Taken from--"Compendium of History Reminiscence & Biography of Western Nebraska" page 524


WILLIAM H. ZIMMERMAN

   
    For the past quarter of a century the gentleman above named has been closely identified with the development and civilization of Sioux county, Nebraska. He is proprietor of one of the finest estates in that region, his residence being in section 27, township 33, range 55, where he enjoys a pleasant home and many friends, a fitting reward for his many years of hard labor and effort.

     William H. Zimmerman was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1848. on a farm. His father, Samuel, was of German descent, a miller by trade, and the family spent quite a long time in Bedford county. Pennsylvania, where our subject grew up. He learned the miller's trade as a boy and worked at it for several years, also was on the public works for a time at Riddleburg Furnace, Pennsylvania. In 1885 he left the east and came to Nebraska, locating in Sioux county, teaming from Blair, camping out during the journey, and finally picking out a homestead on section 27, township 33, range 55. During the first years he followed railroad work in South Dakota and to the west of Chadron, also helped build the Chadron roundhouse. Finally with his family he settled on his farm permanently, erecting a good log house and adding improvements as he was able, and has of late erected a fine frame residence, modern and up-to-date. He worked his farm during the summers, and for five winters worked in the coal mines in Wyoming in order to lay by a little money. When the dry years came along he suffered severe losses from crop failures, and finally gave up trying to farm, working into the stock business, and from that time on met with better success. He has built up a splendid ranch, consisting of eleven hundred and sixty acres, having plenty of good pasture range and hay land for his cattle, Sow Bellie creek running through the place. He has about seventy-five acres irrigated and raises good crops of small grain, etc.

      In 1873 Mr. Zimmerman was married to Miss Maggie A. Snyder in Bedford county. Pennsylvania, whose father, Adam, was a farmer in that vicinity, and she was raised there. Eight children have resulted from this union - George E. (deceased), Myrtle, Samuel I., Lillie, Eli D., Emery E., Clarence S. and Grover C.

     Since locating in this region the family has experienced all the joys and sorrows of pioneer life in the west, and have seen much suffering and privation. One incident in particular occurred in the year 1895, when the roof of their house was blown off during a windstorm, taking away the entire upstairs of their house. Mr. Zimmerman has done his share in the upbuilding of the locality, and aided materially in establishing the schools there. He has held the office of precinct assessor for five years. Politically he is a Democrat, and an earnest worker for party principles.