Shoemaker, Joseph, 1807-1896

SHOEMAKER, JOHNSON, FORD

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/10/2014 at 19:13:08

Joseph Shoemaker died at the home of his son, G. J. Shoemaker, two miles southeast of town, last Friday morning from the infirmaties of old age, after an immediate illness of about four weeks.

Joseph Shoemaker was born in Lancaster county, Pa, January 12, 1807, and was 89 years and 12 days old at the time of his death. When he was eleven years of age his father, Jacob Shoemaker, moved with his family, with the exception of Joseph, to Canada. The family being quite large, seven boys and four girls, and his father having little means concluded to bind Joseph out, which was done to a man name Rife, residing in Lancaster, Pa. Joseph lived with the Rife family until he became of age. At the age of 24, he was united in marriage to Catherine Johnson, remaining in Pa. one year when he moved to Holmes County, Ohio. He resided there six years and then moved to Porter County, Indiana. That section was a dense forest at that time and in fact almost a perfect wilderness, but a farm was cleared and he resided there 27 years.

In the spring of 1865 he sold out and started with his family by team for Iowa, arriving in Marshall County where he located July 1st. On the 23rd of September of the same year his wife died. April 5th 1866 he married Mrs. Mary Ford. They resided in Albion, Iowa until 1890 when they came to Sioux County and he has since made his home with his youngest child, G. J. Shoemaker, his wife having departed this life, some two years ago. Mr. Shoemaker comes from a long lived family. Last July a reunion of the four living brothers, of which he was the youngest, was planned but not consummated. Since then one brother died at the advanced age of 96. Two are still living, one 93 and the other 99 years old.

The funeral services were held at the home of G. J. Shoemaker Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Suckow, and the remains were interred in Grace Hill Cemetery by the side of his wife who lies sleeping there.

He seemed to realize that he was about to die and for several weeks told the members of the family that he would not recover. On one occasion he called his son to his bedside in the presence of the family physician, and thanked him most fervently for the pleasant home he had made for him in his declining years.

Source: Hawarden Independent January 30, 1896