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Direct descendant is highlighted in red
| Jefferson
Earl Zimmerly Born: 24 Sep 1880 Olney, Richland Co., IL Married: 28 Jun 1904 Indianapolis, Marion Co., IN Died: 18 May 1957 Johnson Co., IN FATHER MOTHER WIFE CHILDREN 1. Elizabeth Louise Zimmerly b. 17 April 1905 2. Richard Karl Zimmerly b. 30 Jan 1908 3. Mary Frances Zimmerly b. 29 Sep 1910 4. Catherine Irene Zimmerly b. 01 June 1913 |
see FAMILY TREE Jefferson Earl Zimmerly |
 J Earl Zimmerly with son Richard |
Jefferson Earl
Zimmerly
by Mary Zimmerly Zenor
with additions by Susan
Brooke
Nov 2022
J Earl Zimmerly was born in Olney,
Illinois to Henry Zimmerly and Irena Harbaugh and had two older sisters, Laura
born 1875 and Cora born 1878. About
1880, the year Earl was born, his parents moved to Evansville, Indiana where his
father was a cigar maker. Earl must have been pretty happy as a small child. However,
his parents contracted T. B. and his father died when Earl was only five. They
probably moved back to Olney as that is where both of his parents were buried. His
mother cared for the children as best she could but she was also sick. Earl
was her favorite and Earl was very fond of her. (1)
Henry's parents were
strict Lutherans and German descent. Irena, according to oral history, was
of Scottish descent and Catholic although that has not been proven.
However, the death certificate for Irena's sister,
Eleanor Harbaugh Davis, also stated that her parents were Scottish. (2)
Before Irena married she was a seamstress at the Star Store in Indianapolis.
They married much to the consternation of Henry's family. So, it may have been
difficult when Irena moved back to Oley with her three young children.
About that time someone was telling the Zimmerly family that there was a Manor
House back in Bavaria that the family could sell, making them rich. Irena
told this story to Earl, promising him that there would be money for him after
she died. However, there was no Manor House and Earl grew up believing the
Zimmerly family was cheating him. (1)
His mother died in 1893 when he was
13. He and his older sister Cora who was then 15 were taken in by his Aunt
Margaret Zimmerly Ameter who sent him to a strict German Lutheran school.
Earl was not happy. He hated being forced to learn German, hated German
food and the Lutheran Service. He used to say that the only German he ever
learned was the German for "Service is over." (1)
Earl was 16. (3) He quit
school because he didn't like his teacher. He had had the same teacher the
year before so when he found he was to have her for another year, he packed his
bags and moved out. He struck out on his own to Indianapolis and moved in
with his Uncle Charles Harbaugh who worked as
a gardener for a Brush family. Soon after his sister Cora came to live with him
but Laura stayed in Olney and married John Taylor. Earl found a job as a
tile setter. Within a very few years Cora also became ill with T. B. and
she died when Earl was 24. In the 1900 census Earl and Cora were living
with their widowed aunt, Lulla Grube Lee, widow of Charles Lee. (4) It
appears "Uncle Charlie" was known as "Charles Lee" and thus had taken the
surname of Lee. Possibly he had been adopted into the Lee family when he
was orphaned at the age of 10. However, when J. Earl Zimmerly was
receiving his guardianship distribution in 1897 Charles and Lula R. "Harbaugh"
signed as the witnesses, so he also went by the name of Harbaugh.
Earl's
mother, Irena Harbaugh Zimmerly, had left insurance from the Knights of Honor
Lodge for $1000, but after the boarding and clothing expenses Earl received only
$120 at the age of 21 and another $249.40 from his mother's estate on Jan. 6,
1902 when he was over twenty-one. (5)
About this time, at the age of 19, Earl
one day saw a very nice looking girl walking down the street. Upon asking
around he found she played the organ at the Methodist Church, so he began going
to those services so he could meet her.
This brings us to Ethel Blanche
Spillman who was sixteen when she met Earl. She was student at Manuel High
School learning to become a teacher. She was on her way home, walking
along Meridian Street, the day day J. Earl first saw her. She lived with
her father and step-mother above the harness shop with her two brothers.
