BIO: Jonas B. Zimmerman, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LII.

                            MONROE TOWNSHIP.

516 	BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JONAS B. ZIMMERMAN, farmer, P. O. Allen.  The great-grandfather of 
the subject of our sketch came from Germany and settled in Lancaster 
County, Penn.  He was a Mennonite, and fled, with his family, from 
religious persecution, leaving everything, good homes and worldly 
possessions, to come to the land of William Penn, for they had heard 
that in Pennsylvania every man could worship God after his own 
conscience.  These peaceful men underwent terrible persecutions for 
Christ's sake, and fled to a wilderness that they might be at peace 
with all men.  Mr. Zimmerman had four sons:  Peter, John, Christian, 
and Jacob, a bishop.  Of these, Peter was born in Lancaster County, 
Penn.; was a farmer and land-owner; married a Miss Martin, of the same 
county, and to this union were born twelve children:  Christian, Peter, 
Henry, Martin, Samuel, Mannoi, Esther, Mary, Judah, Barbara, Anna and 
Elizabeth.  Peter Zimmerman was a deacon in the Mennonite Church, in 
this county, to which he had come in 1814 with his family.  He was a 
very honorable man, and brought up his family in strict religious 
principles.  In disposition he was very cheerful and happy, of a very 
friendly nature.  It is said of him that he never turned a wayfarer 
from his doors.  He left 300 acres of land to his sons, all of which is 
still in the Zimmerman family.  The father of our subject was born in 
Lancaster County in 1810, and came to this county with his father when 
he was only four years of age.  In 1836, he married Miss Susannah 
Plough, of York County, daughter of John and Susan Plough, and to this 
union ten children were born:  Anna, Jonas, Sarah, Mary, Samuel, 
Esther, Martin, Leah, John and Sarah.  Mr. Zimmerman was ordained to 
the ministry in 1861, and preached sixteen years, and in 1877 died of 
typhoid fever.  He was a farmer, a strong, hearty man and could endure 
a great amount of labor, and of great frankness and gentleness of 
manner.  The church of which he was preacher flourished, and he made a 
great many converts to the cause of Christ, and his memory is yet green 
among the people, for he was a peace-maker and possessed loving and 
gentle ways that won their love and respect.   Jonas B. Zimmerman was 
born in 1838, and remained with his father until he was twenty-nine 
years of age.  In 1867, he married Miss Annie, daughter of Jacob and 
Mary Hege, of Franklin County, Penn.  This union has been blessed with 
seven children:  Ira H., Annie M., Samuel J., Benjamin J., Jacob H., 
Susan E. and Martha R.  Mr. and Mrs. Jonas B. Zimmerman are members of 
the church of their fathers.  Our subject, in 1879, bought his present 
home.  He was a member of the committee that built the new Mennonite 
Church.