BIO: John M. Shoemaker, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

                              CHAPTER LVI.

                        SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP.

542  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JOHN M. SHOEMAKER, music teacher and farmer, P. O. Mechanicsburg.  
The great-grandfather of this gentleman, Henry Shoemaker, emigrated 
from Germany to America at the age of seventeen, and settled in Berks 
County, Penn.  His son Henry was born in Berks County, Penn., about the 
year 1751, and in the course of time became owner of a fine farm in 
that county; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; was thrice 
married, twice in his native county, and by his first wife had two 
sons:  Henry and Samuel.  After she died he married a Miss Staumbugh, 
of Berks County, Penn., and to this union were born two sons:  Jacob 
and John.  (All the children were born in Berks County.)  In 1807

543  SILVER SPRING TOWNSHIP.

Henry Shoemaker moved, with his family, to Perry County, Penn., where 
he bought two farms and a distillery.  He was a very intelligent man, 
well educated for that day, and the people were accustomed to look to 
him for advice on general subjects.  By diligence and thrift he 
accumulated a large property.  He was a Democrat politically; a member 
of the Lutheran Church.  John Shoemaker, son of Henry, and the father 
of our subject, was born in 1803, and came with his father to Perry 
County, Penn., when but four years of age.  In 1825 he married Miss 
Elizabeth Bower, of Perry County, and to them were born six children:  
Susanna A., Anna E., Sarah J., William H., John M. and Elvina C.  He 
began farming in Perry County, but in 1858 moved to Cumberland County, 
where he had bought a farm, and remained the balance of his life.  He 
was a Lutheran in religious belief.  He died at Mechanicsburg in 1880, 
at the age of seventy-seven years.  He was a man of intelligence and 
probity.  John M., his son, was born in Perry County, Penn., in 1845, 
and came to this county with his father when twelve years of age.  He 
was a farmer until he was twenty-six years old, when he went West and 
taught music, for which he always had a talent.  He was agent for the 
Estey organ, in which he was successful.  At the end of two years he 
returned to Cumberland County, and has since sold organs, taught music 
and farmed.  In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss I. Lillie, 
daughter of Harrison and Rachel (Herman) Bowman, of this county.  Mr. 
and Mrs. Shoemaker are members of the Lutheran Church at New Kingston, 
in which he has been organist for many years.  In 1881 our subject 
bought the old homestead, where he has settled down to married life.  
His brother William H. owns an extensive organ factory at Harrisburg.  
The family comes of good stock and are people of sterling worth.