It must have been love at first sight. They began dating, but her father
did not approve (possibly because of the lack of his education or her young
years.) At any rate, they saved their money and were married at their
first residence 3651 N Capital Ave. on June 28, 1904. J. Earl was
twenty-three and Ethel twenty-one. They had four children.
In 1915, two
years after the birth of their last child, they moved to Goshen, Indiana to go
into partnership with his brother-in-law, Ray. J. Spillman. (6) Ray had just
been divorced by his first wife, Louise Meyer on 19 Sep 1915. The Spillman
& Zimmerly Leather Goods Store was doing OK at first. Ethel's father, W. G.
Spillman moved to Goshen for a short time and he and his son Roy opened a grocery
store. J. Earl Zimmerly sang in a male quartet at the First M. E.
Church. (7) Ethel became involved in the Chataqua Club. She was in
charge of programs at the church and adapted "Cratchets Christmas Dinner" as a
local production.
Then on 10 Mar 1917 the Old Historic Playhouse burned down.
The Spillman/Zimmerly store was on the 1st floor on the west side of this
building. They suffered $8,000 in damages and had insurance for $6,000.
"Practically all the stock on the first floor of the Spillman & Zimmerly store
was carried out and placed in the rear room of the City National Bank, and in an
empty room across the street from the fire. Much stock in the basement was
ruined by water, however, which will make their loss high." Two men were
arrested for looting. (8)
They moved the store back to their original site
on Lincoln Ave and had a fire sale of $20,000 worth of stock. (9) The
insurance companies were not making settlement. (10)
They must have
been suffering severe financial losses. However, the store remained in
business. They made arrangement to move into a new building They had
a "Great Removal Sale" listing in the ad that their phone number was 86.
They even made contributions to the Red Cross Campaign of 1917 with R. J.
Spillman and J. E. Zimmerly each giving $5.00. There was a was brewing in
Europe. J. E. Zimmerly was part of the Home Guard in charge of recruiting.
The store might have survived all the losses up to this point, but on moving day
into the new store, there was a gas explosion. (11) They all must have been
doing a lot of heavy lifting/ Three weeks later "Earl Zimmerly ran a
splinter in the third finger of his right hand, and required the services of a
physician to dress the wound." (12) However, they were still in business.
Then, a year later they were served on four law suits. Their suppliers
were sing for over $1,000.
In the 16 Sep 1918 draft registration for World
War I, Jefferson Earl Zimmerly was listed as merchant "business for self." (13)
Three months later Earl Zimmerly sold out to his brother-in-law, Ray Spillman.
(14) J. Earl Zimmerly and family remained in Goshen. Ethel remained
involved with the Chataqua Club. The club met at her home on South Seventh
Street on 10 Feb 1919. Their oldest daughter, Betty, was in a one act
comedy "Peggy's Predicament" and "did exceedingly well." (15) However, J. E.
Zimmerly was no longer involved in the business. According to the 1920
census, he was a contractor for floors, wall and tile, working on his own
account. (16)
They had great financial worries and their daughter, Betty,
became seriously ill in 1920 with Scarlet Fever which developed into Rheumatic
Fever. She was bedridden for almost a year and told she might never walk
again. But, with great determination and sulfa drugs and aspirin, she did.
She had been a very precocious child and skipped first grade and the fifth, so
when she became sick at the age of 15, she was already entering her senior year
in high school. After a year's absence, she resumed her schooling as a
senior on a half day basis. She attended three different high school over
the next three years, each time being allowed only to take the courses offered
on the first floor since she could not climb stairs. Fortunately, each of
the three schools had a different curriculum offered on the first floor, so
after three schools in three years, she had a well balanced course load to allow
her to graduate.
By 1921 the family had moved to South Bend where J. E.
Zimmerly was listed as a contractor living at 501 Milton in the city directory.
(17) Betty applied to John Herron Art School and was accepted. There is an
article in the Indianapolis Star saying she received a scholarship. She
was listed as "of South Bend."
R. J. Spillman remained in Goshen until 1922.
He finally sold the store in November of 1922. They were given a farewell
party with the newspaper clipping stating that they were moving to Columbus.
At least one of the law suits had been settled. However, some of the legal
problems may have been left unresolved. Oral history has it that J. Earl.
Zimmerly paid off the debts.
