CORNELIUS FRIEND SHOEMAKER

Jessie on Cornelius, her Grandfather

Grandma Jessie wrote two pages about her grandfather, Cornelius Friend Shoemaker, in the family history book.  Heeah dey is:

Cornelius Friend Shoemaker
original image here

Cornelius Friend Shoemaker

born 23 March 1847

died                  1933

Cornelius's Young Life

Was the son of Thomas & Parthenia Bird Jones Alexander Shoemaker.  His father was Penn. Dutch from Penn.  His mother was Cherokee Indina [sic] from Tenn.  They were married at Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill.

In 1849 they moved to Centerville, Iowa, where his father farmed. In June 7, 1865 he [Thomas] died from a rattle snake bite while getting wood to saw.

At the age of 16 Corenilus [sic] ran away and joined the Union Army.  Saw active service in southern Ark. where the whole Co he was in contacted [sic] maleria where many died he received and honorable discharge Dec 1864.

There was a family of 5 boys & one girl [Cornelius's siblings].  His mother was married 3 times:

1. William Alexander
2. Thomas Shoemaker
3. Mr. Richards

She died at the age of 92.

Cornelius & Emma's family

After his marriage to Emma Hunt they moved to Maryville, Mo. where he and his sons farmed for many years.  There were 7 children:

1. Charles Wesley died of heart failure,       age 82
2. Edward            died of TB,                       age 22
3. Anna                died of blood poison,       age 16
4. Ethel                died of diptheria,              age 4
5. Willie               died of brain fever,           age 3 mo.
6. Otis                 died of TB,                        age 16
7. Josie               died of brain hemmorage, age 42

Jessie's Memories of Cornelius

Cornelius Shoemaker was a striking looking man.  With his mother's tall slender Indian body and his father's blue eyes, fair skin & auburn hair.  He was a hard worker and expected as much of his children.  He was quick to anger and Indian-like, held a grudge when done wrong.

I -- being his grandchild -- saw only the gentle side of him as was old when I was born and lived with his daughter.

He loved to talk about the war and I guess his most prized possetion was his discharge papers signed by President Lincoln.  He and my grandmother had rather a stormy marriage I gather, but had many years of peaceful old age together.

I felt the world had lost a good soldier and myself a loving Grandfather when he passed away.

---Grandaughter Jessie Shoemaker Drinkwater