SHEWMAKER, George W.

SHEWMAKER, MCNEIL, BARD, SHULTZ

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 13:40:49

Biography ~ George W. Shewmaker

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 592:

G. W. SHEWMAKER, active and enterprising citizen of Grand River Township, residing on section 3, was born in Jackson County, Indiana, March 28, 1824, a son of LEONARD and SUSAN (MCNEIL) SHEWMAKER, who were both natives of Knox County, Kentucky, the father being a son of JAMES SHEWMAKER, one of the earliest pioneers of that county, and a grandson of LEONARD SHEWMAKER, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Our subject was the second of a family of six children, their names being as follows – JOSIAH, GEORGE W., THOMAS, DANIEL, ELIZABTH and NANCY. His early life was passed on a farm, and his education was obtained in the district schools. June 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-second Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Ringgold Station, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, capture of minor importance. He was taken prisoner at Peach Tree Creek, having been wounded by mine balls through the left arm, and his comrades, supposing him to have been killed, sent word to his family that he had died on the battle-field. He was kept in Atlanta during the shelling and bombardment of that place, and later imprisoned at the rebel hospital at Fort Smith, Georgia, for two weeks. From there he was taken to Andersonville prison, where he made an attempt to escape by bribing the guard, but on account of other prisoners making an attempt to escape, the guard was not on hand. He was a witness to most of those events mentioned by MCELROY in his history of Andersonville. Our subject was among the last of those to leave that noted rebel prison, from which he was conveyed by railway to Albany, Georgia, form which place he marched to Thomasville, a distance of sixty miles. He then went by railroad to Baldwin Station, within twenty miles of Jacksonville, Florida, where he was released. He was then bare-headed, bare-footed and nearly naked, and reduced in weight to ninety pounds. After remaining two weeks later he weeks in Jacksonville to recuperate he took a steamer for Annapolis, Maryland, and two weeks later he went to Columbus, Ohio. He was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 16, 1865, when he returned to his home in Jackson County, where he was welcomed by his family who had long supposed him dead. In October, 1865, he came West, and spent the winter at Marysville, Missouri, attending the high school at that place. In the spring of 1866 he came to Decatur County, where he bought forty acres of wild land. He returned to Jackson County the same year where he remained until 1870. March 28, 1869, he married Miss EMMA H. BARD, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1850, a daughter of JOEL and MARIA (SHULTZ) BARD, natives of New Jersey. They are the parents of five children - LEONARD B., ELBA LOGAN, JAMES ELWOOD, THOMAS EDISON and ROLLA NEIL. In November of 1870 Mr. SHEWMAKER settled on his present farm in Grand River Township, Decatur County, and to his original purchase of forty acres he has added till his farm now contains 234 acres of land, which he has brought under good cultivation. He has a fine orchard containing 150 trees and small fruits, and a comfortable and commodious residence, and good out-buildings for the accommodation of his stock, and is meeting with good success in his farming and his stock-raising. In politics Mr. SHEWMAKER is a Republican. He has served as justice of the peace four years, three years as county supervisor, besides holding the offices of township assessor and treasurer, and being a member of the School Board. He is a member of Leon Post, G. A. R.

NOTE: George W. Shewmaker died at the age of 49 years, 10 months and 19 days on February 16, 1892. Emma H. (Bard) Shewmaker died on May 26, 1919. Esther Shewmaker, daughter of George and Emma, died at the age of 1 year, 5 months and 12 days on August 2, 1879. Leonard B. "Leo" Shewmaker died at the age of 33 years and 15 days on April 16, 1905. Elba Logan Shewmaker was born in 1875 and died in 1965. James Elwood Shewmaker died at the age of 28 years and 14 days on June 3, 1908. Thomas Edison Shewmaker's son, William L., died at the age of 17 years, 9 months and 12 days on May 18, 1887. Interments were made at Oak Hill Cemetery, rural Grand River IA.

Submission by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014

Note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014