CYRUS H. ZIMMERMAN, one of the prominent farmers of Union county, postoffice address, Unionville Centre, Ohio, has resided here since 1881.
     Mr. Zimmerman was born on his father’s farm, adjoining Springfield, Ohio, October 12, 1850, and, as the name indicates, is of German descent. The ancestry is traced back to three brothers who came from Germany to this country at an early day. Some members of the family were participants in the war of 1812. From one of these brothers was Isaac Zimmerman descended. He was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and in 1846 came from that State to Ohio, settling on a farm near Springfield. A portion of his farm is now within the corporate limits of that city. Isaac Zimmerman was one of a family of seven sons and five daughters. He was married in Pennsylvania to Anna Ober, a native of Harrisburg, that State, and a daughter of a prominent and wealthy farmer. Following are the names of their children: Cyrus H., Barbara E., wife of John Crabill; Agnes, wife of W. J. Welsh; William; Ida F., a music teacher, and wife of Samuel Spencer, attorney at law, Emporia, Kansas; Effie J., wife of Dr. Custer, of Dayton, Ohio; and Carrie May, teacher of languages in a Springfield seminary. Both parents are deceased, the father dying at the age of forty-eight years, the mother at forty-nine. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but during the closing years of his life was identified with the United Brethren Church. Financially he was a success, having made his own way in the world, and at his death left to his family a property valued at $40,000.
     Cyrus H. was reared and educated in his native town, completing his studies by a course at Wittenburg College. Being the oldest of the family, the care of the farm devolved upon him after his father’s death, and he continued to operate it until 1880. That year he purchased his present farm and the following year moved to it. Here he owns 217 acres of choice land, where everything on the place is kept up in first-class order.
     Mr. Zimmerman was married June 10, 1880, to Miss Lydia E. Lowe, an amiable and accomplished lady and a daughter of George S. and Edith (Powell) Lowe. Her father is deceased. This marriage has resulted in the birth of five children, whose names are as follows: Albert Isaac, Walter Austin, Joseph Foraker, Cyrus Edwin and Ralph Waldo.
     Mr. Zimmerman is one of the active Republicans in the county and has done much efficient work for his party, frequently serving as delegate to county conventions. He has been a Justice of the Peace for nine years, has served on the School Board, and at this writing is on his third term as Township Trustee. At the last nomination election, in the summer of 1894, he was the choice of his party for the office of County Commissioner, and in November, 1894, was elected by a handsome majority, running ahead on his ticket, and without doubt will make a good official in that capacity. In fraternal circles he is prominent and active, and, indeed, he is whole-hearted in whatever he undertakes. He is a member of Urania Lodge, No. 46, F. & A. M., Plain City, and in the I. O. O. F. he belongs to both the lodge and encampment, having passed all the chairs and served as Noble Grand. Both he and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian Church.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union & Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, pp. 262-263
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist.

JOHN F. ZWERNER, president and general manager of the Marysville Light & Water Company, is particularly deserving of consideration in this connection inasmuch as he is a native of the city in which he has attained to a position of marked prominence, and also by reason of the fact that his career has been one marked by persistent effort, much discrimination and correct methods, —elements which ever conserve a material success. His career has been one of constant application, but one into which have entered various lines of endeavor, and this taking advantage of opportunities and making all things bend to the accomplishment of desired ends affords both lesson and incentive to those who would study and learn of the methods by which success and honor are attained.
     Mr. Zwerner was born in Marysville, January 18, 1858, being the son of John G. and Maggie (Gunderman) Zwerner. The father was a native of Bavaria, Germany, and he remained in the fatherland until he had attained the age of thirty years, when he emigrated to America and forthwith took up his residence in Marysville, Ohio. He had learned the shoemaker’s trade in his native land and had devoted his attention to the same prior to coming to the United States, as did he also for a considerable time after his arrival here. Finally impaired health demanded that he make a change of occupation, and accordingly he engaged in the grocery business here, continuing the enterprise until the time of his death. His marriage was celebrated in this city, his wife having been also a native of Bavaria, from which land she came to America when only twelve years of age. He was a most zealous member of the German-Lutheran Church, as was also his wife. He died February 12, 1881, at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow, now seventy years of age, still resides in Marysville.
