The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-06-30
PIONEERS Who PASSED AWAY DURING YEAR; REMARKS
AT OLD SETTLERS PICNIC TODAY BY HON. JEAN A. FLTTIE

Born in the state of Kentucky in
1927, he came of good revolu-
tionary stock. One of his rela-
tives was a companion of the
famous Daniel Boone; and Cap
tain Ballard acted as scout for
Mad" Anthony Wayne during
the war of the revolution. Mr..
Ballard was well liked. He came
here in 1854.
Death removed from our
midst another familiar land
mark short time ago in the
person of Henry Zimmerman,
Sr. He was born in Germany in
1884 In 1854 he emigrated to
America, locating at st. Charles,
Mo. The following year he came
to Mankato. In 1869 he built
and opened the City hotel,
which for many years continued
to be a very popular hostelry.
Later he erected the Union hall
which, after extensive remodel
ings, is now the Heinrich hotel,
bearing his own German name.
For fifteen years he served as
member of our city council, and
he was also member of the
first fire company organized in
Mankato. Mr.. Zimmerman was
an honest and upright man.
About month ago there died
at the home of her son in Los
Angeles, Cal, Mrs. Julia A.
Washburn. She was then eighty
seven years old. Mrs. Washburn
was native of the state of Ken
lucky. She came to Minnesota
with her husband in 1857, set
Ting on farm in Vernon town.
ship, where they resided for
many years. She was a grand
woman in the truest sense of
that word. Her funeral was out
of the ordinary in that it was
conducted by her own children
in accordance with her own
wishes. She twas devoted
wife and mother, and devout
member of the Congregational
church.
Born in Wales in 1884, Robert
Roberts came to Mankato in
1857. He served in the Union
army and took part in. the battle
of Guntown where Colonel Will
kins was killed. He rose to the
position of corporal. Together
with the late H. K. Lee, he
operated for many years what
is now known as the Mankato
Manufacturing company. He
served at different times as cOun-
ty treasurer, county commission
err and as member of our city
council. He was at San Fran
cisco at the time of the destruc-
tive earthquake, Overwhelming
that city, and died at Oakland,
Cal, a few weeks ago. Mr.. Rob-
erts was quiet, unassumlng
and square man.
These were among the sturdy
men and women who helped
lay the foundation of the ma
terial and intellectual wealth of
this community. Their struggles,
their ideals and their hopes en-
tered into and in a large meas
ure made possible the bounties
of the present. We can not
honor them too highly. We
should not forget their worth.
We should not lightly pass over
their services to the state or
cease to remember what hard
ships they endured as pioneers,
or how excellently they COM
ported themselves as citizens,
when the country had ceased to
be new and well-Ordered civ
ilization had replaced the life of
the frontiersman and the savage.
They first beheld this garden
spot of the republic when their
eyes were undimmed by age and
their arms were strong. They
lived and toiled with plentiful
courage and faith in the future
till their eyes grew dim and their
arms grew weak, but they never
faltered in their love and loyalty
to friends and neighbors, to this
state, and to this land of oppor-
tunity and freedom.