butter and Egg Road.

For several years, Christena found employment in Dodge City as a domestic, and Herman worked as a carpenter for the Santa Fe Railroad. On September 23, 1891, their house burned, but neighbors were able to save their stock and outbuildings.

Nevertheless, the Weiss family persevered through the difficulties and would finally prosper. The Dodge City Kansas Journal of May 1911 reports, "Herman Weiss has 7,500 bushels of old wheat on hand and 346 acres planted, 18 head of horses, 98 cattle and 14 hogs.

Herman was active in community affairs, serving as president of Farmers State Bank and one of the Offerle Co-op Grain and Supply organizers.

A tragic accident occurred on March 2, 1910, as Herman and Christena traveled to Kinsley. Their team of horses became spooked by a passing railroad train. Christena tried to help by holding the horses but lost her balance and fell out of the wagon. Herman got the team under control and went back to check on her. Herman helped Christena back into the wagon. Her only complaint was knee pain.

Upon reaching Kinsley, a doctor was summoned, but Christena insisted she was okay. Later in the evening, she became incoherent, and Herman again asked for the doctor. Unfortunately, he did not arrive on time, and she died the following day. After her death, the examination revealed bruises on her stomach and groin, indicating she suffered internal injuries.

Herman died in 1939. They share the same stone with their children and grandchildren in Zion Lutheran Cemetery.