Life History of Julianna Hoke Zimmerman
Julianna Hoke Zimmerman was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, on November 25, 1798. She was the daughter of Lawrence and Christiana Fredrica Hartman Hoke.
Her father, Lawrence Hoke, a carpenter by trade, thought to better their condition financially by coming to America. They crossed the ocean in 1808 and made their home in the Blue Ridge Mountain district on Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He invented and patented the first thrashing machine in the United States while Thomas Jefferson was President. A copy of the patent is held as a relic by Dr. John Z. Brown, a great-grandson. He was a very devout man and a scriptorian. He was not satisfied with any of the religious denominations at that time. Through prayer the Lord made known to him that the true Church of Christ was not on the Earth, but would soon be restored, and through it he and his posterity could be saved, and if he was living when it was restored he would know it and obey it. He died at the home of his daughter Julianna, in 1835, not having heard of the restoration of the gospel although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized five years before, as the Missionaries had not yet reached this part of the State of Pennsylvania. However, through his daughter the prophecy has been fulfilled and all his household have been officiated for in the Temples of the Lord.
Her mother’s people, the Hartman’s, were wealthy and belonged to the Aristocracy, and did not approve of the marriage of their daughter to one of the laboring, or middle class, but she knew of his worth and integrity and made her choice. After coming to America, the hardships of pioneer life were more than the delicate health could endure, and she was an invalid for several years. She died in 1818.
Julianna was educated in America. She was married to George Gotlieb Zimmerman in 1816. Before her marriage she had had the care of her mothers family, and afterward her house was open for any of them to live with her. After they were all married her father came and lived with her until his death. She had the same spiritual experience as her father, which closely linked their lives together. She belonged to the Church of the United Brethren. As soon as she heard the Gospel she was convinced of its truth and embraced it. She was valiant in the teaching of it to her family all with whom she had become acquainted. She was widely known for her hospitality, and especially adapted to nursing the sick and helping those in need of sympathy or means. She had the care of her brothers family for two years in Illinois when his wife became demented. She was the mother of twelve children, and reared seven to maturity, all of whom had large families and are all members of the Latter-day Saints Church. Their families are as follows:
Christina Z. Stevens-Hopkins
John Zimmerman Julianna Z. Drury Elizabeth Z. Lamb
Margaret Z. Brown Susannah Z. Naegle-Terry Rosannah Z. Naegle
She Died in Lehi Utah in 1864.