MY AMERICAN HERITAGE, by Jesse Shoemaker Drinkwater

Jesse's grandfather, Cornelius Shoemaker

My grandfather was half Cherokee Indian and half Holland Dutch.  Features and build of an Indian and blue eyes fair hair and skin of the Dutch.

I had never been too proud of him.  He was born in Illinois.  As a young man homesteaded in Missouri where he farmed, married and raised a large family.  A very gentle man and yet very stern.  To the family loving but ordinary.

Today I was looking at old pictures.  I came across one of him and his Collie walking in the snow.  Something struck me of his proud carriage.  He must have been all of 80 years.  Very erect with overshoes, heavy overcoat and gloves.  Yet his head was bare and his white hair made a slight halo around his head as he walked with face uplifted to the wind.

The authority with which he held the leash, and the collie walking so obediently at heel, told me something I had never realized.  Here was not an ordinary man, but a strong proud man that made me feel proud that here was part of my heritage.


--Jesse Shoemaker Drinkwater

for a writing class at LSU 1980.