Family Histories & Family Trees
Shoesmiths of North Branch
Written and submitted courtesy of Donna Gehrke-White
Surnames: Shoesmith, Adams, Baker, May
Eventually dozens of Shoesmiths would live near North Branch. They would farm crops and raise cattle, hogs, sheep and chickens. They planted orchards and vegetable gardens to feed their families and sell some produce. They spun wool cloth and made their clothes. They ran general stores and peddled wares to farmers.
Stephen Shoesmith was a carpenter, according to his military records in the Illinois Civil War Archives. At 32, he was one of the older enlisted men when he joined in 1864. He was married to Mary P. May. They had young children at the time he joined-- a son had been bor\n just the year before. He stood 5' 5 1/2" inches and had light hair and brown eyes, his army records noted. Once in Iowa he started traveling by wagon to farmers selling goods, a descendant, Dr. Lester Dragstedt Jr. said.
His brother, James, 10 years younger, also a Civil War Veteran. He had returned to Illinois after the war, married and had two sons by 1870 according to the 1870 U.S. Census. He and his growing family moved to Guthrie County to join other family members.
The brothers' sister, Francis, nicknamed Fannie, moved to Guthrie County with her husband Richard Baker, another immigrant from Sussex, England. They had married in 1852 in Illinois. The couple eventually acquired 375 acres in Bear Grove Township and raised a "considerable" amount of stock, a descendant wrote in the book, History of Guthrie County. Baker was "one of the most successful men in the township", the descendant said. The Bakers had 12 children, eight of them surviving into adulthood. They were Republicans and named one of their six sons Abraham Lincoln.
Another younger brother, Luke, born in 1846, started a general store in North Branch with a partner, Hub Adams. They also opened one in Hamlin. The stores became centers in the communities. They not only sold merchandise-- from farm supplies to butter-- but also bought from their customers. They bought eggs, butter, chickens and other items and then sold them to other customers. Their North Branch store even had a chicken processing operation operated from a small building next to the store.
"They served the community in a way that established a close bond between Hub and Luke and their patrons, "wrote a Guthrie County historical website".
Even the patriarch and matriarch, William and Sarah Shoesmith, moved from Illinois and settled in North Branch in their later years. They and their children had left Sussex in the south of England, in the late 1840's during difficult times, the Irish potato famine and cholera outbreak. There were uprisings in Germany, France and Italy, while Great Britain was transporting prisoners to Australia. Reportedly even two Shoesmith family members who were accused of refusing to transport royal goods free of charge.
During the difficult times three younger brothers of William Shoesmith also decided to leave with their families and settle in the United States. The four brothers apparently immigrated once both parents died. The father, John Shoesmith, born 1775, died in 1845. His wife Mary Elizabeth, ten years younger, died in 1840.
Once in the United States, the four families went west to Illinois. James Shoesmith, born Jan.7, 1815, stayed in Lena, Ill., until his death so did Stephen Shoesmith, born Oct. 30, 1809 and who died Feb. 16, 1891 in Lena. Brother Spencer, the youngest who was born in 1823 died in 1895.
James told a biographer of the adventure of a nine-week sailing Atlantic voyage in 1848, then landing in Montreal and traveling by canal to Chicago with his wife, Lucy Baker Shoesmith and their five small children. He then had his family transported by wagon to Stephenson County where he borrowed money to buy 64 acres and build a log cabin.
His son John told the biographer that he enjoyed the voyage but "the family endured the hardships and privations common to pioneer life upon settling in the West." Only later did he say he realized "how patient and resolute were his parents during those trying times".
The family's hard work paid off. They prospered and were able to more than triple their land and adding more farm buildings. The family grew to eight children.
Only the eldest brother, William and his famly, moved further west to Iowa.
John, watching his uncle and cousins considered moving to Guthrie County.
With two friends he walked to the Mississippi River, boarded a boat to Davenport and then took a train to Iowa City, then the end of the rail line, A stage coach would take them the final 200 miles to Guthrie Center for $14. But frugal John decided to save his money and walk. He made it and started working for a farmer for $20 a month. After seven weeks he became homesick and told the biographer he walked home. He then stayed in Illinois, faming.