6 Oct 1912, Jacob K. ZIMMERMAN died at The Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs, Mo., age about 70. He died leaving neither widow nor will but an estate worth more than a million dollars. It read like a serial in the Kansas City Star as people sent their family trees in hopes of proving they were a legitimate heir to the eccentric cattleman. In all, there were twenty-seven heirs, one of whom was my gg grandfather, John Hancock MARTIN (b. 1850 Harrisburg d. 1921 KC), a tailor in Kansas City and "nephew of the half-blood" to Mr. ZIMMERMAN.

One newspaper article (KC Star) said his funeral was to be held in Harrisburg and another (in the Philadelphia Enquirer) said he "was buried at his old home, Hanover, Pa.". I have found no evidence allowing me to document either event. I have twenty newspaper articles but, aside from the one mentioned from Philadelphia, nothing from Pennsylvania. I have sent queries to both Mo. and Pa. departments of vital records but am turning to this board for advice and assistance.

Jacob K. ZIMMERMAN was the son of Hannah (CLARK) MARTIN ZIMMERMAN (1798-1875) who was widowed in 1823 (Thomas D. MARTIN) and remarried to John ZIMMERMAN. Jacob had a half-brother, William Davison MARTIN (1820-1896), and three full-blood sisters; I do have a list of the heirs and hope to sort out the sisters' names. The families seem to have lived for generations in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties.

I would be pleased to have help with this research and thank you for reading about my family history challenge.