Samuel H. Shoemaker, DeWitt

THE present postmaster at De Witt is a fair representative of the Iowa journalists who have had a printing-office education. He never went to school a day after he was sixteen years old, and when he joined the list of compositors he took little with him but good moral habits, and a settled determination to succeed in his new undertaking, if faithfulness and industry would do it. He began aright, and his course has led on steadily to success.

Samuel Henry Shoemaker, son of Samuel and Sarah Long Shoemaker, is a native of the Empire State, and was born at Millport, Chemung county, on the 19th of July, 1840. The Shoemakers are a patriotic race, some of them having fought against the mother country in both wars. Two uncles were taken prisoners by the British in 1812-15. In 1847 Samuel Shoemaker moved with his family to Will county, Illinois, and settled on Rock creek, where he died the next year. Left with a family of seven children, the widow removed to Joliet in order to obtain better school privileges. Three years later she removed to Monmouth, where she married Judge Daniel McNeil.

In 1853 Samuel came to De Witt with the family, and in 1856 entered the office of the De Witt " Clintonian," O. C. Bates, editor and proprietor, remaining there two years. With slight interruptions, he worked at printing until the rebellion broke out, enlisting three days after the president's first call, in a company whose services were not then required. In June, 1862, he again enlisted, this time in the 18th Iowa Infantry, going to the front two months later as second sergeant in company A, and returning the following January completely broken down in health. It was a long year before he recovered sufificientlv to resume business.

In July, 1864, he started the "Observer," an outspoken republican paper, of which he is still the editor and proprietor. It is a good county as well as political paper, looks well to all local interests, and has a good support. Thoroughly appreciating his services to the national administration, in 1872 President Grant appointed Mr. Shoemaker postmaster, and so faithfully did he discharge his duties that at the end of four years he was reappointed for another term, which he is now serving. He is and always has been very industrious, and both as postmaster and newspaper conductor gives excellent satisfaction. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Methodist Episcopal church.

He has a wife and two children, a son and daughter, having married Miss Rette Ferree, of De Witt, on the 4th of September, 1866.

Source:

The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men. Iowa Volume.

Chicago and New York: American Biographical Publishing Company, 1878