Surnames: Zillman, Nichols, Ebert

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 08/07/1941; Thorp Historical Museum

George Zillman and his younger brother, William

Zillmann, George (3 OCT 1860 - 1 AUG 1941)

George Zillmann, a prominent and highly esteemed resident of Thorp (Clark Co., Wis.), passed away at the Luther Hospital at Eau Claire at 8:30 o’clock last Friday morning, Aug. 1, 1941, following an operation on Wednesday, the shock of which proved too great for an overburdened heart.

Mr. Zillman underwent a serious operation about ten years ago from which he entirely recovered and enjoyed good health up until several weeks ago when he failed noticeably. He was taken to the hospital on Tuesday, July 29th. Death came to him quietly, without pain.

Born in Rockville Township of Ryan, Sheboygan Co., Wis., on Oct. 3, 1860, Mr. Zillmann came to Thorp in the years 1888, joining the pioneers of our little village and surrounding community and giving the past fifty-three years of his life to its welfare. He became a partner of the firm Nye, Lusk & Hudson in their mercantile establishment here and later bought out that department. Up until 1927 he was active manager of the Thorp Mercantile Co. which for many years was the most popular trading center of this community. He sold the business at that time to Adam Lesniewski.

He was an early stockholder in the Peoples State Bank and Peoples Exchange Bank, holding the offices of director and vice president for many years and president since 1931. He also served as village trustee and president and a member of the local school board besides being the village representative on the Clark County Board of Supervisors for many years.

On Dec 16, 1891, he was united in marriage to Mary Allen Nichols at Madrid, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y. Two children blessed this marriage, one son Harold, now of Douglaston, Long Island, N.Y., and Ruth (Mrs. Stephen P…ron?, of Littleton, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Zillmann would have celebrated their golden anniversary this coming December. Also surviving are one sister, Mrs. Annie Ebert and one brother, Ed Zillmann of Colby, Wis. Two other brothers preceded him this Spring within a span of five weeks.

Mr. Zillmann was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Thorp for 41 years. He was an ardent admirer of the principals of that fraternity and an active member up to the time of his death, holding the office of trustee.

We quote here words of John G. Whittier which seems to describe our friend and brother:

Such was our friend, formed on the good old plan,

A true, a quiet and a downright honest man;

Loathing pretense, he did with earnest will,

What others talked of while their hands were still;

His daily prayer, far better understood

In acts than words was simply Doing Good.

So calm, so constant was his rectitude,

That by his loss alone we know its worth,

And feels how true a man has walked with us on earth.

Funeral services were conducted by Thorp Lodge No. 264, F. & A.M., and were held at the Bogumill Funeral Home at two o’clock Monday afternoon, Aug. 4. A.L. Devos of Neillsville served as Grand Master and Corwin C. Guell as Chaplain. Masonic services were also held at the grave in the East Thorp Cemetery. Masons from Owen, Withee, Stanley, Eau Claire, Neillsville and Chippewa Falls attended in a body. Pallbearers were: Albert Childs, D.D. Stookey, Wm. J. Klouda, Richard Coates, Harry Quelle and Wm. S. Wagner.