The tale told on this page began with the discovery of an 1898 newspaper article (displayed below left), which raised several QUESTIONS, ... which motivated RESEARCH ... which produced the RESULTS.
BELOW: This is an image of the 1898 news article that led to the creation of this web page.
The following article appeared in the Hamilton Ohio Journal News - Tuesday, August 2, 1898 - page 4. The following modest, but interesting, letter has been received by Miss Daisy Jones, Darrtown. The writer is a Butler county boy, has relatives in the city and was with the gallant U. S. Regulars in the heroic charge up San Juan Hill. The letter is written on a strip of cardboard in three folds, and sealed with a cord, like an ordinary parcel. The letter will be displayed in Gilcrest and Millikin’s show window. Santiago De Cuba, July 16, 1898 Dear Sister - I now take the greatest pleasure in writing to you. I am well and hope you are all the same. I had a narrow escape, but pulled through all right. I was slightly wounded in the back with a brass ball, but I am up with the company. We have taken Santiago after a two days’ battle. The Spaniards put up a pretty hard scrap, but we made a charge on them and ran them out. We lost, killed, and wounded 1300, 76 killed, and 75 missing that we can't count for. The bullets were flying around us like a swarm of bees and we couldn't see anything to shoot, until we got right up on the Spaniards. Well, give everybody my regards and tell mother not to worry and then I think I will pull through. I will say goodbye for this mail. Address R. Zimmerman, Company G, 6th United States Infantry, Military Station, No. 1, via New York City.
Click the following link to see a TRANSCRIPTION of the 1898 article.
The letter that appeared in the newspaper article prompted these four questions:
Click the following link to see an ENLARGEMENT of the 1898 article.
The 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Milford Township, Butler County, Ohio includes information about a Phillip Zimmerman family - which includes a ROBERT Zimmerman, age 10 months.
The FOLLOWING IMAGE shows the handwritten 1880 census with NUMBERED ANNOTATIONS.
Click the link below to see an image of the TYPED census report.
1. This confirms that the name of the "head of household" was Phillip Zimmerman.
2. Phillip Zimmerman was 37 years old at the time of the 1880 census.
3. Phillip Zimmerman's occupation was "Saloon Keeper."
4. Hannah Zimmerman was the wife of Phillip Zimmerman.
5. Hannah Zimmerman was 35 years old at the time of the 1880 census.
6. The Zimmerman family included nine children; Anna, age 18; Margaret, age 16, Lydia, age 14; Arabell, age 12; John, age 9; Lulie, age 7; Phillip, age 5; Hannah, age 2; and Robert, age 10/12 (ten months).
7. This verifies Robert's name.
8. This verifies Robert's age in 1880.
9. This suggests that Peter Winston,* was a neighbor of the Zimmerman family, if one assumes that the census taker listed people in the order that he/she visited homes in the area. It is established that Peter Winston lived just north of the Darrtown's North Street and this information seemingly places the Zimmerman family in or near Darrtown.
10. The occupation for Peter Winston is listed as "Dry goods & grocery." This aligns with information from the Miami Valley Memoirs, which portray Peter Vinson as a "merchant."
CONCLUSION: To answer Question #1 ... "Who was R. Zimmerman?"️ ... (the man reported as the author of the letter published in the 1898 newspaper) ... the information displayed above seemingly confirms that he was Robert Zimmerman, son of Phillip and Hannah Zimmerman of Darrtown.
* Records show Peter's surname spelled several different ways; see the Vinson Family page
The numbered items below correspond with the numbered items that appear in the above image.
The phrase "Daisy Jones of Darrtown" appears in the 1898 news article. Files, displayed in the Q1 section (above), confirm that Robert Zimmerman had a SISTER named "Hannah DAISY" Zimmerman ... who lived in Darrtown with their parents and siblings. It seems likely that Robert's letter was written to his sister Hannah DAISY ZIMMERMAN of Darrtown ... and NOT Daisy JONES, as reported in the newspaper.
Records show that Robert Zimmerman, was among those from Darrtown and vicinity, who served with the U.S. Army, during the 1898 Spanish-American War.
The image/record at the right was lifted from the military section of this website.
The numbered annotations correlate with the information that appears BELOW this image.
CONCLUSION: To answer Question #3 ... "Were they siblings?" ... the answer is YES, Robert and Daisy were siblings, ... if, one is referring to Hannah Daisy ZIMMERMAN - and NOT Daisy JONES.
CONCLUSION: To answer Question #4, "Could a connection be established between R. Zimmerman and Darrtown," ...the answer is a definite YES, ... as the foregoing information confirms that Robert Zimmerman was the man who wrote the letter that appeared in the 1989 news article and YES, ... Robert Zimmerman was definitely connected to Darrtown.
