Person:William Zimmerman (6)

Oscar Zimmerman's letter dated October 26, 1894 Mill Shoals, White Co., Illinois

Dear Father-Mother and brothers. I now take the pleasure in writing you a few lines to let you know that I am well and hoping to find you the same. I am working yet. Sam the boss raised my wages to $1.00 a day and Pa is boarding at the widows and I am staying at Birt Roys. I was glad when my Dear Old Step Father came to see me before he went back home, tho I felt so bad about Grandpa that I could not talk about it. It hurts me about it when I think about it. How did you get home? did you get home alright? I have been playing the harp all evening. Well I will close this time hoping to hear from you soon. I wish you would send my Trunk and a few shirts and skates, that is all. I have got a new suit of clothes. Write Soon from Oscar Mill Shoals Ill.

Be sure and send my overcoat. I hain't got a good lite, there is no chimney on the lamp. Write Soon.

This letter was written when Oscar was 17 years old. He and his natural father, Peter Zimmerman were working in Mill Shoals, about 10 miles south of the Fairfield, Ill. home. His mother Mary Rebecca had married Peter VanDyke Carey in April this same year and apparently his grandfather William Zimmerman had died shortly before this letter was written, his maternal grandfather Robert Foster did not die until February 1905.

We have found records of a Peter Zimmerman in Illinois born abt. March 1850, his parents are William Zimmerman b: 1819, d: June 28, 1894 and married abt. 1842 to Sophia Brown b: 1826 in OH, d: Unknown in Illinois.

The Federal Census 1850 Wayne Co., Illinois lists on page 161b lines 5 to 9; Zimmamon, (Zimmerman sounds like), W. (William) head of household, age 20 born in OH. Sop. his wife (Sophia), age 20 born in OH. Rit. (Ritchard) age 2 born in Illinois. Sol. (Solomon) age 4 born in Illinois. Iris age 5 born in OH. Joh. (John) age 7 born in OH. Peter Zimmerman, father of Oscar Arthur, Nathan and Frank was not born until the following year. The family apparently moved from OH to Wayne CO Illinois about 1846.

The U.S. Federal Census 1860 Twp. 2 S Range 8 E, Wayne Co., Illinois lists William Zimmerman farmer age 40 born in OH, wife Sophia age 40 born in OH, son John age 16 born in OH, daughter Phonia age 15 born in OH, son Solomon age 13 born in Illinois, son Peter age 10 born in Illinois,daughter Margaret L. age 9 born in Illinois, son Norman age 7 born in Illinois, son Henry age 5 born in Illinois, son Charlie age 4 born in Illinois, son William T. age 1 born in Illinois.

Big Mound, Wayne Co., Illinois 1862 Military Census lists William age 35 farmer, born in OH, John and H. Zimmerman. These may all be close relatives but William Zimmerman would be age 43 at that time.

U.S. Federal Census 1870 Big Mound Twp., Wayne Co., Illinois lists William Zimmerman age 53 born in OH, his wife Sophia age 44 born in OH, son Peter age 19, daughter Margaret age 18, son Norman age 18, son Henry age 14, son Charles age 12 and son William age 11.

Listed in the 1880 Federal Census at Big Mound, Wayne Co., Illinois. William Zimmerman, Jr. is living at his father's home along with William Sr.'s Grand-daughter Rosetta ULM age 13 born1867 in Illinois. Rosetta could be Clara Belle Ulm-Zimmerman's aunt?

Michelle Young is researching the Wayne Co., Illinois Zimmerman's and has contributed the information regarding Peter Zimmerman's 2nd marriage to Maggie Williams-Stewart, Charles Zimmerman and Henry Zimmerman. All of this information, Birth's Mariage's and death's, was found at the Fairfield, Wayne CO Court House.

My aunt, Neveal Leetta Zimmerman, records in her famly history that Peter Zimmerman's mother was Sophia Brown. The 1880 Federal Census lists his father as William Zimmerman. Research leads me to believe that Saul may actually be Sophia's father, Solomon Brown.