Wilhelm: Zimmerman brothers held various roles in community
Some people are community leaders in many ways.
Take the Zimmerman brothers, who filled a variety of roles late in the 19th century and well into the 20th century.
Dr. George Zimmerman came to Fremont in 1884 after graduating from the Homeopathic Medical College at Chicago. He opened his medical practice in Fremont that same year and continued that practice until 1902 when he launched himself into some rather impressive business ventures.
He and his brother Harry launched a local mitten and glove factory that quickly expanded and involved some very well-known local names. In 1904, the organization incorporated with the following officers: George Zimmerman as president; J.B. Johnson as vice president; Harry Zimmerman, secretary and treasurer; and John F. Gottron and John L. Reineck, directors.
Company ran three large plants in region
I was not familiar with the firm, but the 1909 book “History of Sandusky County” compiled by Basil Meek and published by the Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co. of Chicago, had this to say about it:
“At the present time the company is operating three factories, there being an extensive plant on North Wood Street, Fremont, giving employment to 125 hands; one at Oak Harbor, where there are 160 machines operated by 160 girls, and a third factory at Sandusky, which is equipped with 260 machines operated by the same number of girls. The main office and shipping point is Fremont.”
The publication then adds: “In addition to attending to the carrying on and expansion of this large enterprise, Dr. Zimmerman is also president of the largest plant in the United States for the manufacture of the delicate instruments made use of in manicuring.”
Zimmerman also ran the Henkel Company
That plant was the Henkel Company in Fremont.
And the doctor’s brother Harry apparently became the leader in that venture. According to the Hayes Presidential Center, “he and Paul Schaaf purchased the Henkel Company in 1913.” The two purchased the interests of their three partners: Dr. George; August Henkel and Frank Kiser. “The five men had founded Henkel in 1906.”
According to the Hayes Center, in 1919, Henkel Company merged with Clauss Shear to become the largest cutlery company in the world.
Most longtime area residents are very familiar with the name Henkel-Clauss.
Its plant on East State Street and Sandusky Avenue, which replaced one at Ohio Avenue and Pine Street which was destroyed by fire, was the largest shear works in the world in the early '20s, a time that the city, with 25 cutlery businesses, was called the “cutlery center of the world.”
Harry Zimmerman sold his interest in the firm in 1924, but his son-in-law, Lawrence Carroll, had joined the business as an executive and remained there until organizing the Clyde Castings Company in 1933. That firm became Quikut, manufacturers of the famous “Ginsu” knives. Quikut later merged with Scott and Fetzer. Both Carroll and his son John served as leaders of the company and leaders in the community for many years.
Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965 as a reporter. Now retired, he writes a column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wilhelm: Zimmerman brothers ran several large Fremont companies
