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JOSEPH P. & SARAH A. (AMSDEN) SHOEMAKER



	Joseph P. Shoemaker was born at Mohawk, N. Y., Aug. 30, 1820. 
He attended the district school until 1837, when the family
removed to Joliet, Ill., where he attended select school, such
as the country afforded at that early day.  In 1840 he joined
his brother at Sandusky, Ohio, who was chief engineer of the Mad
River and Lake Erie and the Little Miami Railroads, then in
course of construction, and remained with him one year; was with
the engineers in locating the road.



	In 1842 he was engaged in merchandise and buying grain at
Republic, Ohio, and in 1852 went to Covington, Ky., and engaged
in the manufacture of iron, having charge of a rolling-mill.  In
1855 he came to Michigan and engaged in farming at Jackson.  In
1859 was appointed postmaster at Jackson, which office he held
until 1861, when he removed to Fair Plains, Montcalm Co., and
engaged in farming and lumbering.  Having purchased a
half-interest in sixteen hundred acres of land with Martin P.
Follett, upon which there was a saw-mill, they at once erected a
grist-mill. In 1863, Mr. Shoemaker purchased Mr. Follett's
interest in the property, and continued the improvements until
he now has two hundred acres under a good state of cultivation. 
In 1867, Mr. Shoemaker laid out the village of "Amsden," has a
post-office established there and a number of buildings erected.
 In 1872 he built a large mill for the manufacture of lumber,
which was destroyed by fire in 1877, together with a large
quantity of lumber.  This was a heavy loss to Mr. Shoemaker, and
a severe blow to the small village, yet the enterprising founder
continues in the tenor of his way.



	Politically, Mr. Shoemaker was a Democrat until 1878, when he
joined the greenback party, was nominated and elected to the
State Senate, and discharged the duties of that office to the
satisfaction of all.  In all local affairs of the town Mr.
Shoemaker takes an active part, his name usually appearing in
the roll of officers.



	He was married in 1845 to Sarah A. Amsden, daughter of T. G.
Amsden, an early settler in Bellevue, Ohio.  To them have been
born seven children, five of whom are now living, - three sons
and two daughters.  The oldest daughter married G. W. Cummings,
and lives in California; Thomas is a farmer in Macomb County;
Elizabeth lives at home; Robert is a railroad man, and lives in
Kentucky; Randolph is in California.



	Mr. Shoemaker is one of the substantial citizens of the
country.  He bears an unblemished reputation and a character for
unimpeachable integrity, and is respected by all who know him.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM 
COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W.
Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 457-58 -  Fair Plains Twp.