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ZIMMERMAN, JOHN, a well-known and public spirited German-American citizen of Springfield, Ill., is retired from active life and is enjoying a well earned leisure. He owns a beautiful home at 803 Osburn Avenue, which has been his home for many years. Mr. Zimmermann was born in Germany, November 3, 1838, son of Ehrhardt and Margaret (Schmidt) Zimmerman, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a farmer and he and his wife were parents of three sons and one daughter, the only one to come to America being John.

Mr. Zimmerman was educated in his native country and spent his boyhood on a farm. He set sail from Bremen in 1883, landing in New York City, and came direct to Springfield. His first employment was with the Springfield City Street Railway Company, with which he remained several years, then was engaged as gardener for Oak Ridge Cemetery. He was well fitted for the latter position and filled it satisfactorily twenty-six years, after which he worked two years in Washington Park before retiring from active pursuits. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church and in politics is a Democrat. He has many friends in the city and has a good standing in the community where he lives. He has been industrious and ambitious to succeed financially, and has become the owner of several pieces of property in the city, having shown good judgment in the investment of his savings.

Mr. Zimmerman's marriage occurred in Germany in February, 1863, when he was united with Magdaline Schmidt, also a native of that country, whose parents died in Germany, and she and her sister, Mrs. Catherine Schubert, of Springfield, are the only surviving members of her family. To Mr. Zimmerman and wife were born two sons and two daughters, and three children now survive: John, who lives in Germany; and Catherine, who married Gustav Dial, a machinist of Omaha, Nebr., has four children. Catherina married Paul Bitsehanauer and lives in Springfield, eleven children.