R. J. Spillman was in Dallas by the mid 1920's
and in Waco, Texas by 1938. He was a salesman and seems to have done well.
Earl moved his family back to Indianapolis by 1930 and began working for the
Wege, Marble & Tile Co. In the 1930 city directory he is lsited as "supt"
Wege, Stanford Marble & Tile Co. They were renting at 5026 College Av.
Three of his children married in the 1930's and they began to have
grandchildren. (18) It was the Great Depression and times were still hard.
The obituary of J. Earl Zimmerly says that he worked for the Wege Marble & Tile
Co for 30 years and was a member and former deacon of the Southport Presbyterian
Church. (19) He died at the age of 77 just two months before his wife of 53
years. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery. (20)
Sources
(1) Oral History as recorded by Mary Zimmerly Zenor in 1980
"Henry Zimmerly, a Lutheran, somehow met and married Irene (pronounced Irena)
Harbaugh, a Catholic born in Scotland. Before she married she was a
seamstress at the Star Store in Indianapolis. Henry, to my knowledge, was
born and lived his whole life in Oleny, so it might be interesting to know how
they met. At any rate they married much to the consternation of Henry's
family. They had three children, Laura, Cora, and Jefferson Earl Zimmerly
born on September 27, 1880. (Actually J. Earl was sure of the year he was born
but not the day. His older sister, Laura, thought it was September 27 so
that was the birth date he took.)
So J. Earl was born in Olney, Illinois and
was probably pretty happy as a small child. However, his parents
contracted T. B. and his father died when Earl was only 8. His mother
cared for the children as best she could but she was aslo sick. Earl was
her favorite and Earl was very fond of her. She promised him that there
would be money for him after she died. She was the one to tell him of this
Manor House back in Bavaria that the family was going to sell. She died of
T. B. when Earl was 11. At this point he was taken in by Aunt Meg and
another Aunt, sisters of his father. They had not like Earl's mother,
attended a very strict Lutheran Church, and thought J. Earl should learn German.
They money he had heard about never appeared although at about this time an
uncle did become suddenly very rich. To continue the story, J. Earl was
not happy living with these aunts in Olney. He hated German, German food
and Lutheran Service. He used to say that the only German he ever learned
was the German for "Service is over."
At 16 J. Earl quit school because as he
put it, he didn't like the teacher. He had had the same teacher the year
before so when he found he was to have her for another year, he packed his bags
and moved out.
He struck out on his own and moved to Indianapolis.
There, he moved in with his Uncle Charlie who worked as a gardener for a Brush
family. Soon his sister Cora came to lie with him but Laura stayed in
Olney. He got himself a job as a marble and title setter apprentice for
the Wege, Marble & Tile Co. Within a very few years Cora also became ill
with T.B. and she died when Earl must have been about 20.
At about this time,
age 19, he one day saw a very nice looking girl walking down the street. Upon
asking around he found that she played the organ at the Methodist Church, so he
began going to these services so he could meet her.
This brings us to Ehtel
Blanche Spillman who was 16 when she met Earl. She was a student at Manuel
High School learning to become a teacher. She was on her way home, walking
along Meridian Street the day J. Earl first say her. She lived with her
father and step-mother above the harness shop with her two brothers. It
must have been love at first sight. They began dating, but her father did
not approve (possibly because of the lack of his education or her young years.)
At any rate, they saved their money and were married at their first residence,
3651 N. Capital Ave. on June 28, 1904 J. Earl was 23 and Ethel 21.
------ stories about the Spillman family --- then a coninuation
J. Earl and Ethel had four children, Elizabeth Louise on April 17, 1905,
Richard Karl on January 30, 1908, Mary Frances on September 29, 1910 and
Catherine Irene on June 1, 1913.
For a few years J. Earl went into a
partnership with Ethel's brother Ray in Goshen, Indiana. I am not too
clear about this period but it seems Ray did not handle the books wisely.
There was a bad fire and the store or business could not survive. Ray took
off. Earl was left to declare bankruptcy and eventually pay off the
debtors. This all happened about 1919 just about the time Elizabeth go
sick with Scarlet Fever which developed into Rheumatic Fever. Not only did they
have a very sick child that almost died but great financial problems as well.
Elizabeth was confined to bed for a year and told she might never walk again.
