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Author: dancooper1
Surnames: Zimmerman
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.zimmerman/377.496.1/mb.ashx
Message Board Post:
Since there have been no responses, I can only assume that either I have no common threads
to the Val Zimmermans in question here, or that I was incomplete in my original query. So
to cover the last possibility, I include the following info on the one with whom I am
familiar:
This Val Zimmerman was born in central Germany, relatively near Frankfort. He became a
shoemaker, and at about the age of 20 left for the United States, landing at New York,
October 20, 1865.
He couldn't speak a word of English at that time, but luckily met a man whose business
needed an accomplished shoemaker, and relocated to Rochester, IN, in 1866. He worked
there for only six months before saving enough to open a shop of his own, after which, by
hard work he achieved ultimate financial success. It is a great story. One that should be
enjoyed by his descendants. A lengthy tribute article in the Rochester Sentinel said of
him, "Through unflagging industry, close application to business, judicious and
liberal advertising, and fair dealing, he has built up a big trade." not to mention
learning the new language and becoming a leader in the community.
If this is your Val Zimmerman, I would like to learn how his later life developed. He was
known to my g-g-grandfather, and is mentioned in his life story, soon to be published.
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