BIOGRAPHY - JOHN ZIMMERMAN
John Zimmerman, now deceased, was formerly connected with the farming interests of Drummer township, where his family yet reside. He was a son of Herman and Foskie (Halgan) Zimmerman and was born in Germany on the 23d of November, 1847. His life record covered almost fifty-one years, his death occurring on the 1st of October, 1898.
He was a young man when he came to America in 1865, attracted by the broader business opportunities which were afforded in the new world. He settled at Garber, Illinois, with his mother and sisters, who had preceded him to this country. In the public schools of his native land he had acquired his education and after reaching America he started out in business life by working upon different farms in this part of the state, being thus employed for eight years. At length, when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to justify his purchase of property, he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which he bought in 1881 at thirty-one dollars per acre. He afterward added to the property and his family now own three hundred and eighty acres of rich, productive and valuable land on section 19, Drummer township, devoted largely to the raising of corn and oats. Mr. Zimmerman improved his own land, transforming the wild tract into richly cultivated fields, while upon the farm he placed many substantial improvements.
In 1876 Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Escher, a daughter of John E. Escher, a resident farmer of Ford county. The wedding was celebrated at Paxton and unto them were born two sons and two daughters: Cynthia Ann, now the wife of A. W. Robinson, by whom she has two children; Frederick W. of Ford county, who is married and has one son; Maud, the wife of Roy Johnson and the mother of one daughter; and Herman J., who lives at home and carries on the work of the farm.
Mr. Zimmerman left his family in comfortable financial circumstances; having acquired good property. His son is now engaged in the further development of the farm, which comprises three hundred and eighty acres of arable land, devoted largely to the production of corn and oats. The father deserves much credit for the success which he accomplished, as he started out in business life empty-handed. He belonged to the Lutheran church and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. In his political views he was a republican and he served as school director but never sought nor desired political office. He felt that his time and attention were fully taken up by his business affairs and he desired above all things to provide a comfortable living for his family. When he was called to his final rest his death was deeply deplored, not only by the members of his own household but by his friends, neighbors and associates, who had learned to esteem him for his genuine worth.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 661-662