But, with great determination and sulfa drugs and aspirin, she did. She
had been a very precocious child and skipped first grade and the fifth so when
she became sick she was already entering her senior year in high school although
only 14. After a year's absence she resumed her schooling as a senior on a
part time basis. She attended three different high school's over the next
three years, each time being allowed only to take the courses offered on the
first floor since she could not climb stairs. Fortunately, each of the
three schools had a different curriculum offered on the first flood so after
three schools in three years, she had a well balanced course load to allow her
to graduate.
Her family was still having great financial difficulty so there
was no way she could attend college without a scholarship. But she was
determined and finally got herself a full scholarship to John Herren Art School
in Indianapolis. She had wanted to go into medicine and was accepted to
the University of Chicago, but she was only granted a partial scholarship there.
So, she actually fell into the career in art by default. Even with the
full scholarship, time were tough. She had several part time jobs
throughout her college days too supply spending money since her father could not
send her any. In fact her father even asked her to take a leave of absence
between her sophomore and junior years to help pay some of the family bills.
Her brother was a Notre Dame by this time and the family felt it was most
important that the male child get a college educaiton. So, she worked for
a year but was determined to get back and graduate. While at John Herren
she took extension courses at Indiana University to get her B. A. degree along
with the teaching degree.
(2) Death Certificate for Eleanor Harbaugh Davis
(3) J Earl Zimmerly at the age of 16 J. Earl is sitting in the center. Photo taken about 1896 |
(4) 1900 Census, Centertownship, Indianapolis, IN
(5) Guardianship papers
| J. Earl's father died of TB when he was four and his mother
died when he was 13. He and his younger sister,
Cora, were taken in by their
Aunt Margaret. At right is
the Guardian's Bond signed by Margaret Zimmerly Ameter on 18 Oct 1893.
Irena must have died shortly before this date. The children's dates of
birth are listed on the 2nd page. J Earl Zimmerly never knew his
correct birthday. His sister Laura had thought it was September 27th
and that is the day he celebrated. His correct birth date was
September 24.
|
 |
 |
| There is an itemized account of the amounts
paid to Cora Zimmerly on February 24, 1897. on the page for
Cora Zimmerly. The rest of the
guardians responsibilities were settled on Jan 6, 1902 after J. Earl
Zimmerly became an adult.
|
 |
| Guardian Report itemizing amounts paid |
 |
| Cora's receipt of her inheritance shows signature of their Uncle Charley. Receipt is shown on page with Charles Harbaugh J. Earl's receipt is shown at right. Note that he has stated that his birth date was September 27. |
 |
(6) Goshen Daily Democrat 19 Apr 1915
(7) Goshen Daily Democrat 20 Sep 1916
Forward Movement Campaign
meeting at First M. E. Church. A male quartet consisting of J. E. Zimmerly, etc.
(8) Goshen Weekly News Times 16 Mar 1917
(9) Fire Sale Goshen Weekly News-Times 30 Mar 1917
(10) Goshen Democrat March 30, 1917.
"It has been contended from the beginning that the opera house loss is complete although the agents of the companies carrying the risks have insisted upon a credit of about $1,000 for salvage."
(11) Goshen Daily Democrat 6 Nov 1917
(12)
Goshen Weekly News Times Nov 30, 1917.
"Earl
Zimmerly ran a splinter in the third finger of his right hand, and required the
services of a physician to dress the wound."
(13)
World War I Draft Registration
(14) Sellout to Spillman
Goshen Daily Democrat 4 Dec 1918
(15) daughter Betty in play
Goshen Daily Democrat 1 Jul 1920
(16)
1920 census Goshen, IN
contractor walls floor tiling, working on his own
account
(17) South Bend City Directory
contractor
(18) Life back in Indianapolis
 1930 Catherine, Ethel, Elizabeth (Betty), Mary and J. Earl Zimmerly |
 1940 |
 1940 at wedding of daughter Mary, J. Earl, Betty White,
Catherine Zimmerly, Mary Zimmerly Zenor |
July 7, 1956 L-R J. Earl Zimmerly, Sarah Helen Taylor, Catherine Zimmerly, Cora Margaret Taylor Leaf and Raymond Leaf |
(19) Obituary
(20) Buried: Greenwood Cemetery, Johnson Co. IN
