Person:Joseph Shoemaker (26)

"Mr. Joseph Shoemaker, a resident of our town has arrived at the good old age of 100 years. He was born in the State of New York on the 4th day of March 1759. He is quite active, chops wood and splits rails – has cut several cords of wood the past winter – can and does make shoes; yet he never wore spectacles, reads quite fine print easily; has but few gray hairs on his head; in short he is a most remarkable man of this age. He voted for George Washington for President. His son Asa Shoemaker died in this county some years ago. Our townsman, Joseph F. Shoemaker (commonly called “Uncle Freeman”) is a son of the subject of this notice."^S1

Columbia City Post, Whitley County, Indiana Wednesday September 28, 1864

   Obituary. Near Columbia City, September 22, 1864, Mr. Joseph Shoemaker, in the 106th year of his age.

   The deceased was a native of Pennsylvania, but in his early life moved to the State of New York where he lived until about eight years ago, when he came to this city, where he has been a citizen ever since. A good old man, a Christian has fallen at an age more than ordinary among men. Mr. Shoemaker was the oldest man in Whitley county, perhaps the oldest in the State. He retained his mental faculties to a remarkable degree even to his last hours on earth. He voted at all the presidential elections of the Government from its beginnings - From Gen. Washington to Lincoln. Has lived to see most of the nineteen presidents pass away. A good man has gone from our midst.

   His funeral was well attended by a large concourse of citizens and friends. The funeral services were performed by the Rev. R. H. Cook, of the Baptist church. Father Shoemaker is gone. Let him sleep in the grave where kind hands have laid him. M.

The Republican, Columbia City, Indiana Wednesday September 28, 1864

   In Memoria. Joseph Shoemaker died in Columbia City, Indiana, September 22nd, 1864, Aged, One Hundred and Five Years, Five Months and Twenty-Eight Days.

   Joseph Shoemaker was born in Pennsylvania on the 24th of March, 1759. In the early part of his life he lived in the Wyoming Valley. His father was an officer in the Revolutionary Army under General George Washington. At that time he was not old enough to be in the army, but was employed as Continental Mail carrier. While acting in this capacity he was often shot at by the Tories and Indians, and twice wounded by them. At one time in carrying the mail he was fired upon by a party of Tories who attempted to capture the mail, and received a ball in his hip, which he carried with him to his grave; but being lashed fast to his horse he escaped and carried the mail safe to its destination. George Washington was frequently at his father's house, and dined with the family.

   In the War of 1812, he was called to defend our lines at Buffalo and Black Rock. He married and moved to Canandaigua, N.Y., where he spent the greater part of his life, and raised a large family. About seven years since he came to this place, where he has resided until his decease. He has been a professor of Christianity for upwards of seventy years, and died in the full faith of the promises of his Redeemer.

1.   One Hundred Years Old, in Columbia City News. (Columbia City, Whitley, Indiana, United States)
   14 Apr 1859.
2. ↑ Find A Grave