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 ILLIAM B. ZIMMERMAN, a retired farmer, and at present residing in Oakland Village, has been one of the prominent figures in the agricultural districts of Coles County for the past thirty-five years. He cannot by any means be called an old man although he has retired from active labor and has wisely set aside a portion of his means as a source of comfort and ease in his declining years. His early industry and economy have fully justified him in thus retiring from the active employments of life, and his upright course has secured for him the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Zimmerman was born in Augusta County. Va., Feb. 4, 1826, and is the son of Martin and Sarah (Griever) Zimmerman, natives of the same county. They were there reared, growing up as playmates together, and were united in marriage in about 1823. The mother departed this life in 1852, of a disease which then prevailed in this part of Illinois, and the father followed one week later. The parents of our subject after their marriage remained in the Old Dominion until 1837, then coming to Illinois located first in Edgar County, where the father raised one season’s crops and removed in the fall to Oakland Township, this county. He commenced life without means, but his willing hands, stout heart and fine constitution, served him well, so that he was enabled to secure a comfortable living and provide properly for his family. It was hard pulling at first, and William B. when fourteen years of age was compelled to commence work away from home, and by this means add to the family income. Our subject was thus occupied until nineteen years of age, and then commenced to do for himself. He received for his labors $10 per mouth, but lived economically and saved what he could. His first proceeds were invested in a horse, and thus equipped he rented a tract of land, the owner of this furnishing him another horse, and with his team he commenced to till the soil. After two years’ labor in this manner he considered that he was justified in establishing domestic ties, and was united in marriage with Miss Louisa J. Black, of Oakland Township, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride’s parents, March 1, 1848. Not long afterward he was enabled to make a payment on eighty acres of land, which was provided with a log cabin, sixteen feet square, and with his young wife commenced housekeeping. In due time the family was enlarged by the birth of three children, and in 1856 Mr. Z. erected a frame house, into which the family proudly removed and which he occupied until 1881. Mr. Zimmerman in the meantime had been prospered in his farming operations, and had wisely invested his surplus capital in additional land. He thus operated until he became the owner of 800 acres, the whole of which he brought to a good state of cultivation and provided with excellent frame buildings. At the date mentioned he concluded to retire, and accordingly rented the farm and erected a fine dwelling in Oakland Village. This consists of two stories with a basement, and stands in the midst of a hickory grove, covering one and one-half acres, and constituting a most attractive and valuable homestead. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Z., James M. died when two years old; Elizabeth P. at about the same age, as also did John Y.; Sarah L. became the wife of Quince Kinzel, of Oakland; Florence J., the youngest daughter, is the wife of L. J. Norton, of Oakland. Mr. Zimmerman is one of the Directors of the National Bank of Oakland, and has been identified with many of the enterprises set on foot to build up his township. He is a straight Republican, politically, and uniformly casts his vote in support of the principles of his party. He and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. |
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