Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Shoemaker, Henry F.  
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HENRY F. SHOEMAKER, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of 
Colerain township, his native place, is a representative of 
one of the older pioneer families of this section of Bedford 
County.  He was born September 5, 1855, son of Josiah and 
Barbara E. (Stuckey) Shoemaker.
  Josiah Shoemaker was a son of Henry P. and Charlotte 
(Pensyl) Shoemaker, and was born December 25, 1827, in 
Colerain township, where he spent his entire life.  Although 
in his youth he had but limited schooling, he acquired a 
vast fund of useful knowledge by reading and observation.  
Engaging in agricultural pursuits as a permanent occupation, 
he applied himself intelligently to improve his farming 
estate; and before death called him to rest from his labors, 
on December 14, 1875, he had accumulated some property, and 
was numbered among the more influential citizens of his day. 
 He was ever keenly interested in the promotion of the cause 
of education, and for many years was a member of the School 
Board of Colerain township, a large part of the time serving 
as secretary of the board.  An active member of the Reformed 
church, he was for a number of years a Deacon and an Elder.  
Politically, he was a sound Democrat, and, fraternally, he 
belonged to the Rainsburg Lodge of Odd Fellows.
  In December, 1852, he married Barbara E. Stuckey, who was 
born in Colerain township, where her father, Simon Stuckey, 
was a prominent citizen.  She was one of a large family of 
children, of whom the following are now living: Mrs. John A. 
Gump, of Everett, Pa.; Margaret, widow of the late Morgan 
Cessna, of Rainsburg, Pa.; Mrs. Shoemaker; George W. 
Stuckey, also of Rainsburg; William H. Stuckey, of Everett, 
Pa.; Sophia, wife of A. J. Pennell, of Rainsburg; and Martha 
A., widow of William Ditch, of Rainsburg.  Eleven children 
were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah shoemaker, 
namely: Henry R.; Mary A., wife of Charles Morgart, of 
Rainsburg; Charlotte V., deceased; William E., of Rainsburg; 
Margaret A., wife of John C. Koontz, of Colerain; Minnie L., 
wife of William J. Diehl, of Charlesville; John C. and 
Charles H., of Iowa; Simon E., of Indiana; Job M., a student 
at Angola, Ind.; and Josiah P., of Rainsburg.  The mother is 
still living, and makes Rainsburg her home.  She is a woman 
of much force of character and a consistent member of the 
Reformed church.
  Henry F. Shoemaker was reared and educated in Colerain 
township.  When twenty years of age, owing to the death of 
his father, he assumed the entire control of the ancestral 
farm, containing three hundred and fifteen acres of land, 
the estate including other property.  He has been 
exceedingly successful, his thorough knowledge of 
agriculture enabling him to carry on his labors after the 
most approved modern methods.
  Politically, Mr. Shoemaker has not swerved from the 
principles to which he was bred, being a sound Democrat.  He 
has held various offices of trust, having been Assessor of 
Colerain township three years and a School Director and 
secretary of the board six years.  He was also one of the 
first Board of Directors of the Friend's Cove Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company, and is at the present time one of its 
Executive Board.
  On May 4, 1876, Mr. Shoemaker married Margaret 
Sollenberger, of Colerain township, by whom he has seven 
children, namely: G. Roy, Nellie B., Florence, Samuel V., 
Ada, Ross, and Frederick.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are 
members of the Reformed church.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa