Biographical sketch extracted from:

Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1887. pp. 765-766.

JACOB ZIMMERLEE, deceased, an early settler of Union Township, was born in Virginia. But little is known of the history of his parents, as they both died when he was a mere lad, and he found a home with his brother-in-law, Jacob Miller, who married his only sister, Ann. There were three other sons—John, William and David, who settled in Rush County, Indiana, while Mr. Miller came to Wells County, bringing Jacob with him. David afterward moved to and died in Adams County. Jacob was reared in this county, and without patrimony began the work of providing a home for himself. He drove a team for his brother-in-law several years between Bluffton and Cincinnati, from which city all the goods were transported. He was fourteen years of age when he came to the county, and at that time there were scarcely any settlements. December 25, 1845, he was married to Clara Brown, and they began housekeeping on the farm now belonging to the Fredrick Eichhorn heirs. Mrs. Zimmerlee was born in Wilks County, North Carolina, February 1, 1824, and was a daughter of Elisha and Elizabeth (Redding) Brown. The nationality of the Brown family cannot be ascertained, but the Zimmerlees are of German origin. When the event of their marriage occurred, $5 would have purchased all their united possessions. Four years after they were married he purchased on credit forty acres of land now owned by Daniel Fisher, and worked by the month to pay for it. During this time his good wife remained alone with her four children and managed to support them by weaving, so that her husband’s earnings could all apply on the purchase. After the land was paid for he commenced clearing it and had the task almost completed when he sold it, and in 1861 removed to the farm now owned by his wife. The following spring they went to the Robert. Miller farm on the Wabash, and returned in the fall to the farm of J. Roe, two of their children having died during their residence on the Wabash. Two years were spent on the Roe farm during which time he built the cabin that still stands in the door-yard. They removed to their new home in 1863, where they have since resided. Jacob was a shoemaker by trade and during his early married life worked at the bench during the winter season. Their first years of married life were full of hardships, but his last purchase of 110 acres made him a comparatively wealthy man, and after the timber was removed it made a fine farm. By will the property was bequeathed to his wife during her lifetime and then descends to her heirs. The death of Mr. Zimmerlee occurred October 15, 1885, and his remains were interred at Markle. They had eight children, five of whom are living—John, who married Caroline Platt; Martha A., wife of Peter C. Leavengood; Daniel, married Nancy A. McLure; Elijah, married Alice Ormsby, and Mary E., wife of Daniel Walter. Elijah is the only child that has engaged in a profession. He taught school previous to his marriage, and abandoned his profession to engage in farming. Later he established a tile factory with Daniel Walter near the home farm, which he sold at the death of his father, and he now has charge of the homestead. All are residents of Union Township, and all reside on section 33.