IowaJones/Biographies/A. G. Zimmerman

A. G. Zimmerman–J. R. Zinn

A. G. Zimmerman
Born 1831

A. G. ZIMMERMAN, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 22; P.O. Monticello; born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in 1831; came to America in 1853, and to Jones Co. in 1860. Wife's maiden name was Annie Grumm, a native also of the old country; they were married in 1859; have had ten children, nine are living—Margaret, Angeline, Eliza, Garret, William, John, Sophia, Matilda and Harmon. Mr. Zimmerman owns 240 acres, eighty of which is in Section 27. Mr. Z. has been Road Supervisor for one or two terms. He and the entire family are in the Lutheran Church; he is a Republican.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 637.

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Duane Zimmerman
Born March, 1822

DUANE ZIMMERMAN, farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 27; P.O. Mechanicsville; born in March, 1822, in Berks Co., Penn., in 1855, he came to Jones Co. He owns 307 acres of land, which he entered. He has one of the best improved farms in the township, all the improvements have been made by himself, and by strict attention to business, has acquired a competence. Married Susan Kohl in February, 1841; she was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1820; have seven children—John, Henry, Nancy (now Mrs. Melton), Elizabeth (now Mrs. Blessing), Susan (now Mrs. Dr. Bradshaw), Emma (now Mrs. Saum), Ella (now Mrs. Peet). Greenbacker; United Brethren.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 589.

W. I. Zimmerman
Born 1840

W. I. ZIMMERMAN, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 9; P.O. Monticello; owns forty acres; born in Germany in 1840; came to Jones Co. in 1870. Wife's maiden name was Eliza Hayen, a native also of Germany; they were married in 1864; have six children—C. M., G. M., E. W., F. M., A. G. and A. M. Mr. Zimmerman, his wife and children are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Z. is not a voter.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 637.

W. R. Zimmerman
Born January 25, 1867

W. R. Zimmerman, a native stockman and farmer of Wayne township, was born two miles west of the old home place, January 25, 1867, and is a son of A. G. and Anna (Grumm) Zimmerman. The former was born in Aurich, Hanover, Germany, January 7, 1831, his parents being Gerd and Enke (Hanken) Zimmerman. Gerd Zimmerman died in the fatherland, but his wife passed the last years of her life in this country, whither she had been brought by her son, A. G., who had made a special trip to the land of his birth to get her. A. G. Zimmerman bad come to the United States first in 1854 and settled in Illinois. Five years later he removed to Jones county, Iowa, locating upon a farm he had purchased in Wayne township, although he had learned the trade of a shoemaker in his native land and had followed that line of work in this country for a number of years. On locating here he devoted himself exclusively to agriculture, with what result may be judged from the fact that he owned at one time five hundred and twenty acres of arable land, besides fifteen acres of timber. When he gave up the heavier duties of life and retired to Amber he divided this among his children, thereby giving them a start in life. In Amber his long life was brought to a close November 28, 1904. His widow is still residing in that village. She also was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 26th of February 1837, and at the age of nineteen came to the United States with her parents, R. E. and Margaret (Herren) Grumm. They were also natives of Hanover and passed away in Dixon, Illinois. In that state, in 1857, while Mr. Zimmerman was a resident there, he married Miss Anna Grumm, and ten children were born to them: Maggie, who is the wife of H. A. Toenjes and lives near Mr. Zimmerman; Agnes, who married Johan Burrak, of Castle Grove township; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Behrends, who lives six miles from Monticello, Iowa, on the Cascade road; Garrett, who died at the age of thirty-two, leaving three children; W. R., the subject of this sketch; John, who is a clothier of Monticello, Iowa; Sophia, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Matilda, who is the wife of George Mardorf, of Jackson township; and Herman and George, of Wayne township.

W. R. Zimmerman has always resided in Wayne township. From his childhood days he worked upon the home farm, receiving the rudiments of an English education in the district school, which he attended during the few winter months it was in session. Until he married the responsibility of conducting the place rested wholly upon his father ' but when he became twenty-two and had the man's natural desire to have a home of his own he assumed the full management of the land on which he now lives. It embraces one hundred and eighty acres, lying on sections 22 and 26, Wayne township, on which Mr. Zimmerman follows general farming and engages to some extent in the raising of stock and also in dairying, for he has a herd of twenty-four cows. He owns seven acres of timber on section 34, the same township, which is steadily increasing in value, as are his arable fields. The latter are maintained under a high state of cultivation and the farm is well improved, the character of the buildings evincing the progressive methods of the owner.

In 1889 Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Katie Doring, a daughter of Henry and Anna (Helgens) Doring. Her parents were also natives of Hanover, Germany, but Mrs. Zimmerman was born in Castle Grove township, this county, in i870. Five children have been born to the couple: Anna, Minnie, Hattie, Rena and Freda. The family are consistent members of the Lutheran church, in accordance with whose teachings they try to order their lives, and take an active part in the religious and social work of the big congregation. Politically, while Mr. Zimmerman inclines more to the Democratic Party, he is in reality independent, viewing issues from all sides and casting his vote and influence for what he believes to be for the best interests of his fellow citizens. Of the company organized to promote the advancement of the dairymen of his township, the Co-operative Creamery Company of Amber, he is a stockholder.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 600.

