Clatsop-Marion County OR Archives Biographies.....Zimmerman, Howard K. December 3, 1889 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 12, 2010, 7:33 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 286 - 287
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     HOWARD K. ZIMMERMAN is a well known and successful young attorney of 
Astoria, Oregon, where he has been continuously engaged in practice since 1916 
save for the period of his service in the World war. He was born in a sod 
house in Norton county, Kansas, December 3, 1889, his parents being Albert E. 
and Mabel (Towsley) Zimmerman, the former a native of Des Moines, Iowa. Albert 
E. Zimmerman went to the Sunflower state as a pioneer in the early '80s and 
took up a homestead claim in Norton county, where he built a sod house and 
devoted his attention to farming until 1897. In that year he removed to York 
county, Nebraska, where he purchased a farm and also engaged in the real 
estate business until 1906, when he disposed of his interests and came to 
Oregon. Here he bought a tract of land in Marion county, four miles north of 
Salem, cleared the stumps and brush from most of the property and planted it 
to fruit. He still resides thereon and has become widely recognized as one of 
the substantial and representative citizens of the community. His wife died 
when their son, Howard K., was but four years old. In the family were two sons 
and two daughters, namely: Dr. Neal Zimmerman, a practicing dentist of 
Portland, Oregon; Howard K., of this review; Mrs. Hazel Leatherman, whose 
husband is a minister of the gospel at South Bend, Indiana; and Mrs. Dora 
Spangler, the wife of a preacher residing at Ashland, Ohio.

     Howard K. Zimmerman acquired his early education in district schools of 
York, Nebraska, continued his studies in the high school there for one year 
and completed his high school work at Salem, Oregon, where he was graduated in 
1909. Four years later, in 1913, he was graduated from the University of 
Oregon with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The necessary funds for his higher 
education were provided from his own earnings. While a student at the 
University of Oregon he was a member of debating teams during each year of his 
attendance, meeting teams from the Universities of Washington and Utah and the 
Stanford University and the records of these contests show that he was never 
once defeated. It was on the trip to Stanford University to meet the Stanford 
team that he happened to meet a friend who persuaded him to take the law 
course at Stanford University and also assisted him in obtaining a 
stenographic position with the Young Men's Christian Association to defray his 
expenses. At the completion of a three-year law course he was graduated from 
Stanford University of California with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence 
in 1916 and was also elected to the "Order of Coif," the highest honor in law. 
Immediately thereafter he returned to Oregon and opened an office at Astoria, 
where he continued in practice until July 25, 1917, when he was called upon 
for service in the World war, being a member of the Oregon National Guard. As 
top sergeant in the Coast Artillery at Fort Stevens, Oregon, he trained 
recruits until the signing of the armistice. When the war was ended he again 
opened his office in Astoria, where he has since engaged in the work of his 
chosen profession with excellent success. His quarters were burned in the 
conflagration of 1922 but not long thereafter he was installed in a handsome 
new office. In 1923 he was appointed city attorney of Astoria and thus served 
for five years during the reconstruction period following the fire, making a 
most creditable and commendable record. His private practice has steadily 
grown in volume and importance as he has demonstrated his ability in the work 
of the courts. In the preparation of his cases he has always been thorough, 
systematic and accurate and his presentation of a cause is always forceful and 
logical. He is now United States commissioner for the district of Oregon, 
residing at Astoria for eight years, and in 1928 was reappointed for another 
four years' term.

     In 1917 Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Anna L. Benton, a native 
of California and a graduate of Stanford University, who prior to assuming the 
duties of wifehood was an instructor of Spanish at the University of Oregon. 
She passed away February 20, 1928, leaving three children — Howard K., Jr., 
Paul R. and Laura Mabel, who are seven, four and two years of age, 
respectively.

     Mr. Zimmerman manifests an active and helpful interest in all civic 
affairs and at all times has done his part in the work of community 
development. At the primary election in June, 1928, he was nominated on the 
democratic ticket for the office of circuit judge of the twentieth judicial 
district of Oregon. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club and also belongs to the 
American Legion, having been the first adjutant of Astoria Post, and the 
chairman of the first Oregon state convention of the Legion. His religious 
faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he 
has for many years served as superintendent of the Sunday school. Fraternally 
he is affiliated with the United Artisans, with Harbor Lodge No. 183, A. F. & 
A. M., of Astoria, and with Astoria Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he has for 
the last eight years been secretary and is a past grand. His ideals of life 
are high and he is constantly striving to reach the level of the standards 
that he has set up. His attractive personality and ability have made him 
popular and in Astoria he has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the 
circle of his acquaintance.

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