BENJAMIN D ZIMMERMAN

BENJAMIN D ZIMMERMAN

Atchison, Kansas, has its full share of up-to-date, enterprising business men, and occupying a representative position among them is Benjamin D. Zimmerman, a dealer in queensware.

Mr. Zimmerman was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, near Seipstown, July 5, 1857, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Leiby) Zimmerman, both natives of that county. His father was born January 6, 1822, and his mother July 11, 1829. Daniel Zimmerman is now eighty years of age and a resident of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania; is a son of Benjamin Zimmerman, born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1797, died July 17, 1842; the latter was a son of George W. Zimmerman, born August 24, 1745, died October 5, 1823; and his father, whose given name cannot be recalled, was a German and the progenitor of the family in America and settled in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Leiby was a daughter of Daniel Leiby, born November 5, 1797, and died November 9, 1858. He was a son of Daniel Leiby, born December 8, 1772, and died June 28, 1855. The Leiby family is also of German origin and early settled in Pennsylvania.

Benjamin D. Zimmerman passed his boyhood days on his father's farm in Lehigh county, doing such work as he could on the farm in summer and in winter attending the district schools near his home. In early manhood he learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked in Pennsylvania for five years. In 1879 he came west to Kansas, thinking the opportunities for a young man to get on in the world were better here than in the east. He located at Atchison and here he continued work at his trade for seven years. At the end of that time he purchased the crockery stock of Regnier & Shoup, and has since successfully conducted business at their old stand. He carries a full line of queensware, counts among his customers the leading people of the city and surrounding country, and is well established in a prosperous business.

Mr. Zimmerman is a man of family. He was married, in 1881, to Miss Mary Jane Schall; a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and at the time of her marriage a resident of Atchison. They have two children, Flossie P. and Raymond P.

Mr. Zimmerman has always taken an active interest in local affairs, and in 1896 and 1897 served as a member of the Atchison city council. He is also an active church worker, he and his wife being identified with the Lutheran church. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and several other fraternal societies.