JOSEPH SHOEMAKER
The parents of the subject of this sketch, Solomon and Elizabeth (Uncafer)
Shoemaker, came to this county from Loudon county, Virginia, at the beginning
of the present century, and settled in Kiskiminetas township, where Spring
church now is. Mr. Shoemaker, having entered 335 acres of land, built upon it
a comfortable stone house, the first in the township, in which he and his wife
resided until their deaths. They were the parents of six children�John,
Joseph, Catharine, George, Margaret and Elizabeth, of whom George, Margaret
and Elizabeth are still living. The first named and Elizabeth, wife of William
Townsend, are in Kiskiminetas township, and Margaret, widow of R. Dentzell,
lives in Apollo.Joseph Shoemaker was born in Loudon county, Virginia, April 16, 1799, and
came to this county an infant. He remained at home until after his marriage,
which took place May 18, 1825. His wife was Miss Salome Weinel, daughter of
Rev. William and Catharine (Frye) Weinel, born July 10, 1806. Seven children
were the offspring of this marriage�William L., Josiah J., Theodore T.,
Sarah Jane, Alexander D., Maria C. and Anna Mary, of whom Sarah Jane and Maria
C. are deceased. William L. went to Iowa in 1853, where he located a farm. He
returned home, where he was married. On his return to Iowa he was taken sick,
and died when within a few miles of his home. Josiah and Alexander live in
Kiskiminetas township, Theodore T. is in Montana, and Mary (wife of Rev. P.
Baker) in Fayette county, Pennsylvania.Mr. Shoemaker and his wife lived with his parents until he could build a
hewed-log house on a farm of 315 acres, which he purchased for a home. He
afterward built a hewed-log barn. This land, for which he gave $700.37, was
thickly covered with forest, and he began and successfully carried on the work
of clearing it. In 1840 his farm had been brought into such good condition
that he needed a new barn, and he built one, a frame structure, 75 X 50 feet.
In 1845 he built the brick house in which his widow and son, Josiah J., now
live, and which is probably the best farm dwelling in the township. Mr.
Shoemaker began his career under difficulties, having to use the old-fashioned
plow with a wooden moldboard, and similar primitive farm implements, but being
an industrious man and a good manager, he developed his heavily-timbered land
into a fine farm, and, with the aid of his excellent wife, secured for himself
and family a pleasant home. Mr. Shoemaker died April 15, 1874, and this home
passed into the possession of his son, Josiah J., and his sister, Mrs. Baker.Mr. Shoemaker�s memory is cherished in the neighborhood in which, during
life, he was an honored and useful citizen, and his humble but admirable
character is regarded as worthy the emulation of all those who have to start
in life, as he did, with no capital but sterling honesty and industry.Source: Page(s)
248,
History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by Robert Walker Smith, Esq.
Chicago: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883.
Transcribed December 1998
by Jim Wise for the Armstrong County Smith Project.
Contributed by Jim Wise for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project
(http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)Armstrong County Genealogy Project Notice:
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