Phillip Zimmermann Biography This biography appears on pages 626-629 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm PHILLIP ZIMMERMANN. Lake county lost one of its worthy pioneer settlers when Phillip Zimmermann passed away. From 1876 until his demise he resided in that county and stood as a leader in all public movements which have resulted beneficially in the upbuilding and development of that part of the state. He was born at Webenheim, Germany, on the 27th of March, 1826. He was a great-grandson of Lieutenant Schwinn, who came to America and fought under General Lafayette during the Revolutionary war. He remained in the country, becoming a loyal citizen of the new republic. Phillip Zimmermann was a lad of twelve years when in 1838 he crossed the Atlantic to America in company with his parents, who made their way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when it contained a population of but four hundred. There he resided until 1845, when he went to Buffalo, New York, and afterward to New York city, where he learned the machinist's trade and studied engineering. Being present at one of the lectures delivered by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the noted author and philosopher, he asked Mr. Emerson for a list of the best books and was given a list of twelve in the author's handwriting. This he always cherished as a most highly prized memento. In 1851, when about twenty- six years of age, he became chief engineer on the first American mail steamship, California, which was the first vessel to make the voyage around Cape Horn to the Pacific coast. He remained for three years in the service of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company and subsequently established his home in Chicago, where he engaged in mechanical engineering for a time. He afterward returned to Milwaukee, where for some years he was connected with the famous Allis Engine Works. While in New York he did work on the engines of the historic pioneer steamer Washington, which was launched in 1846. He became one of the early settlers of Lake county, South Dakota, to which district he removed in 1876, purchasing the present homestead of the family because of the beauty of its location on the east short of Lake Madison. Following his original purchase he made large landed investments until his estate embraced sixteen hundred acres. He brought his family to the territory in 1878 and they have since resided within its borders. It was in 1858 that Mr. Zimmermann was married to Miss Jane Taylor, who died in 1864, leaving two sons, Irving and Julian. On the 7th of October, 1866, Mr. Zimmermann wedded Marie Fink, a daughter of Englehart and Katherine (Dielman) Fink. Mrs. Zimmermann was born in Germany, September 14, 1838, and came to the United States in 1852 with her parents, who settled in Milwaukee. There she was united in marriage to Mr. Zimmermann and in that city their two daughters, Edith Katherine and Lillie Marie, were born. The mother passed away July 30, 1906, and her death was the occasion of deep regret to many friends. The homestead and adjoining farms are still retained and managed by the daughters and constitute one of the finest country estates in the county. Mr. Zimmermann became one of the organizers of the republican party in Wisconsin and took an active part in the Fremont campaign. He was an active worker in republican ranks after coming to South Dakota and served as a member of the board of commissioners of Lake county. He died October 11, 1901, and his death was a matter of great regret to all who knew him. A man of superior education and unusual mental attainments, his friends were among the city's most prominent citizens, many of whom were frequent guests at his home, which was noted for its unostentatious and cordial hospitality. Among his warmest friends was the noted educator and scholar, Dr. Ephraim Epstein, the first president of the South Dakota State University, who was a frequent guest at the Zimmermann home. At the time of his demise one of the local papers wrote: "Phillip Zimmermann ranks as a pioneer in the settlement and development of Lake county and from the moment that he concluded to settle on the shores of Lake Madison became an enthusiastic advocate of the interests of Dakota and through all the trying years when others became discouraged his faith in the fertility of this soil and in the climatic superiority of this locality was unshakable. He was a man of sterling character and unswerving honesty and in his dealings with men commanded the utmost respect and confidence. Phillip Zimmermann differed honestly with the opinions of men and maintained his opinion with a peculiar rigor inspired by the most abiding faith in the principles which he advocated. He believed in God and man as the highest product of his creative power, and he lived with a true regard for the opinions of men, differing with them honestly in many things, but conceding to them the same inherent right to their opinions as he demanded for his own. As a student he was always earnestly searching for the latest discoveries of science and had such a wide understanding upon scientific subjects as to make his discussion at once entertaining and instructive. His library, one of the largest in this section, was stored with the best of books and his familiarity with them was the subject of general remark by all of his guests." He was not only respected but was loved by those who came within the close circle of his friendship and those who met him in a more casual manner entertained for him the highest respect.