BIO: Henry ZIMMERMAN, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 207-208.
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  ZIMMERMAN, HENRY, son of Peter and Mary (Beane) Zimmerman, was born 
December 30, 1786, in Cumberland county, Pa.  His boyhood days were 
passed among the scenes of farm life, familiar to the majority of 
farmer sons during that early period.  Schools were then very little 
known of and less attended.  The subject of this sketch is said to have 
spent only three months in all in what was then known as "pay school" 
or "select school."  Upon reaching manhood he married Miss Barbara 
Griner, daughter of Philip and Barbara (Fishburn) Griner, who then 
resided on what is now known as the Newton Gray farm, in Lower Swatara 
township, Dauphin county, Pa.  Shortly after the marriage he moved near 
the home of his wife's parents, in Dauphin county, and settled upon a 
forty acre tract, adjoining that of her parents, which was given to her 
as her patrimony.  He learned the trade of wagon making and pursued 
this business together with the farming of this small tract, and while 
living here there were born to them the following children:  Rebecca, 
July 8, 1810; Catherine, October 13, 1811; Philip, November 22, 1812; 
Elizabeth, September 14, 1814; Henry, May 16, 1816; George, February 
11, 1819; Simon, January 8, 1821; Isaac, March 20, 1823; Mary, 
September 7, 1824.  On June 10, 1824, he purchased the farm known as 
the Kerr estate, adjoining this forty acre tract, and moved thereon 
with his family in the spring of 1825, and lived in the historic Old 
Spring House, still standing at the "fork" of two creeks.  While living 
here there were born to them the following children:  Solomon, October 
7, 1827; Valentine, May 19, 1829; and Maria, January 19, 1831.  Here he 
established himself permanently and laid the foundation of the estate 
that has remained in the Zimmerman line of descent for nearly a 
century.  He was one of the sturdy Jacksonian Democrats of that day, 
and was a highly esteemed citizen in the community.  He died March 12, 
1839, and lies buried beside the remains of his wife in the old 
graveyard on what is now called the Newton Gray farm.