Click the link below to see an image of the HANDWRITTEN census report.
Click the following link to see more about the referenced Daisy Jones.
► 1. Who was "R. Zimmerman"?
► 2. Who was "Daisy Jones of Darrtown"?
► 3. R. Zimmerman wrote "Dear Sister" in his greeting to Daisy Jones and he wrote "tell mother..." So, were they siblings?
► 4. Could a connection be estabished between R. Zimmerman and Darrtown?
1898 - October 6: Robert Zimmerman, at age 18 years, was a member of the U.S. Army, as verified by a newspaper item, which told of him being in Darrtown. on a furlough from military service. Click the links at the right.
The following article appeared in the Butler County Democrat of Hamilton, Ohio - Thursday, October 6, 1898 - page 8. “Robert Zimmerman, a Santiago hero and member of Company (illegible), Sixth regiment of Ft. Thomas, was tendered a good reception on returning home Saturday evening, on a 30-day furlough. He was hit, but twice, by bullets, once in the lower part of the leg, causing a harsh wound and once a ball struck his cartridge box, glancing off, just making a scratch on the side. Sunday afternoon, a subscription paper was started around among the boys for the purpose of buying a medal to be presented to Mr. Zimmerman, and before the sun had set that evening, a large sum of money had been given freely for that purpose.”
1898 - October 29: Robert Zimmerman received a gold medal from his friends at home, before re-joining his military unit at Ft. Thomas (Kentucky). Click the links at the right.
The following article appeared in the Hamilton (Ohio) Journal News - Saturday, October 29, 1898 - page 5. The headline read: “Private Zimmerman of Darrtown rejoins his regiment.” The text read: “Private Robert Zimmerman of Darrtown left at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon to rejoin the brave and gallant Sixth regiment at Fort Thomas and to again enter upon the duties of the service. At noon yesterday, before he left his home in Darrtown, he was presented, by his many friends in the village, with a very handsome gold medal, appropriate in design and appropriately inscribed. It was a beautiful remembrance and recognition.”
1898 - November 3 - An item (within the "Darrtown" section of the newspaper) reported that Robert Zimmerman had returned to duty at Ft.Thomas (Kentucky). Click the links at the right.
The following news item appeared in the Darrtown news section of the Hamilton Telegraph (Hamilton, Ohio) - Thursday, November 3, 1898 - page 5. “Robert Zimmerman of the gallant 6th has returned to duty at Fort Thomas, after spending several days with his parents.”
1898 - April 21: The Spanish-American War began; see more at Wikipedia on the Spanish-American War.
1898 - July 1: The Spanish-American War's infamous Battle of San Juan Hill started on this date. As noted above, Robert Zimmerman participated in this battle and was wounded, as described in the following October 6th item.
1899 - October 3: On this date, Robert Zimmerman was severely wounded in a hunting accident. Two accounts from two Hamilton, Ohio newspapers appear at the links below.
The following article appeared in the Hamilton Telegraph - Thursday, October 5, 1899 - page one. The headline read. “Terrible Mishap To Young Hunter. - Robert Zimmerman Shot In The Shoulder - His Arm May Have To Be Amputated- Weapon Discharged As He Was Attempting To Take It Out Of A Wagon. Victim May Be Brought Here.” The text of the article read: “Robert Zimmerman, formerly a soldier and a well-known young man residing in Darrtown, met with a terrible accident Tuesday morning. His brother lives on Peter Schwab's farm near Collinsville, and with his father and a younger brother, Rob had started over to the farm to go hunting. They saw a rabbit running along the road on the way, and Bob jumped out intending to shoot. As he was pulling his gun out of the wagon, it accidentally discharged, the full load being received in the right shoulder. As soon as possible, the wounded man was driven back to his home in Darrtown, where medical aid was rendered. It is believed that the arm will have to be amputated and, if it is possible, it was the intention, at last reports, to bring the young man here, for an operation, at Mercy Hospital. Rob was one of the gallant young boys who was in the late war, was with the fighting Sixth, and was wounded at San Juan Hill.”
