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."