Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-05-12

S
Again the PILOT is called upon to
chronicle the death of one of its fore
most citizens = ex-Mayor Ernest G..
Zimmerman. The community cannot
realize that this most popular and
very eminent citizen has passed away
forever, so sudden has been his illness
| and death. Mr.. Zimmerman had been
indispoSed for several weeks but no
one supposed that his condition was
at all serious. He was on the program
to preside at the bankers meeting, last
Wednesday morning in the city hail.
which was held in con2ec zion With the
Northern Wisconsin Development as
ISOLATION. He did not feel able 70 act
as chairman but he was present
throughout the session and took part
in the debate as to whether there
should be resolution adopted pro-
testing against Wisconsin being placed
in the Minneapolis district under the
new currency law. The question was
decided in the affirmative and Mr..
Zimmerman chosen as one of the COM
mittee to draw up the resolutions
This was probably his last public act.
Mr. Zimmerman had been troubled
with throat affection AND many
of his friends were concerned about
him on Wednesday as his general ap-
pearance indicated that he was not
we'll. On Thursday his condition was
worse and it was necessary for him to
seek his bed. The trouble developed
into bronchitis, followed by other COM
plications, and all day Monday his
physicians gave but little hope of his
recovery. He passed away at quar-
ter to II O'Clock, Monday night, May
18th, 1914 His death was great
shock to the community, but it was a
much greater one to his family.
There is nothing which the FILoT
can say of this splendid man, of his
character, of his kindness to everybody,
of his generosity, and his ability of
which the public is not fully acquaint-
ed. He was known in social affairs, as
one of the most kindly and cheerful of
men; in business the very soul of hon
esty and uprightness; in the field of
politics, ever fair to his opponents and
answering in the line of duty in that
which he deemed was right, and no
one questioned hisjudgmen6 From
the time he came to Wausau until he
passed away, he was part of the pro-
greSsiye forces which have been con-
stantly at work tor lettering the con-
ditions of humanity in general and
the upbuilding of his home city.
The flags upon the court house, city
hall and the four banks are at half
mast and the whole city is in the
deepest sorrow over the death of MIR.
Zimmerman.
The following concerning the life
of Mr.. Zimmerman is complied from
the history of Marathon county, writ
ten by Hon. Louis Marchetti:
The public and private career of
Ernest G. Zimmerman furnishes a
striking example that young man
without pecuniary means can still
make an honorable career in life, if
he has the industry, integrity and in
| telligence, coupled with the persever-
ance needed to accomplish that result.
E. 9. Zimmerman came from the city
| of Eau Claire, where he had been in
an insurance office, and started out in
the same business for himself after
coming to Wausau in 1878. For two
years he conducted it alone, mean
while becoming acquainted and max
ing friends by his gentlemanly bear
] ing. Having shown his capacity to
4 succeed in business, he accepted an
offer of III. l.. Wheeler, an old estab-
lished insurance man, to associate
with him, and the firm of Wheeler &
Zimmerman became the leading in
surance firm in the city and county.
Later he was offered and accepted the
| position of assistant cashier of the
Marathon County bank, the oldest
banking institution in the county, il
having been founded by j. A. Farm
ham as the Bank of the Interior"
Soon afterward; he was made cashier,
and has been acting in that capacity
! for twenty-five years.
Ever since attaining manhood, E
| G.. Zimmerman had acted with the
democratic party, politically, and had
been frequently pressed into service
always giving good account of him
self and served with distinction In
every trust imposed upon him. He
was twice elected as supervisor, re
presenting his constituency in the
city council as well as in the county
board, and at the expiration of his
term was elected as Mayor of the city
He succeeded Anton Mehl, having
been elected in 1883 and reelected in
1859, and while economy was still the
wstchward. this administration al
ready began TO look to a greater Wau-
sau. The market square and site for
a fire engine house was purchased al