     John G. and Maggie Zwerner became the parents of seven children, namely: J. Adam, who is engaged in the drug business at Columbus, Ohio; J. Michael, a resident of Marysville; Anna, wife of Rev. Frederick Zagle, of East Wheatland, Illinois; John F., subject of this review; Mary and Maggie, who remain at the old home; and George, who is employed by his brother in the electric-light works here.
     John F. Zwerner was educated in the public schools of Marysville, continuing his studies until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he determined to strike out in life on his own responsibility, being ambitious, self-reliant and willing to work. He traversed the Western and Southwestern portions of the Union, and was absent about six months, making his own way, meeting with numerous experiences and profiting by the same. He finally returned to his home and turned his attention to the tailoring trade, at which he worked for a time, and then successively acquired an intimate knowledge of the brick-mason’s and blacksmith’s trades, working at the latter for a period of three years. This diversified experience did not satisfy the ambition of our subject, and we next find him employed in the local pharmacy of W. P. Anderson, with whom he remained until he had acquired a thorough knowledge of the drug business, when, in company with his brother, J. Adam Zwerner, he fitted up the drug store now conducted by N. E. Liggett, and the firm carried on a successful business for three years. At the expiration of this time our subject purchased his brother’s interest and continued the enterprise alone for five years, when he disposed of the same to the present proprietor. The date of this final transfer was August 10, 1890.
     In 1887 Mr. Zwerner became associated with Mr. George M. McPeck in the putting in of the electric-light plant of this city, the same furnishing both incandescent and arc lights and also dynamic power, and being one of the most effective and complete in equipment that the Buckeye State can boast. In August, 1889, Messrs. Zwerner and McPeck formed a partnership with Walter C. Fullington and Jerome E. Davis; articles of association were duly drawn up, and the company incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000, under the title of the Marysville Light & Water Company. The company at once began the work of putting in a thorough system of water-works, and the following year the same was in operation. There are seven and one-quarter miles of mains, with laterals ramifying into all sections of the city. In the operation of the electric plant the Thompson-Houston system is employed for the arc street lighting, and the Edison for the incandecent [sic] system, utilized in lighting interiors. The service rendered in both branches of the enterprise has given excellent satisfaction, and the citizens of Marysville may well honor those progressive and public-spirited men who have invested their capital and secured to the city these modern accessories, now so essential in every place which lays any pretentions to metropolitanism. The official corps of the Marysville Light & Water Company, is as follows: John F. Zwerner, president and manager; W. C. Fullington, treasurer; and George M. McPeck, secretary. Our subject gives his entire attention to the supervision of the enterprise, and under his effective direction not only has the business secured an extraordinary supporting patronage and been advanced to a substantial basis, but the public has been accorded a service that compares more than favorably with that of many cities of much greater population. He was active in getting the springs here, and is one of the stockholders in the company formed for boring for gas.
     In addition to his financial and executive connection with the enterprise noted, he has other capitalistic interests of importance, being a stockholder in the Kirby Dry Goods Company, and also in the Marysville Bank, holding official preferment as one of the directors of the former corporation. He is also a director and one of the appraisers of the Citizens’ Home & Savings Company, of Marysville. It is needless to say that he is held in high estimation in both business and social circles, being recognized as one of the most alert and progressive citizens, and a man of much tact, discernment and business acumen, —one of the leaders among the younger business element of the city. He is a stanch Democrat, and has served as a member of the City Council, as the candidate of his party, being, however, in no sense avidious for public office. Such men are an acquisition in any community.
     Mr. Zwerner was one of the charter members of the Ohio National Guards, being a member of the Fourteenth Regiment, Company D, serving first as a private, then Lieutenant, and finally as Captain. He has also been a member of the Fire Department for seven years, being elected chief of the department when only eighteen years of age.
Source: Memorial Record of the Counties of Delaware, Union & Morrow, Ohio; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co., 1895, pp. 469-471
Contributed by a Generous Genealogist.