George H Zimmerman
Posted by Shanna Flaherty-Pierce on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 Under: Biographies
This was sent to me by e-mail by Julie (Zimmerman) Ellicott of Abbeville, GA.
'History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania' E. Howard Blackburn, pages 525 - 527: George H. Zimmerman, a well known citizen of Yellow Creek, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, who is serving at present as county commissioner of Bedford county, has held a number of other public positions and is prominently identified with the financial, social and political affairs of the county, being as well one of the foremost farmers of that section.
He traces his descent to Germany. "Samuel Zimmerman, father of George H. Zimmerman, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvaina, in 1822. He was a son of Jacob Zimmerman, who was a tailor by trade and emigrated to this country from Germany. Samuel Zimmerman was apprenticed to the trade of millwrighting and milling, and for many years was engaged in this line of business. He removed to Woodbury in 1850 and assisted in the erection of the first gristmill in that borough. He located in Yellow Creek, Hopewell township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, two years later, and followed the milling business there for four and one-half years. His next home was Ott's Mills, then known as Bowser's Mills, in Colerain township, where he resided for four years and then returned to Hopewell township, where he continued in the milling business for about six years. Financial reverses compelled him to retire form this line of enterprise and during his later years he was variously engaged.
Recently he has turned his entire attention to farming, and, while he is a man well advanced in years, his wonderful vitality and energy enable him to accomplish more than many men of half his years. He has always been a staunch Democrat in politics, and his counsel is highly esteemed by his party. He married (first) Rosanna Penner, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, 1827, daughter of Peter and Mary Penner and granddaughter of ____ Penner, a prominent farmer of Franklin county. Mrs. Zimmerman died in 1861 [note from Ellen -- she's in the Yellow Creek Cemetery]. The children of this marriage were nine in number, seven of whom are now (1906)............ Samuel Zimmerman married (second) Adeline Reed, of Liberty township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and they had nine children......... "George H. Zimmerman, eldest surviving child of Samuel and Rosanna (Penner) Zimmerman, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1847. He attended the public schools of the district, acquiring a fairly good education, and until his fifteenth year lived with his parents. During this period he learned the trade of milling under the able tuition of his father, and in 1863 went to Hopewell. For a period of two years he was employed in the hotel of Michael Eichelberger, and during the next five years was engaged in milling and various other occupations.
For twenty years subsequent to his marriage he was actively engaged in the coal mining business, then turned his attention to farming and the lumber trade, making lumbering the main interest of his business career. In this he has been very successful, his keen business methods and sterling integrity having gained for him the confidence and respect of the commercial community. He has for many years been prominently identified with the political affairs of the county, being a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and his voice and influence are dominant in all the political meetings of the county. He held the office of constable for fifteen years with credit to himself and benefit to the community, served efficiently as tax collector for fourteen years and was elected to the office of county commissioner of Bedford county in the fall of 1905. This office he is now holding to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member of the Progressive Brethren church, in whose work he takes an active part, is trustee of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is one of the most influential residents of the county, shirking neither time nor personal labor where the interests and improvement of the county are at stake.
He married, 1868, Mary L. Bowers, daughter of George Bowers, a well known farmer of Hopewell township, and they have had twelve children, ten of whom are now (1906) living: Samuel E., miner, resided in Hopewell borough; William H. H., farmer, of Hopewell township; Charles W., miner, resided in Six-Mile Run, Bedford county, Pennsylvania; James H., farmer, of Hopewell township; Margerie V., married Edgar Smouse, resides in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania; Mary M. resides with her parents; John M., teacher, and Luverna M. (twins), both residing with their parents; Robert R., farmer, of Hopewell township; Benjamin F., resides with his parents."
He traces his descent to Germany. "Samuel Zimmerman, father of George H. Zimmerman, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvaina, in 1822. He was a son of Jacob Zimmerman, who was a tailor by trade and emigrated to this country from Germany. Samuel Zimmerman was apprenticed to the trade of millwrighting and milling, and for many years was engaged in this line of business. He removed to Woodbury in 1850 and assisted in the erection of the first gristmill in that borough. He located in Yellow Creek, Hopewell township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, two years later, and followed the milling business there for four and one-half years. His next home was Ott's Mills, then known as Bowser's Mills, in Colerain township, where he resided for four years and then returned to Hopewell township, where he continued in the milling business for about six years. Financial reverses compelled him to retire form this line of enterprise and during his later years he was variously engaged.
Recently he has turned his entire attention to farming, and, while he is a man well advanced in years, his wonderful vitality and energy enable him to accomplish more than many men of half his years. He has always been a staunch Democrat in politics, and his counsel is highly esteemed by his party. He married (first) Rosanna Penner, born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, 1827, daughter of Peter and Mary Penner and granddaughter of ____ Penner, a prominent farmer of Franklin county. Mrs. Zimmerman died in 1861 [note from Ellen -- she's in the Yellow Creek Cemetery]. The children of this marriage were nine in number, seven of whom are now (1906)............ Samuel Zimmerman married (second) Adeline Reed, of Liberty township, Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and they had nine children......... "George H. Zimmerman, eldest surviving child of Samuel and Rosanna (Penner) Zimmerman, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 7, 1847. He attended the public schools of the district, acquiring a fairly good education, and until his fifteenth year lived with his parents. During this period he learned the trade of milling under the able tuition of his father, and in 1863 went to Hopewell. For a period of two years he was employed in the hotel of Michael Eichelberger, and during the next five years was engaged in milling and various other occupations.
For twenty years subsequent to his marriage he was actively engaged in the coal mining business, then turned his attention to farming and the lumber trade, making lumbering the main interest of his business career. In this he has been very successful, his keen business methods and sterling integrity having gained for him the confidence and respect of the commercial community. He has for many years been prominently identified with the political affairs of the county, being a staunch supporter of the Republican party, and his voice and influence are dominant in all the political meetings of the county. He held the office of constable for fifteen years with credit to himself and benefit to the community, served efficiently as tax collector for fourteen years and was elected to the office of county commissioner of Bedford county in the fall of 1905. This office he is now holding to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is a member of the Progressive Brethren church, in whose work he takes an active part, is trustee of the church and superintendent of the Sunday school. He is one of the most influential residents of the county, shirking neither time nor personal labor where the interests and improvement of the county are at stake.
He married, 1868, Mary L. Bowers, daughter of George Bowers, a well known farmer of Hopewell township, and they have had twelve children, ten of whom are now (1906) living: Samuel E., miner, resided in Hopewell borough; William H. H., farmer, of Hopewell township; Charles W., miner, resided in Six-Mile Run, Bedford county, Pennsylvania; James H., farmer, of Hopewell township; Margerie V., married Edgar Smouse, resides in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania; Mary M. resides with her parents; John M., teacher, and Luverna M. (twins), both residing with their parents; Robert R., farmer, of Hopewell township; Benjamin F., resides with his parents."
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