John Edwin Zimmerman

As printed in 1889

OHN EDWIN ZIMMERMAN, of t- j Smithville, Wayne Co., Ohio, is the youngest son of John and Mary (Strock) Zimmerman, who have been residents of the county for forty years, and are probably the oldest married couple in the county, having lived together for nearly sixty-four years. The paternal grandparents of our subject, George and Elizabeth (Lyttle) Zimmerman, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Germantown, and the latter in Chester. The father was of German extraction, his parents having come to this country prior to the Revolution. The mother was of Scotch. -Irish descent. George Zimmerman was a currier by trade, and lived in Philadelphia until after his marriage. On the breaking out of the yellow fever there, in 1801, he removed to Germantown, and shortly after to Lancaster County, Penn., where he and his wife died, he aged sixty-one, and she seventy-three.

John Zimmerman, father of our subject, lived in Lancaster until he was nineteen, when he went to Mechanicsburg, Cumberland Co., Penn., where he worked at cabinetmaking and house carpentering, and later helped to build the State capitol, at Harrisburg, Penn. On the completion of the State house he returned to Cumberland County, and again engaged in cabinetmaking until IS IS, when he removed to Ohio, living the first six months in Now

Carlisle, Clarke County, then coming to Smithville, Wayne County, where lie has ever since lived. There he engaged in merchandising for three years, and then again started the cabinet-making, carrying it on until 1884, when he retired, giving up the business to his sons. March 3, 1825, John Zimmerman was married to Mary Strode, who was born in Pennsylvania August 31, 1802. They are the parents of three sons and two daughters. Two are deceased. Joseph died October 6, 18 40, aged twenty years and nine months, and Mary Emily died May 19, IS 55. The survivors are Manuel S., married to Sarah Ginley, carrying on cabinet-making and undertaking with his brother, and John E., our subject. The daughter is Adeline, wife of Henry Willaman, of Canton, Ohio. John Zimmerman was for two years a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature, and since coming to Ohio has held several important offices. For fourteen years he was justice of the peace, and for almost as long a time was notary public. He was an executor and administrator, and settled many states, his first experience in that line I being in Pennsylvania sixty-three years ago. He has enjoyed in a marked degree the confidence of his neighbors, who felt safe in entrusting their business in his hands. He and his wife are members of the Church of God of Smithville. For nearly fifty years he was an elder, but the growing infirmities of age caused his resignation. During all the many years they have been residents of Smithville he and his wife have ever enjoyed the respect and esteem of their neighbors, as most upright and honorable persons and consistent Christians, and now, well advanced in years, can look back with satisfaction to a life well spent.

John Edwin Zimmerman was born in Cumberland County, Penn., September 25, 1834. He came to Ohio with his parents, and since their removal to Smithville has ever since made that place his home. He learned his father’s trade of cabinet-making, working with the latter until his retirement,, when, as stated, he and his brother Manuel took the business. They also do undertaking, which has become the principal part of their trade. On May 2, 18G4, John E. and his brother Manuel enlisted for 100 days in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, serving four months. November 9, 1805, he was married to Isabella, daughter of William and Maria Greenamyer, of whose family a full history is given under the name of P. S. Greenamyer. She was born in Columbiana, Ohio, January 30, 1840. They have one child, a son, named William G., now twenty-one years of age, who lives with his parents. Mr. Zimmerman has been treasurer of the township, and has also held other positions of trust. He is a friend to education, and is one of the incorporators of the Northern Ohio Normal School. He is a member of Davidson Post, No. 400, G. A. II., and as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed.

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.