From the Hamilton Telegraph October 5, 1899
The following appeared in the Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio) - Tuesday, October 3, 1890 - Page 1. The headline read: “Robert Zimmerman shot in the shoulder. His arm may have to be amputated. Weapon discharged as he was attempting to take it out of a wagon. Victim, maybe brought here.” The text of the article read: “Robert Zimmerman, formerly a soldier and a well-known young man residing in Darrtown, met with a terrible accident this morning. His brother lives on Peter Schwab's farm near Collinsville and, with his father and younger brother, Robert has started over to the farm to go hunting. They saw a rabbit running along the road, on the way, and Bob jumped out, intending to shoot. As he was pulling his gun out of the wagon, it was accidentally discharged, the full load being received in the right shoulder. As soon as possible, the wounded man was driven back to his home in Darrtown and medical aid was rendered. It is believed that the arm will have to be amputated and, if it is possible, it was the intention, at last report, to bring the young man here for an operation at Mercy Hospital. Rob was one of the gallant young Butler County boys who was in the late war, was with the fighting Sixth, and was wounded at San Juan Hill.”
From The Journal News October 3, 1899
1899 - October 4: A newspaper item reported that Robert Zimmerman was moved to Mercy Hospital, in Hamilton, yesterday (October 3rd). Click the links at the right.
The following article appeared in the Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio) Wednesday, October 4, 18 - page 3. The headline read: “To The Hospital - Robert Zimmerman of Darrtown Removed Last Evening.” The text of the article read: “Robert Zimmerman, who accidentally shot himself near Collinsville yesterday, was brought here yesterday evening and placed in Mercy hospital. He had a bad night, but was considerably better today. Some bones have been removed from the shore, but every effort will be made to save the arm. The young soldier is bearing the ordeal he Roy Lee. When his terrible wound was being dressed by Dr. Schaefer of Dartown yesterday, he said, ‘Doc, it's pretty —- tough. Up San Juan Hill behind Egbert and then come home and blow myself up.’ ”
1899 - October 24: 20 days after being admitted to the hospital, Robert Zimmerman was dismissed. Click the links at the right.
The following article appeared in the Mercy Hospital section of the Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio) Tuesday, October 24, 1899 - page 4. The text of the article read: “Robert Zimmerman of Darrtown, who was accidentally shot a couple of weeks ago and has since been at the hospital, was dismissed from the institution today.”
1899 - November 22 - An item (within the "Darrtown" section of the newspaper) reported that Robert Zimmerman was in Darrtown having somewhat recovered from his injury. Click the links at the right.
The following item appeared in the Darrtown section of the Journal News (Hamilton, Ohio), Wednesday, November 22, 1890 - page 7. The text of the article that pertained to Robert Zimmerman read: “Robert Zimmerman was here during the week, having recovered, to some extent, from a dreadful wound in the shoulder.”
1899 - At some point during this year (1899), Robert Zimmerman married Nancy _______ (maiden name unknown). The marriage is verified by the January 23, 1902 news item (below), which reported that a divorce was granted to Robert and Nancy Zimmerman.
The following article appeared in the Butler County Democrat (Hamilton, Ohio.) Thursday, November 7, 1901 -page 12. The headline of the item read: “For Divorce - Robert Zimmerman of Lindenwald is Sued in Cincinnati.” The text of the item read: “Sheriff Bisdorf has received, from Hamilton County, a summons for the defendant in the case of Nancy Zimmerman against Robert Zimmerman, who lives at Lindenwald. It is an action for divorce, restoration to her maiden name and other relief.”
1898 - December 10: The Spanish-American War ended. No record of Robert's discharge from military service has been found.
1901 - November 7 - An newspaper item reported that Nancy Zimmerman sued Robert for divorce . Click the links at the right.
1902 - January 23 - A newspaper item reported that a divorce was granted to Robert Zimmerman from Nancy Zimmerman. Click the links at the right.
The following item appeared in the Butler County Democrat (Hamilton, Ohio) Thursday, January 23, 1902 - page 9. “Judge Jones has also granted Robert Zimmerman a divorce from Nancy Zimmerman. They were married in Cincinnati in 1899.”
CONCLUSION: To answer Question #2, the 1898 news article is INCORRECT, when it identified "Daisy Jones of Darrtown," as the recipient of the letter written by Robert Zimmerman.
1903 - October 7 - The Find a Grave website shows October 7, 1903, as the DEATH DATE for Robert Zimmerman of Detroit, Michigan. Robert's connection to Detroit is unknown; however, the information in the Find a Grave report (see link at the right) matches the records of Robert Zimmerman from Darrtown. This verifies that Robert died at the age of 23 years and he was buried in the Darrtown Pioneer Cemetery.
For additional confirmation of the connection between Robert Zimmerman and Darrtown, visit the Zimmerman Family page.
1898 - September 29: The links at the right lead to a news items about Private Zimmerman "of Darrtown" (and the Hamilton 6th) being in a Providence R.I. hospital. The news item refers to Charles Zimmerman; but, it seems likely that the hospitalized soldier was Robert Zimmerman.
