Rachel was the fourth daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman. Born close to Maquon, she married Sumner William Darnell Sr. on 11 June 1860 in Alexandria, Clark County, MO.
They settled in the Uniontown, Knox County, Illinois, area after marriage and had three children in this area: Martha Jane, Sumner William Jr., and Charles.
Her husband enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, and upon his return from the war, they proceeded to move to Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. While there, six more children were born: Harry, who lived 1868-1870, Frederick, Judd, Eddie, who lived 1874-1875, Myrtle, and Maude Annabelle.
The 1870 U.S. census showed William Sumner, Rachel, Martha at 8 years old, Sumner Jr. 6, and Charles, 3. 1880 showed Sumner, 40, Rachel, 35, Martha 18, Sumner Jr. 15, Charles 13, Frederick, 9, Judd, 3, and newborn Myrtle "Murtie". Maude Annabelle was born 1881.
In 1868, Rachel received a letter from her sister, Amanda, and Rachel responded in kind:
The following letter, written by Rachel (Zimmerman) Darnell to her sister, Amanda (Zimmerman) Grimm, was written in October of 1868 and tells of the early days of the Darnells in Nebraska;
"October the 14 1868
Dear Sister with pleasure i take my pen in hand to answer your kind and welcome letter to let you know that we are all well at present hoping these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blesing Dear Sister i was very glad of my present O i was proud of my carpet you sent and other nice preasant ? ? ? all of them was no comfort to me when I found out that you and mother wer not coming out this fall O i had made up my mind that we would have such a good time this Winter O do try and come in the Spring it looks so hard to think that we cant be together when there aren't any more of us but I am well satisfied with the country and like the people that lives in it that I am a quainted with cristy george is going to start home in the morning or start to the city he will go home in a few days after he gits to the city Amanda I am going to sent your bed clothes with him for i expect you need them I will keep the one mother sent tell mother and pop to take good care of there selves and come out in the Spring O you dont know how bad I want to see you and mother and the children Maty and baby takes my day about and bud and granma not coming Charly is a great big boy he can talking thing plain is smart and prety tow I am geting stout once more i have heap of work to do cristy george has bin to our house for 3 weeks they are all good to help me Sum doese the milking and helps me all the time when he is about the house one good thing we have plenty to eat and plenty for the winter our potatoes is good and cabage is good Our corn is all forost bit it did not get ripe till the frost come and spilet it everybody corn is spilt expect one or tow i have got a bushel of dried plums and bushel of dried corn Sum is going to the city prety soon to git our winter groceries an him some clothes and he wants to get us some molassas Amanda i guess I have wrote all the news i guess it is geting late and i am tired i have worked hard all day O if I could only see you I could tell you a heap that I cant write tell mother to rite and tell me what her and pop is going to do this winter I wisht she would stay with you it does me good to hear of her with you O how i would like to go over and eat a greenapple pie i had pies when i went ther but not that cind i wish you was here to eat breakesfast with me well i will bringing letter to a close for my head hurts me write soon as you get this and tell me all the news i still remain you dear Sister till separated by death
Good By dear Sister and mother
from Rachel Darnell to Amanda Grimm
tell emma to rite me a long letter and tell me how she get a long"
The interesting things I found in this letter was Rachel taking notice that the only ones left of her family was sister Amanda, and her mother. Her father, Thomas Jefferson Zimmerman, was born 1807 in Ohio, and died 21 Jan 1885 in Ulysses, Butler Co., Nebraska, and is buried in Grim Cemetery. Her mother, Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman, was born 1812 in Ohio, and died 3 Aug 1888, also in Ulysses, and buried in Grim Cemetery.
Her first-born sister, Eliza Jane, married Alexander Grim 18 Dec 1851 in Knox County, Illinois, and she died 24 Apr 1862, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery, Knox County, Ill.
Her sister Amanda had first married Isaac W. McGrew in Knox County, Ill. on 17 Aug 1856, and afterward married Alexander Grim 16 Feb 1863.
Her sister Martha E. Zimmerman married James K. Darnell, brother of Sumner William, on 21 Oct 1857 in Knox County, Illinois. She lost her life in 1864, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery.
Another interesting note was her mentioning Charles was getting to be a big boy, and that she was getting "stout". Harry was born the end of 1868, and this letter was written in October of 1868.
Several family members are buried in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Nebraska, and several are buried in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. Rachel's burial is assumed to be in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. The 1900 census shows her still living in Ulysses.