Hanry A. Zinn
Born 1872

Hanry A. Zinn, president of the Electric Light & Power Company of Anamosa, is numbered among the representative business men of the city, whose efforts are a potent force in the commercial development and progress here. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1872, his parents being J. R. and Almanda (Boyer) Zinn, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. On leaving that state in 1877, they removed to western Kansas, where they lived for about three years, and then became residents of Missouri, where they continued to reside until coming to Jones county, Iowa, in 1895. The father died in 1897 at the age of forty-six years and is still survived by the mother, who now resides at Oxford Mills, this county.

Hanry A. Zinn spent his youthful days under the parental roof, his time being divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were assigned him by parental authority. On attaining his majority he left home and started in the business world on his own account. He sought and secured employment with the Dubuque Milling & Turbine Company, remaining with them for about seven months, after which he engaged with the firm of Barnard & Lees at Moline, Illinois. There he remained for three years, after which, in company with his father, he engaged in the milling business at Oxford Mills, Jones county, under the firm name of T. R. Zinn & Son. His previous experience had well qualified him for work of this character and his practical training and business enterprise proved forceful elements in the success of the enterprise. Soon after the. business was established, however, the father died and Mr. Zinn continued to operate the mill alone until 1900. In that year, he and his brother, F. E. Zinn, organized what was known as the Electric Light & Power Company, the plant being located at Oxford Mills and furnishing outside light and power to Oxford Junction and Wyoming. This undertaking proved a profitable venture and led Hanry A. Zinn to extend his efforts into other fields. In 1902 he organized what is known as the Oxford Junction Telephone Company, establishing a local exchange at Oxford Junction and connecting it with lines at Clarence, Wyoming and other points. He was an active factor in the work of this company until establishing his present business in Anamosa,

It was in 1905 that he was instrumental in organizing the Electric Light & Power Company of Anamosa, which is capitalized for thirty-five thousand dollars, with Hanry A. Zinn as the president; F. E. Zinn as vice president; Park Chambering as secretary; and George Schoonover as treasurer. Mr. Zinn is one of the best known representatives of electric light interests in this part of the state. he still retains his financial interests in the Zinn Electric Light & Power Company and in the telephone company, while at the present time he is bending his energies to administrative directions as the head of the Electric Light & Power Company of Anamosa. His work in this connection is of a most practical character, leading to substantial results, and he has secured for the company a large patronage that makes this business one of the profitable enter prises of the city. He is also in partnership with his brother, as the owners of a ranch of forty-three hundred acres in North Dakota, all in one body.

In the year 1901 Hanry A. Zinn was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Ruley, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Curren) Ruley. The father is a native of Bohemia and the mother of Jones county, Iowa. Four children have been born of this marriage—Norma, Keven, Kathaline and Margaret. The family are prominent socially in the community, having a large circle of warm friends here, while the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them.

In politics Mr. Zinn is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. He is associated with the Catholic church and is interested in all those things which are factors in municipal progress or which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride. In his business career he has made steady progress owing to his wise and intelligent appreciation and use of opportunities whereby he has come into important business connections, being numbered among the representative men of Anamosa.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 286.

J. R. Zinn Jr.
Born September 20, 1851

J. R. Zinn, Jr., deceased, was for two years prominent in the business circles of Oxford Mills successfully conducting the milling interests of this place. He was born in Pennsylvania, September 20, 1851, a son of Jacob R. and Elizabeth (Emig) Zinn, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, and there they also passed away.

J. R. Zinn, one of nine children born of his father's marriage, was reared in his native state and acquired his education in the common schools. During the period of his boyhood and youth he learned the milling business and in 1877, seeking the broader opportunities of the west, he removed to Russell county, Kansas, remaining in that state two years, when he took up his abode in Cedar county, Missouri, where he lived until 1895. In that year he came to Oxford Mills and purchasing the mill at this place conducted it until his death, which occurred on the 23d of December, 1897. Although his residence here was of short duration, he made many friends, while his business interests were conducted in such a straightforward manner as to commend him to the good will and patronage of the public.

It was while still a resident of the east that Mr. Zinn was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Amanda L. Boyer, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Solomon and Louise (Lenhart) Boyer, who were also natives of that state. The father, who was born in 1819, departed this life December 3, 1908, when he had reached the extreme old age of eighty-nine years. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring October 29, 1889, when in her seventy-ninth year, for her birth occurred December 17, 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer's family numbered three children: Elwin, deceased; Aaron, still a resident of Pennsylvania; and Mrs. Zinn.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Zinn were born eight children, namely: Harry A., a resident of Anamosa, Iowa; Kathryn, at home; George S., who has passed away; Nettie E., the wife of Charles Brink, a resident of Sioux county, Iowa; Frank E., who makes his home in Oxford Junction; Charles A., at home; and J. W. and Marian B., who have passed away. Mr. Zinn was a democrat in his political belief but was never active as an office seeker. He belonged to the Odd Fellows lodge at Eldorado Springs, Missouri, while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the German Reformed Lutheran church. in the faith of which he passed away at a comparatively early age, being but forty-six years old at the time of his death. He was a man of excellent habits, possessing unquestionable integrity, and was most devoted to his family. Mrs. Zinn, who is a member of the German Lutheran church, occupies a fine residence in Oxford Mills, where she enjoys the friendship of a large circle of people.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 281.