SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Frederick Zimmermann, Page 219

FREDERICK ZIMMERMANN, of Sheboygan, is one of the representative early settlers of Sheboygan County.  The time of his arrival at the North Pier of the Evergreen City was the 5th of June, 1848, and he has been a resident of this county ever since.  He was born on the 24th of November, 1825, at Greenrade, province of Brandenburg, Germany.  His parents were Gottfried and Caroline (Thieme) Zimmermann.  The father was a shepherd by occupation in his native land.

    In the early part of 1848, the family, consisting of parents and children, seven sons and one daughter, left their native land for the New World on the sailing-vessel "Howard", commanded by Capt. Paulsen.  After a voyage of five weeks and three days they landed at the port of New York.  It might be interesting to state that this was the fortieth trip of Capt. Paulsen across the Atlantic.  On the 5th of June, as above mentioned, they arrived in Sheboygan, forty-five years ago.  Traveling at that time was quite a different thing from that of the present day.  The route pursued from New York was by way of the Hudson River to Albany, thence by railroad to Buffalo, and thence by Lake Erie, Huron and Michigan to Sheboygan.  The time consumed from New York to Sheboygan was fifteen days, a few days' stop being made at some of the principal points, as Rochester and Buffalo.

    The family settled on a farm in Wilson Township, purchasing a quarter-section of land of one John Plath, and two years later added one hundred and twenty acres to the original farm.  The father died March 16, 1873, aged seventy-three years, three months and twenty-four days.  Two years later the wife and mother was removed to the city of Sheboygan and lived with her daughter Caroline, and now Mrs. Ferdinand Georges, until her death, which occurred October 23, 1885, she having reached the advanced age of eighty years.  The eight children of Gottfried Zimmermann and wife are all living except one son, Gottlieb, who died in Manitowoc of cholera in 1854.  The seven surviving members of the family are, in the order of their births, Frederick; Gottfried, who resides in the Evergreen City; Louis, who resides on a farm in the town of Wilson; William, who resides in Marathon County; Emil, a resident of Chicago; Mrs. Caroline Georges, who is the next; and Theodore, who lives in St. Louis.

    The subject of the sketch lived at home with his parents about three years after coming to Sheboygan County.  After living one a rented farm for two years, he bought land (school land) on section 16, in the town of Wilson.  On this land he lived until the fall of 1862, when he removed to Sheboygan and has since made that city his home.

    In the town of Wilson Mr. Zimmermann filled all the offices from Pathmaster to Supervisor.  He was elected County Clerk at the November election in 1862, which office he held for the succeeding six years, from January, 1863, to January, 1869.  After the expiration of his official duties he engaged in the boot and shoe business for five years.  He was then for several years engaged in life and fire insurance business.  Mr. Zimmermann has held the office of Notary Public since 1863.

    On September 15, 1852, occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Christine Brehm, a native of Hesse-Cassel, born in the town of Ellingshausen, December 24, 1824.  Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann have had eight children, three of whom died in early childhood.  Two sons and three daughters survive, as follows: Edward F. W., of Sheboygan; Minnie M. C., wife of Jacob Conrad, of St. Louis; William E., of the Chair City; Bertha T. and Emily P.

    Mr. Zimmermann is one of the well known citizens of this county.  In the political relations, he has generally voted with the Democratic party.  He and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.