They settled in the Uniontown, Knox County, Illinois, area after marriage and had three children in this area: Martha Jane, Sumner William Jr., and Charles.
Her husband enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, and upon his return from the war, they proceeded to move to Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. While there, six more children were born: Harry, who lived 1868-1870, Frederick, Judd, Eddie, who lived 1874-1875, Myrtle, and Maude Annabelle.
The 1870 U.S. census showed William Sumner, Rachel, Martha at 8 years old, Sumner Jr. 6, and Charles, 3. 1880 showed Sumner, 40, Rachel, 35, Martha 18, Sumner Jr. 15, Charles 13, Frederick, 9, Judd, 3, and newborn Myrtle "Murtie". Maude Annabelle was born 1881.
In 1868, Rachel received a letter from her sister, Amanda, and Rachel responded in kind:
The following letter, written by Rachel (Zimmerman) Darnell to her sister, Amanda (Zimmerman) Grimm, was written in October of 1868 and tells of the early days of the Darnells in Nebraska;
"October the 14 1868
Dear Sister with pleasure i take my pen in hand to answer your kind and welcome letter to let you know that we are all well at present hoping these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blesing Dear Sister i was very glad of my present O i was proud of my carpet you sent and other nice preasant ? ? ? all of them was no comfort to me when I found out that you and mother wer not coming out this fall O i had made up my mind that we would have such a good time this Winter O do try and come in the Spring it looks so hard to think that we cant be together when there aren't any more of us but I am well satisfied with the country and like the people that lives in it that I am a quainted with cristy george is going to start home in the morning or start to the city he will go home in a few days after he gits to the city Amanda I am going to sent your bed clothes with him for i expect you need them I will keep the one mother sent tell mother and pop to take good care of there selves and come out in the Spring O you dont know how bad I want to see you and mother and the children Maty and baby takes my day about and bud and granma not coming Charly is a great big boy he can talking thing plain is smart and prety tow I am geting stout once more i have heap of work to do cristy george has bin to our house for 3 weeks they are all good to help me Sum doese the milking and helps me all the time when he is about the house one good thing we have plenty to eat and plenty for the winter our potatoes is good and cabage is good Our corn is all forost bit it did not get ripe till the frost come and spilet it everybody corn is spilt expect one or tow i have got a bushel of dried plums and bushel of dried corn Sum is going to the city prety soon to git our winter groceries an him some clothes and he wants to get us some molassas Amanda i guess I have wrote all the news i guess it is geting late and i am tired i have worked hard all day O if I could only see you I could tell you a heap that I cant write tell mother to rite and tell me what her and pop is going to do this winter I wisht she would stay with you it does me good to hear of her with you O how i would like to go over and eat a greenapple pie i had pies when i went ther but not that cind i wish you was here to eat breakesfast with me well i will bringing letter to a close for my head hurts me write soon as you get this and tell me all the news i still remain you dear Sister till separated by death
Good By dear Sister and mother
from Rachel Darnell to Amanda Grimm
tell emma to rite me a long letter and tell me how she get a long"
The interesting things I found in this letter was Rachel taking notice that the only ones left of her family was sister Amanda, and her mother. Her father, Thomas Jefferson Zimmerman, was born 1807 in Ohio, and died 21 Jan 1885 in Ulysses, Butler Co., Nebraska, and is buried in Grim Cemetery. Her mother, Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman, was born 1812 in Ohio, and died 3 Aug 1888, also in Ulysses, and buried in Grim Cemetery.
Her first-born sister, Eliza Jane, married Alexander Grim 18 Dec 1851 in Knox County, Illinois, and she died 24 Apr 1862, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery, Knox County, Ill.
Her sister Amanda had first married Isaac W. McGrew in Knox County, Ill. on 17 Aug 1856, and afterward married Alexander Grim 16 Feb 1863.
Her sister Martha E. Zimmerman married James K. Darnell, brother of Sumner William, on 21 Oct 1857 in Knox County, Illinois. She lost her life in 1864, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery.
Another interesting note was her mentioning Charles was getting to be a big boy, and that she was getting "stout". Harry was born the end of 1868, and this letter was written in October of 1868.
Several family members are buried in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Nebraska, and several are buried in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. Rachel's burial is assumed to be in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. The 1900 census shows her still living in Ulysses.
Rachel was the fourth daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman. Born close to Maquon, she married Sumner William Darnell Sr. on 11 June 1860 in Alexandria, Clark County, MO.
