OBIT: Alexander Eston SHUMAKER, 1915, native of Somerset County, PA

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Transcribed and proofread by: Keith Petenbrink.

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Shumaker, Alexander Eston

A. E. SHUMAKER PASSES AWAY, Alexander Eston Shumaker, eldest son of the late 
Abraham and Mahala (Snyder) Shumaker, died Sunday June 6th, 1915 at the family 
residence on Front Street. He was born in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset 
County, 1847 was aged at the time of his death 67 years, 10 months and 19 days. 
Early in his youth he removed with his parents to Meyers Mills, now Meyersdale, 
where he has resided continuously since with the exception of his term of 
service in the Union army and several years spent in the later sixties and early 
seventies when he operated the Livengood grist mill at a point near Salisbury, 
now known as Boynton. When quite young he was employed as chore boy at different 
times for both Peter Meyers and Daniel Buechley, two pioneer settlers and 
prominent men of affairs in the early history and development of this community. 
It was while in the employ of Daniel Buechley, a lad of about 16 years, that he 
conceived the idea of joining the army. Early in February he went to Somerset 
and thence to Chambersburg where he enlisted and was assigned to Company D 
Twentieth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Almost from start to finish, Mr. Shumaker's Co. 
and regiment were actively engaged having participated in the famous Hunter's 
Raid and had eighteen engagements to his credit including Petersburg, Fisher's 
Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, New Market, Piedmont and was present at Lee's 
surrender at Appomattox. For some months he was engaged in the hazardous 
occupation of carrying dispatches from Martinsburg to New Market, frequently 
narrowly escaping capture by the enemy. Following Lee's surrender a portion of 
the cavalry branch of the service was reorganized for the purpose of quelling 
any disorder that might have arisen in the South. These were known as 
provisional troops and were the cream of Sheridan's cavalry. Deceased was 
assigned to what was known as the First Pa. Provisional Veteran Volunteer 
Cavalry, and as such he was finally discharged from the service at Camp 
Cadwallader, at Philadelphia, in July 1865. At the close of the war he returned 
to Meyersdale and entered the employ of Peter Meyers as a teamster, later 
apprenticing himself to Joseph Baldwin to learn the miller's trade. Mr. Baldwin 
at that time having charge of the Meyers Mill, now the Wilmoth ice plant and ice 
cream manufacturing plant. Completing his trade he excepted employment with the 
Wilson's at Cumberland, who then were extensively in the manufacture of flour 
and feed. This was prior to the completion of the Pittsburg and Connellsville 
railroad to Cumberland, he frequently walking across the mountains to Meyers 
Mill Saturday evening and returning in time to start work on Monday morning. 
Later he leased the mill at Boynton and in turn the one in this place, having 
been indentified with the latter for 21 years. On Dec. 19, 1867 he was united in 
marriage with Lydia Elizabeth, daughter of Gillian and Elizabeth (Hochstetler) 
Lint, who survives with the following sons and daughters - W. A. Shumaker, of 
Frostburg; Miss Ida C. Shumaker, a missionary of the Church of the Brethren at 
Bulsar, India; Mrs. J. Milton Gnagey, of this place; Franklin D. Shumaker, of 
Shaw Mines; one daughter, Margaret died in 1879 from diphtheria; and another 
daughter, Annie Elizabeth, wife of Josiah N. Lint, died in December 1909. One 
sister and four brothers are also living: Mrs. Urias M. Housel, of Keystone 
Street; Mahlon M. Shumaker, of Boynton, Henry J. Shumaker, of Connellsville; 
David F. Shumaker, of Johnstown and Charles G. Shumaker of Frostburg. The 
funeral was held in the Church of the Brethren, Tuesday, and was conducted by 
the pastor, Rev. Wm. Howe, assisted by Elder E. K. Hochstetler, of Greenville. 
Rev. Howe, when the death occurred was at Hershey, Pa. attending the annual 
conference of his church. He was notified of the death of Mr. Shumaker and he 
was thus enabled to arrive here on Tuesday via the Western Maryland. Before 
leaving he was permitted to announce the death of Mr. Shumaker, the father of 
one of the western Pa. missionaries from the rostrum of the tabernacle before 
6,000 people. The mission board at once cabled to the daughter in India the fact 
of the death of her father with expression of sympathy. Many expressions of 
condolence from the leading members of the conference were sent with Rev. Howe 
to the bereaved family. Interment was made in the Union Cemetery.

Meyersdale Commercial, June 10, 1915