In 1783, Revolutionary War hero Gen. Henry Dearborn built Monmouth's first framed house. In his honor, the town was named for the Battle of Monmouth, where Dearborn had distinguished himself. The area's lakes, streams, and fertile soil helped early farmers and manufacturers to prosper, and soon the area was renowned for its Ben Davis apples and Monmouth moccasins. Monmouth is a compilation of historic images capturing the everyday lives of the hardy and hardworking individuals that created the town's fascinating history. Photographs document three of the five devastating fires to the town's center between 1885 and 1913, as well as the creation of the town's centerpiece, Cumston Hall, designed by architect, artist, author, and composer Harry Hayman Cochrane.