They settled in the Uniontown, Knox County, Illinois, area after marriage and had three children in this area: Martha Jane, Sumner William Jr., and Charles.
Her husband enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, and upon his return from the war, they proceeded to move to Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. While there, six more children were born: Harry, who lived 1868-1870, Frederick, Judd, Eddie, who lived 1874-1875, Myrtle, and Maude Annabelle.
The 1870 U.S. census showed William Sumner, Rachel, Martha at 8 years old, Sumner Jr. 6, and Charles, 3. 1880 showed Sumner, 40, Rachel, 35, Martha 18, Sumner Jr. 15, Charles 13, Frederick, 9, Judd, 3, and newborn Myrtle "Murtie". Maude Annabelle was born 1881.
In 1868, Rachel received a letter from her sister, Amanda, and Rachel responded in kind:
The following letter, written by Rachel (Zimmerman) Darnell to her sister, Amanda (Zimmerman) Grimm, was written in October of 1868 and tells of the early days of the Darnells in Nebraska;
"October the 14 1868
Dear Sister with pleasure i take my pen in hand to answer your kind and welcome letter to let you know that we are all well at present hoping these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blesing Dear Sister i was very glad of my present O i was proud of my carpet you sent and other nice preasant ? ? ? all of them was no comfort to me when I found out that you and mother wer not coming out this fall O i had made up my mind that we would have such a good time this Winter O do try and come in the Spring it looks so hard to think that we cant be together when there aren't any more of us but I am well satisfied with the country and like the people that lives in it that I am a quainted with cristy george is going to start home in the morning or start to the city he will go home in a few days after he gits to the city Amanda I am going to sent your bed clothes with him for i expect you need them I will keep the one mother sent tell mother and pop to take good care of there selves and come out in the Spring O you dont know how bad I want to see you and mother and the children Maty and baby takes my day about and bud and granma not coming Charly is a great big boy he can talking thing plain is smart and prety tow I am geting stout once more i have heap of work to do cristy george has bin to our house for 3 weeks they are all good to help me Sum doese the milking and helps me all the time when he is about the house one good thing we have plenty to eat and plenty for the winter our potatoes is good and cabage is good Our corn is all forost bit it did not get ripe till the frost come and spilet it everybody corn is spilt expect one or tow i have got a bushel of dried plums and bushel of dried corn Sum is going to the city prety soon to git our winter groceries an him some clothes and he wants to get us some molassas Amanda i guess I have wrote all the news i guess it is geting late and i am tired i have worked hard all day O if I could only see you I could tell you a heap that I cant write tell mother to rite and tell me what her and pop is going to do this winter I wisht she would stay with you it does me good to hear of her with you O how i would like to go over and eat a greenapple pie i had pies when i went ther but not that cind i wish you was here to eat breakesfast with me well i will bringing letter to a close for my head hurts me write soon as you get this and tell me all the news i still remain you dear Sister till separated by death
Good By dear Sister and mother
from Rachel Darnell to Amanda Grimm
tell emma to rite me a long letter and tell me how she get a long"
The interesting things I found in this letter was Rachel taking notice that the only ones left of her family was sister Amanda, and her mother. Her father, Thomas Jefferson Zimmerman, was born 1807 in Ohio, and died 21 Jan 1885 in Ulysses, Butler Co., Nebraska, and is buried in Grim Cemetery. Her mother, Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman, was born 1812 in Ohio, and died 3 Aug 1888, also in Ulysses, and buried in Grim Cemetery.
Her first-born sister, Eliza Jane, married Alexander Grim 18 Dec 1851 in Knox County, Illinois, and she died 24 Apr 1862, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery, Knox County, Ill.
Her sister Amanda had first married Isaac W. McGrew in Knox County, Ill. on 17 Aug 1856, and afterward married Alexander Grim 16 Feb 1863.
Her sister Martha E. Zimmerman married James K. Darnell, brother of Sumner William, on 21 Oct 1857 in Knox County, Illinois. She lost her life in 1864, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery.
Another interesting note was her mentioning Charles was getting to be a big boy, and that she was getting "stout". Harry was born the end of 1868, and this letter was written in October of 1868.
Several family members are buried in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Nebraska, and several are buried in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. Rachel's burial is assumed to be in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. The 1900 census shows her still living in Ulysses.
