JESSE on her daddy CHARLES WESLEY SHOEMAKER

1931 Grandpa Charlie and Art

Charles Wesley Shoemaker

"He grew up as a farmer, but later turned to carpenter work.  He never made a great deal of money -- a hard luck story and he'd do a repair job for free.  Were times this made it hard on he and his family, but he was a much-loved man by all.  His great sense of humility and love of all men left its mark on many people.  He lived his life fully and honestly, with no claim to greatness.  But to those who loved him, that was his greatness.  From him I learned compassion for all people.

"They lived with us for 20 years.  My boys loved to hear his tall tales of when he was young, of which many, I am sure, were a figment of his imagination."

A box that Grandpa Charlie made

1943 C.W. Shoemaker in Bakertown

Grandpa Shoemaker with Charlie
1951 Jakes Bayou

Grandpa Shoemaker with Charlie
1951 Jakes Bayou

panda, Gary, Grandpa Charlie
1952 Plaquemine

Grandpa Charlie, panda, Gary

horse, Gary, Grandpa Charlie, 1953 Plaquemine

CHARLES WESLEY SHOEMAKER & CARRIE KAZIAH NEEDELS, Jesse's parents

1948 at Miss Gussie's in Plaquemine

VISIT from KANSAS RELATIVES ca1950

A visit from relatives to Plaquemine, Louisiana.  I'm certain one of these cousins is Joy!

Carrie & her cousin

Grandpa Charlie, Grandma Carrie, ___, Jesse, ___, M.E., Joy, Charlie

Grandpa Charlie, Grandma Carrie, Jesse, M.E., Gary

___, Jesse, Joy, ___

1938 OR SO

Jack, Donnie, Grandpa Charley & a 1924 Studebaker at Miss Gussie's

Jesse, Jack & Art
Mississippi River

Jack

CORNELIUS FRIEND SHOEMAKER: CENSUS SNAPSHOTS

Census & Vital Records

Cornelius Friend Shoemaker was born 23 March 1847 in Monmouth, Warren County, Illinois

Cornelius Shoemaker (age 25) married Emma Hunt (age 17) 8 Aug 1872 in Appanoose Co., Iowa

As of the 1900 Census, they were living in Polk Township, Nodaway Co., MO

head     Fred Shoemaker          M 53   Illinois, born Mar 1847 in Illinois, 28yrs married (est 1872), farmer

wife      Emma Shoemaker       F 47    Iowa, 7 children; 4 living, born Sep 1853

son       Chas W Shoemaker     M 27  Iowa, farm laborer, born Aug 1873 (correct birthday)

son       Edward A Shoemaker M 26  Iowa, farm laborer, born Oct 1874

son       Robt O Shoemaker      M 13  Missouri, farm laborer, born July 1887

daughter Mary J Shoemaker   F 27   Missouri, born Apr 1873

"Fred's" father born North Carolina; mother born Virginia

Emma's parents born in Virginia

renting their farm

By the 1910 Census, they were in the Maryville Ward 1, Nodaway Co., MO

self     Emma Shoemaker      F   56y  Iowa, both parents born Virginia

husb  Cornelius Shoemaker M 62y  Iowa, both parents born U.S.

dau    Josie Shoemaker         F  17y  Missouri

In 1920, Cornelius & Emma were living with Josie & her husband Perry in Johnson Co., MO

self   Perry E Chappell        M   28y  Missouri

wife Jossie Chappell            F   27y  Missouri

Cornelius Friend
Shoemaker

self  Cornelius Shoemaker M 72y  Illinois

wife Emma Shoemaker      F  69y  Virginia

self  William Stewart          M 65y  Missouri

And were still there in 1930

head                 Perry C Chappell    M      38  Missouri

wife                 Josie Chappell          F       36  Missouri

daughter          Joy  Chappell          F        6   Missouri

father-in-law   Cornelius Shoemaker M 84 Illinois, both parents born Illinois

mother-in-law Erma Shoemaker    F       77  Virginia, both parents born Northern Ireland

boarder            John Bratton           M      22  Missouri

Cornelius Friend Shoemaker died 12 January 1933 in Montserrat, Johnson County, Missouri, at the age of 86.  

His daughter Josie [Shoemaker] Chappell died aged 42, about three years later.  His and Emma's only remaining child at that point would have been Charles Wesley Shoemaker, Jessie's father.  Emma lived until 8 February 1937, four years after Cornelius.

WHAT A DANDY, CHARLEY THE CARPENTER

Charles [Charley] Wesley Shoemaker

born 22 Aug 1873 in Centerville, Appanoose Co., Iowa

married Carrie Kaziah Needels 23 Feb 1902 in Parnell, Nodaway Co., Missouri

died 13 Jan 1956 in Plaquemine, Iberville Parish, Louisiana

postcard print of Charles W. Shoemaker

He's got his straw hat on, all spiffed up, sitting on a rocking chair in the yard under a tree.  

I am SO curious what the occasion was.  Born in 1873, he appears to be a fully grown but young man, 

in his 20's or 30's, which puts this image in the 1890-1910 range.

Maybe it was to bring in the new century or on the day that Jesse was born?

He appears to be sitting in front of a clothes line with a shed in the distance.

There is some kind of cloth or ribbon going from the button hole in his left lapel into his jacket pocket.  

Any idea what that is?

Charles W. was born in Iowa, but was living in Missouri by the time Jesse was born in 1903, 

and spent the last years of his life in Plaquemine, Louisiana.  It is unclear where this photo was taken.

Below is a page from the big family history book for which Jesse was caretaker.  In her handwriting, some words about her father:

Charles Wesley Shoemaker
Pass [sic] away quietly as he had lived Jan 13 1956.  His last words were its to [sic] late to go to Hospital daughter, but its all right I am not afraid.
He gently put his head on my shoulder & closed his eyes.
He grew up as a farmer but later turned to carpenter work.  He never made a great deal of money, a hard luck story, and he he'd do a repair job for free.  Were times this made it hard on he & his family but he was a much loved man by all.
His great sense of humility and love of all men left its mark on many people.  He lived his life fully and honestly with no claim to greatness but to those who loved him that was his greatness.  From him I learn compassion for all people.
They lived with us for 20 years.  My boys loved to hear his tall tales of when he was young, of which many I am sure was a figment of his imagination.
-- Jessie Shoemaker Drinkwater, daughter

a photo of Grandpa Charley plowing with six horses

Grandpa Charley & Art ca1931

"Friday AM.  I feel pretty good this AM am still a little sore but don't hurt me to walk.
I feel weak haven't had breakfast yet is about 8pm.  I think I will eat about 1doz oranges.
Am afraid to write more as you will have extra postage, but I am OK now."
Pictured: Charley & Carrie with grandsons Art, Jack, & Bud
Assuming Art is ~2yrs old, this picture ca. 1932

Grandma & Grandpa Shoemaker
SUPERTEX PHOTO SERVICE
Lifetime Supertone Prints
JAN 1941
DALLAS, TEXAS

Grandpa & Grandma Shoemaker
at Miss Gussie's ca1940s?

Grandma & Grandpa Shoemaker

Grandpa Charley with Jimmy

Nov 1954
Pictured: Bud, Bernice, Grandpa Charley, Inez, Jack, Don

JESSE'S PHOTO PEDIGREE

Seeking an image of Catherine Jane Needels, and perhaps a better one of Emma Hunt?  Please post a comment if you have one or send me an email.