Years afterward in talking about those trying years, Henry Bierman said, "Those were after all our happiest years, we didn't have any money but we had our family together. If one of the boys needed a new pair of overalls, we would put a few chickens in a sack and go to town. If another needed a new shirt, we just put in another chicken or two."

Before closing this history I must write a few lines to honor my father and mother, Peter and Minnie Zimmerman, nee Dinkel; and the parents of Mrs. Zimmerman, Emil Winter and Augusta Winter, nee Wynhoff.

Peter Zimmerman was born in Grant County, Wisconsin and my mother Minnie Dinkel was born in LaPorte, Indiana. My father came to Battle Creek in 1886 to join his brother George Zimmerman and engage in the implement and well business. That same year, my mother came to Battle Creek with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Christian Dinkel.

My parents were married February 9, 1888. St. John's Lutheran Church records kept by Pastor Hofmann who came as the second resident pastor of our church and installed September 28, 1887, indicate that they were the first couple married by him in this charge.

My father always took a keen interest in politics and public affairs, served as County Commissioner for two terms and as Representative to the Legislature in 1901. As a Democrat he aided greatly in the election of William C. Allen as United States Senator to a six year term. At that time, United States Senators were elected by the State Legislature. It has taken a long process of changes to iron out inequalities to establish a truly democratic form of election, giving to each man and woman a right to vote for the person to represent him in Government. Even now in some states, individuals are denied this privilege.

Peter Zimmerman was responsible in the organization of the Madison County Poor Farm and bringing it to the Battle Creek area, southwest of town. In the terrible drought year of 1894, he obtained rights from the Federal Government to have crews of men from Madison County go to an area of open Government land south of Clearwater to put up, bale hay and have it brought to Madison County farmers to be distributed to needy people to feed their stock. His brother George supervised the work. The County Board also obtained Government aid of shipments of food stuffs, such as sugar, coffee, flour and other staples for human consumption and grains for their stock.

After being in business for many years he rented the Carl Praeuner farm in 1912 and moved there to keep his family together. While a resident in town he served several terms on the town board.

In 1914, he purchased a farm midway between Ewing and Orchard and moved there with his family in 1915, except for

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