They settled in the Uniontown, Knox County, Illinois, area after marriage and had three children in this area: Martha Jane, Sumner William Jr., and Charles.
Her husband enlisted in the Army during the Civil War, and upon his return from the war, they proceeded to move to Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. While there, six more children were born: Harry, who lived 1868-1870, Frederick, Judd, Eddie, who lived 1874-1875, Myrtle, and Maude Annabelle.
The 1870 U.S. census showed William Sumner, Rachel, Martha at 8 years old, Sumner Jr. 6, and Charles, 3. 1880 showed Sumner, 40, Rachel, 35, Martha 18, Sumner Jr. 15, Charles 13, Frederick, 9, Judd, 3, and newborn Myrtle "Murtie". Maude Annabelle was born 1881.
In 1868, Rachel received a letter from her sister, Amanda, and Rachel responded in kind:
The following letter, written by Rachel (Zimmerman) Darnell to her sister, Amanda (Zimmerman) Grimm, was written in October of 1868 and tells of the early days of the Darnells in Nebraska;
"October the 14 1868
Dear Sister with pleasure i take my pen in hand to answer your kind and welcome letter to let you know that we are all well at present hoping these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blesing Dear Sister i was very glad of my present O i was proud of my carpet you sent and other nice preasant ? ? ? all of them was no comfort to me when I found out that you and mother wer not coming out this fall O i had made up my mind that we would have such a good time this Winter O do try and come in the Spring it looks so hard to think that we cant be together when there aren't any more of us but I am well satisfied with the country and like the people that lives in it that I am a quainted with cristy george is going to start home in the morning or start to the city he will go home in a few days after he gits to the city Amanda I am going to sent your bed clothes with him for i expect you need them I will keep the one mother sent tell mother and pop to take good care of there selves and come out in the Spring O you dont know how bad I want to see you and mother and the children Maty and baby takes my day about and bud and granma not coming Charly is a great big boy he can talking thing plain is smart and prety tow I am geting stout once more i have heap of work to do cristy george has bin to our house for 3 weeks they are all good to help me Sum doese the milking and helps me all the time when he is about the house one good thing we have plenty to eat and plenty for the winter our potatoes is good and cabage is good Our corn is all forost bit it did not get ripe till the frost come and spilet it everybody corn is spilt expect one or tow i have got a bushel of dried plums and bushel of dried corn Sum is going to the city prety soon to git our winter groceries an him some clothes and he wants to get us some molassas Amanda i guess I have wrote all the news i guess it is geting late and i am tired i have worked hard all day O if I could only see you I could tell you a heap that I cant write tell mother to rite and tell me what her and pop is going to do this winter I wisht she would stay with you it does me good to hear of her with you O how i would like to go over and eat a greenapple pie i had pies when i went ther but not that cind i wish you was here to eat breakesfast with me well i will bringing letter to a close for my head hurts me write soon as you get this and tell me all the news i still remain you dear Sister till separated by death
Good By dear Sister and mother
from Rachel Darnell to Amanda Grimm
tell emma to rite me a long letter and tell me how she get a long"
The interesting things I found in this letter was Rachel taking notice that the only ones left of her family was sister Amanda, and her mother. Her father, Thomas Jefferson Zimmerman, was born 1807 in Ohio, and died 21 Jan 1885 in Ulysses, Butler Co., Nebraska, and is buried in Grim Cemetery. Her mother, Rebecca (Lowman) Zimmerman, was born 1812 in Ohio, and died 3 Aug 1888, also in Ulysses, and buried in Grim Cemetery.
Her first-born sister, Eliza Jane, married Alexander Grim 18 Dec 1851 in Knox County, Illinois, and she died 24 Apr 1862, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery, Knox County, Ill.
Her sister Amanda had first married Isaac W. McGrew in Knox County, Ill. on 17 Aug 1856, and afterward married Alexander Grim 16 Feb 1863.
Her sister Martha E. Zimmerman married James K. Darnell, brother of Sumner William, on 21 Oct 1857 in Knox County, Illinois. She lost her life in 1864, and is buried in Uniontown Cemetery.
Another interesting note was her mentioning Charles was getting to be a big boy, and that she was getting "stout". Harry was born the end of 1868, and this letter was written in October of 1868.
Several family members are buried in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Nebraska, and several are buried in Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado. Rachel's burial is assumed to be in Grim Cemetery, Ulysses, Butler County, Nebraska. The 1900 census shows her still living in Ulysses.
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