Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 1090 - 1091

CHRISTIAN S. ZIMMERMAN, formerly a wealthy and enterprising farmer of Valley Center Township, but now a resident of Wichita, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Dec. 11, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Susan (Easterday) Zimmerman, who were natives of the Buckeye State. His father always followed the peaceful avocation of a farmer's life, and died in the fall of 1852, when about thirty-seven years of age. His wife, the mother of our subject, was born March 19, 1819, and is still a resident of Hillsboro, Ill., living with a daughter.

    The family of Jacob Zimmerman consisted of three girls and four boys, as follows: Martin V., a resident of McLean County, Ill., who is editor of the Farmer City Journal; John L., who, after a residence of six years in this county, died in 1881 at Hillsboro, Ill.; Anna, a teacher for twenty years, married to A. C. Alexander, Jan. 16, 1888; this gentleman, of the firm of High & Alexander, is in the grocery business at No. 818 East Douglas avenue, Wichita, Kan.; Ella, still unmarried; Jennie, the wife of James P. Lewis, of Hillsboro, Ill.; Christian, the subject of this sketch; and J. Luther, who married Miss Agnes McNeal, and is a farmer in this county. In his boyhood days the subject of our sketch attended the district school, and on attaining mature years, taught for about one term, and gave much of his time to the assistance of his father in the labor of the farm. During the winter of 1865-66 he attended the Illinois State University, at Springfield, and was under the tuition of Prof. Noah Hodge, of that institution, after which he taught the school above mentioned, which was situated in Montgomery County, Ill. He remained at home beneath the parental roof until he was about twenty-four years of age, when he removed to Missouri, but shortly afterward came to Topeka, Kan., where he remained some six months engaged in the milling business. From the latter place he went to Cowley County, in this State, and taking up a claim erected a shanty. Two months later the structure was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Zimmerman came near losing his own life by this means. The flames broke out during the night while he was fast asleep in his bed, and leaping out he undertook to dress himself, but had so short a time that most of his clothing was burned off almost as soon as put on.

     From this latter place our subject went to Butler County, and spent some two weeks under the doctor's care, on account of his late accident. He then came to Wichita, and after looking around settled on section 30, Valley Center Township, where he is at present living. Since coming here he has been chiefly engaged in farming, but deals somewhat in real estate, and is the owner of twenty lots in the city of Wichita which are exceedingly valuable property. His farm contains 160 acres of land, upon which the improvements are most excellent. His residence, barns and out-buildings are models of comfort and convenience, and everything manifests thrift and prosperity.

     Mr. Zimmerman was married, March 22, 1877, to Miss Deborah Fry, who was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1859. She is a daughter of Charles and Demaris (Allen) Fry, both of whom are natives of New York. Her parents came West in the spring of 1875, and located in this county on a farm. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Lucy, Mrs. Edward J. Doty, now living on a farm in Harvey County, Kan.; Nellie, who died in early life; Deborah, Mrs. Zimmerman; William, who died in June, 1875; Addie, Mrs. Frank Hall, a resident of Harvey County; Merrit Arthur, who died in infancy; and C. Herman, who is living with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman are the parents of five children, viz: Arthur, born Aug. 31, 1878, and died July 29, 1879; Winnie A., born Nov. 25, 1880; Versella L., Dec. 20, 1882; Mossie M., Oct. 24, 1884; and Leslie Leigh, Feb. 17, 1886.

     In his political faith Mr. Zimmerman owes allegiance to the Republican party, and has held several local offices in the gift of the people, among which were those of Justice of the Peace and Clerk of the School Board of District No. 9, serving in the latter capacity for seven or eight years. He has been a representative man in every community where he has resided, and well merits the deep respect and high estimation in which he is held by his friends.

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