Zimmerman, William 1856-1936

ZIMMERMAN, SWAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2014 at 10:39:09

Lynnville Man 80, Takes Own Life Friday A.M.

Wm. Zimmerman Shot Self During short Absence of Family

Wm. Zimmerman, 80, Lynnville pioneer, committed suicide Friday forenoon by shooting himself. Mr. Zimmerman suffered a stroke about three weeks ago and it is believed despondency caused him to commit the rash deed.

Dr. McMurray said that the Lynnville man took his own life by shooting himself through the mouth with a .38 caliber revolver.

According to the corner, Mr. Zimmerman was sitting up in a rocking chair in the dining room of the Zimmerman home shortly before 9:30 a.m. Mrs. Zimmerman, whom he married 56 years ago, when out of the room to get her has been a drink of water.

While she was gone, the sick man edged his rocking chair into the adjoining living room and to an old secretary. From a bottom drawer he obtained the old revolver with which he was fatally wounded.

Mr. Zimmerman's father came to Iowa in 1848 and settled near Lynnville. William was born near, January 18, 1856. The son had watched the little town grow from a hamlet of 100 persons to one of several hundred.

Survivors besides Mrs. Zimmerman include four children, L. H. Zimmerman of Seymour, Mo., Carl L. Zimmerman, Newton; Zoe Z. Swan, Taintor, and W. W. Zimmerman, Lynnville.

A brother James Zimmerman, lives in Kingfisher, Okla.

The body was taken to a Lynnville funeral home where funeral services were held at the home Saturday at 2 p.m.. ~ Newspaper unnamed but possibly The Des Moines Register or Newton (IA) Daily News.