My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOSEPH AMBLER SHOEMAKER, a resident of Jenkintown for more than half a century, and one of the most influential and popular men in the lower end of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a member of an honorable family of German descent, long resident in that county. The progenitor of the American branch of the family came to Philadelphia with William Penn in 1682, settled at Germantown, and in every generation since that time his descendants have been among the most substantial and public-spirited citizens of that section of the state.

Joseph Shoemaker, grandfather of Hon. Joseph A. Shoemaker, resided in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and by exercising the characteristics which he inherited from his forefathers-industry, enterprise and perseverance-he was successful in his business undertakings and was enabled to provide a comfortable home for his family. He married Tacy Ambler, of Welsh descent, who bore him the following named children: Ezekial, John, Joseph, Jesse, Ann, Ellen, and Hannah Shoemaker.

John Shoemaker, father of Hon. Joseph A. Shoemaker, was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, in 1790. After completing a common school education he learned the trade of harness maker, which line of business he pursued during his entire active career. He was a resident of Jenkintown for many years, during which time he took an active interest in its welfare and improvement, and in his old age, after retiring from business pursuits, he removed to Horsham township, where his death occurred in 1863, aged seventy-two years. His wife, Elizabeth (Logan) Shoemaker, daughter of Joseph and Mary Logan, of Abington township, bore him eight children, as follows: Hannah, who became the wife of John Jones; Maria, who became the wife of William Steel; Tacy, who became the wife of George Logan, after the death of her sister, Jane, who was his first wife; Martha; Joseph A., mentioned hereinafter; Elizabeth; and John, deceased. Of this family all are deceased but Martha and Joseph.

Joseph A. Shoemaker was born in Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1826. He was educated in the Friends’ school at Gwynedd, then a flourishing institution, and he remained in that vicinity until he attained his thirteenth year. He then went to Philadelphia county, and at the age of sixteen years became an apprentice to the blacksmith trade at Bridesburg, continuing in the same line afterwards in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county. After completing his term of apprenticeship he went to Broad Axe, Whitpain township, remaining there two years. He then took up his residence in the state of Illinois, where he followed his trade of blacksmith for a short time, and upon his return east engaged in dealing in cattle and horses, and subsequently for one year was the tenant of a farm in Horsham township. His next occupation was the management of a sawmill in the same locality, which he operated with a fair degree of success for three years. In 1853 he located in Jenkintown, and engaged in the butchering business in partnership with his brother-in-law, George Logan. He prospered in this occupation, accumulating a sufficient competency to allow him to retire from active pursuits in 1885. He then erected a handsome residence on a small farm, where he has resided up to the present time, surrounded by every comfort and convenience, and where he is enjoying to the utmost a life of ease and luxury, which is a fitting climax to his many years of toil. Among the positions of trust and responsibility to which he was appointed are the fallowing: director in the Jenkintown National Bank, treasurer of the Philadelphia Droveyard, director of the Masonic Hall Association, and president of the North Cedar Hill Cemetery Company, at Frankford, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Shoemaker is a thoroughgoing Republican, having supported the candidates and principles of that party from its organization to the present time, a period of more than fifty years, and having always been active in its behalf. He filled the position of councilman in Jenkintown for several years, and was president of the body for a time, devoting himself to the interests of the community in which he lives, as he has done in every office which he has held. He was the incumbent of the offices of assessor and assistant assessor, his good judgment and knowledge of real estate values standing him in good stead in these positions, and he also served repeatedly as an election officer. Owing to his prominence as a party worker he has frequently been a delegate to county and state conventions, and assisted in, framing the party ticket which has been presented to the voters of the county and the commonwealth on different occasions. In 1887 he was elected a member of the house of representatives at Harrisburg, and was re-elected by a handsome majority in 1889, serving two terms with great credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, in whose behalf he labored with industry, energy and fidelity. He was a member of the committee of the house at the session of 1887, through whose instrumentality the splendid work, “The Birds of Pennsylvania,” was printed and distributed to the members of the General Assembly, and through them to their constituents throughout the state. In the session of 1889 he was chairman of the committee on geological survey, a member of the committee on printing, and also of those on corporations, congressional apportionment, banks and banking, and the committee to compare bills. In his legislative career Mr. Shoemaker was ever the friend of the people, leaving nothing undone that was possible to promote prosperity and the general welfare. There is no kinder neighbor or friend than he and no one who is more ready to do a favor for those who are deserving. He is actively and prominently identified with various fraternal organizations, holding membership in the Masonic order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Order of American Mechanics.

Mr. Shoemaker married, January 1, 1857, Esther Ann Harper, born June 1, 1837, daughter of William Harper, of Abington. Five children were born of this union, as follows: 1. Clara S., born October 30, 1857, became the wife of Dr. Henry W. Wass, January 1, 1880, and their children are: Mabel, born October 4, 1880, and Esther A. Shoemaker, born May 1, 1886. 2. William H., born June 29, 1859, died March 16, 1902; he married, April 19, 1899, Katherine Saam, and they were the parents of one child, Amalia I. Shoemaker. 3. Henry, born October 26, 1863, died January 21, 1865. 4. Lizzie L., born February 10, 1865, became the wife of William H. Fretz, February 10, 1887, and their children are: Joseph Lewis, born January 3, 1889; Frank F., born March 19, 1895; Elizabeth L. S., born June 2, 1899; and Emily H., born December 14, 1900. 5. Jennie L., born September 21, 1874, became the wife of Dr. Harry C. Millar, September 26, 1895, and their children are, Katherine S., born September 27, 1897, and Joseph Ambler Shoemaker Millar, born June 25, 1901. Mrs. Shoemaker, mother of these children, born June 1, 1837, died August 3, 1902. She was a most estimable lady of the old school type, and was much esteemed for her many deeds of kindness and charitable acts to the deserving poor of the neighborhood.