John Zimmerman ¹

  General Notes:

The following informaton was provided by Carolyn Graden Dossey.

John and Elizabeth Leas Zimmerman

John was born in Germany or Pennsylvania (according to different sources) on October 25, 1786. On March 31, 1814 he married Elizabeth Leas, daughter of John and Sophia Ziegler Leas. Elizabeth was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania on March 4, 1796 (at that time it would have been York County). In 1790 the census shows a John Zimmerman family with 3 sons under the age of 16 in York County. On the 1810 census for Pennsylvania there are 3 Zimmerman families listed in nearby York County, Pennsylvania. Adams County was formed from York County in 1800 and indications are that York county contained the Adams county families. There were no Zimmermans listed for Adams County in 1810.

Shortly after their marriage they moved to Jefferson County, Ohio with Elizabeth's brother who had married John's sister Elizabeth. In Deed Book D page 317, Solomon Fisher and Mary his wife sold to Jacob Leas and John Zimmerman land in NW¼ Sec 26 T10 R3 for $1600. In Deed Book D page 318 they equally divided the land in 1819. Letters were left in New Salem in 1817 for John.

They lived in Salem Township as the family grew to at least 8 children with all of them being born in Jefferson County, Ohio. The census in 1830 lists more. In 1850 John and Elizabeth were still living in Salem Township with 3 children remaining at home Hiram, Elizabeth, and Anna. They also had 2 laborers living in the household. The real estate value of the farm was $5000. John then 63 years old was still farming. Salem Township was a good farming section and had some coal and oil. John lived to see America torn apart by the Civil War. He died April 9, 1869 and his wife Elizabeth died April 5 1877. They are both buried in Leas Cemetery with Jacob and Elizabeth Leas.

Elizabeth's obituary reads: "Mrs. Elizabeth Zimmerman, wife of John Zimmerman, deceased, died at her residence near Annapolis, this county, April 5th, aged 81 years, 1 month, and 1 day. Mrs. Zimmerman was born in Adams County, Pa. March 4, 1796. She was married to John Zimmerman March 14, 1814. On the 14th of the July following she with her husband removed to this county, where she has resided up to the time of her death. She from early childhood has been a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was the mother of eight children, six of who still survive her, three being present at her funeral. The friends of the deceased have the sympathy of a large circle of friends and acquaintances."

Family of John and Elizabeth Zimmerman Mary Anna was born January 1, 1815 and died May 4, 1815 in Jefferson County, Ohio

Jacob was born March 30, 1816 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died November 6, 1853 in Montgomery County, Illinois. He married Susan Easterday on March 17, 1840 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Sophia was born January 15, 1819 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died Sept 16, 1912 in Nokomis, Montgomery County, Illinois. She married Alexander Graden on January 8, 1840 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Margaret was born September 13, 1821 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died August 7, 1907 in Montgomery County, Illinois. She married David Easterday on August 22 1839.

Maria was born May 20, 1824 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died July 23 1888 in Montgomery County, Illinois. She married John Graden on 26 October 1843 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Hiram was born January 18, 1827 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died November 21, 1908 in Jefferson County, Ohio. He married Sara Simmons May 31, 1860 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Elizabeth was born February 19, 1831 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died in March 9, 1927 in Jefferson County, Ohio. She married Daniel Swickard on June 3, 1851 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Anna Was born May 31, 1833 in Jefferson County, Ohio and died October 13, 1918 in Jefferson County, Ohio. She married William Swichard on October 23, 1855 in Jefferson County, Ohio. Sources: http://genforum.genealogy.com/z/zimmerman/messages/2265.html posted by Lance Gill Jefferson County, Ohio marriage records Betty Leas Jefferson County, Ohio land records (early) Obituary records (early) Leas Cemetery Records 20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio Pioneer Ohio Newspapers 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 Census Records of Jefferson County, Ohio

Records need checking Later probate records Land records (Who got John's land) Recheck county histories for info on daughter's families

Questions to Answer Who has the Zimmerman family Bible that was mentioned in a letter by Mrs. (Anna) Russell Johnson in 1953? February 23,2003 Carolyn Graden Dossey Email: chuckdossey@hotmail.com


The following is from Find A Grave, as posted by Lance Gill:

Lately, it has been suggested that John was born in Germany and his parents were identified as Michel and Katharina Zimmerman. They claim he was baptized in Oberowisheim, Baden. The people who believe and promote this had not reviewed the actual baptismal record of this person. If they had, they would have seen that the clergyman of that parish noted that John, the son of Michel and Katharina, died there in 1833. Obviously this eliminates this John as the John Zimmerman, who is the subject of this memorial. I am posting the 1786 baptismal record to corroborate what I've seen here.

Regarding John's birthdate: I have determined it from his age on his date of death according to his tombstone. He died at age 83 years, 7 months and 15 days. Historically, everyone has said that his birthday was October 25 but this is not supported by the only record available.

John married Elizabeth Leas, daughter of John Leas and Sophia Ziegler, on 31 Mar 1814 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA. (Elizabeth Leas was born on 4 Mar 1796 in Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA, died on 5 Apr 1877 in Annapolis, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA and was buried in Leas Cemetery, Salem Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, USA ^{2 4}.)