Rev. John Jacob Zimmerman was born December 21, 1817, in Germany. We believe to be in the Wuertenberg area. As a young man he arrived in Baltimore, Maryland. There is a listing of his
business of a tailor in the Baltimore phone book. He was a tailor in the Civil War. He sewed Overcoats for Officers on both sides. John Jacob was united in marriage to Theresa Merriman at Baltimore, Maryland. To this union six sons were born: Jacob Zimmerman ,Frank (Shorty) Zimmerman, Noah Zimmerman, George Washington Zimmerman, Charles H. Zimmerman and William H. Zimmerman. All the sons but William were born in Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1867 the family moved to the vicinity of Merrill-Melbourne in anticipation of establishing a church which is the present Merrill Melbourne Evangelical United Brethren Church. In less than a year, March 9, 1869, Rev. Zimmerman passed away leaving the mother, Theresa, with six sons, having reached the age of 51 years, 2 months and 18 days. He was interred at the Merrill-Melbourne Township Cemetery.

~Source: the Evelyn Zimmerman Genealogy Book submitted by Ardythe Rees Stoesz