Nicholas traveled to America from Hallschlag, Germany in 1854 and settled in St. George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada. He married Rebecca Spofford in May 1858, the marriage record at St. George parish in Charlotte County, Canada by John Davis minister of Baptist Church, witness by John Zierden (brother maybe) and HE Seely S. Spofford (Rebecca’s brother, was 33 years old at the time).

He worked as a “G. laborer from 1854 to 1865, 14 years, moved to Williamsport, PA in 1865 to 1874. He was Superintendent of Lumber operations for J. E. Filbert Putman Lumber in both Williamsport, PA and Caleodonia Elk County, PA. Moved to Du Bois, PA in 1879 and worked for Du Bois Lumber Co. until his retirement in 1912. Nicholas designed and got a patent for his Improvement in Circular Saw-Mills , May 14, 1872, # 126,667, while in Williamsport, Lycoming county, PA.

A letter from 1870’s mentions a Aunt or niece Ann Maria Schroder and Peter Schroder in Hallschlag, Germany. He is offering to help them out and a friend Johann Morerer was a companion in arms with his father sending best wishes.

In 1908 Nicholas and Rebecca Zierden had their 50th wedding Anniversary and had a group photograph of the family.

A newspaper article “Finds Sister After 38 Years, Du Bois Man’s Search is Rewarded With Success and Joyful Reunion Follows”. Nicholas finds his sister Maria Catharine Zierden born in 1845 in Reuth, Germany. Mrs Katherine Lynch (note the first name changed from a C to a K) originally lived in Vinal Haven, ME, moved to Milford, ME. Mrs. Lynch had a son Charles L. Lynch lived in Natick, ME. they had a happy reunion.

Two newspaper articles from the Du Bois Courier, about Rebecca Zierden, first article is about her 87th birthday, they mention she was the mother of seven children and has 30 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren and the second is about her death, at 96 years old, is a descendant of early English Royalty, the Spoffords. This was 1922 and 1931.