My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS R. SHOEMAKER, a well-known resident of Plymouth township, was born December 22, 1851. He is the son of Peter and Jane (Davis) Shoemaker.

John Shoemaker (grandfather) was born in Hickorytown in 1772, and died in 1855. He married Jane Davis, and their children were: Peter; Ann, married Jacob Yerkes, and lives in the west; Mercy, married Reuben Yerkes, and lives in Plymouth township; Rachel, married George Ward, and lives in Salem, New Jersey; Hannah, married Reuben Yerkes; Rebecca, married Joeb Ritter; Ellwood, deceased; Mary, deceased; and Jane.

Peter Shoemaker (father), the eldest son of John Shoemaker, was born in 1813 in Plymouth township, and died April 24, 1859. He was a farmer all his life. He married Jane Davis, daughter of John and Esther (Whiteman) Davis, Their children: John D., born December 2, 1845, died May 13, 1864; Rachel W., born December 2, 1847; George W., born October 31, 1849, died July 25, 1851; Louis R.; Joseph, born August 28, 1854; Hannah, born October 6, 1856, married John F. Comley. Rachel W. married Dr. Francis Bilderback, and resides in Salem, New Jersey. Their children are: Virginia, Alpheus, Edgar and Joseph (deceased). Virginia married George Bowen and has two children: Francis and Thomas. Joseph, son of Peter Shoemaker, married Catharine Kolb. Their children are: Joseph, Catherine, Nettie, Julia, Davis, Emaline, Hannah. Peter Shoemaker attended the township school and learned the trade of a stone mason. He engaged in building with his father. After his marriage he went to live on the farm now owned by Luken and Yerkes, where he died. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and is buried at Plymouth Meeting.

Louis R. Shoemaker attended Eight Square school in Plymouth township, Oak Street school, Norristown, and also John Lock’s school. After leaving school he became a drover and a farmer, and has been so employed ever since, having dealt in cattle extensively. He resides on a part of the old John Davis property. In politics he is a Republican.

April 26, 1894, Louis R. Shoemaker married Edna M. Freas, of Plymouth, daughter of Henry H. and Sarah E. (Marple) Freas. Their children are: John D., born March 8, 1896, died July 2, 1896; Ruth E. Born July 2, 1897; Laura F., born November 24, 1899; Louis R., born November 5, 1902.

Henry H. Freas (father of Mrs. Shoemaker) was born August 16, 1840, in Plymouth township, being the son of John D. and Anna (Fisher) Freas. John D. Freas, the family, was a wheelwright in Plymouth township all his life. He married Anna Fisher. Their children: Mary Elizabeth (deceased), married George Batdorf, and lived in Illinois. Henry M. (father of Mrs. Shoemaker) died May 12, 1902. Daniel married Margaret Hoffman, and resides in Conshohocken. George W., married Margaret Boggs, and they reside in Whitemarsh. Alvinza. Sara Ann, married Daniel Freas, and they reside in Conshohocken. Benjamin Franklin (deceased), married Martha Slingluff, and resided in Conshohocken. Clara, married Henry Rex (deceased), and resides in Conshohocken. Sybelle, married (first husband) Milton Heffalfinger, and (second husband) Samuel Wood. Howard, resides in Norristown.

Henry H. Freas (father of Mrs. Shoemaker) attended the Eight Square school. After finishing his schooling he worked in the saw mill at Cedar Grove, and later in a quarry in the same locality. He then removed to the Jackson Rapine farm, where he lived until his death. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religious faith a Methodist. He was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. In 1865 Henry H. Freas married Sarah Marple, daughter of Enoch and Elizabeth Marple. Their children: Laura S. and Edna M. Enoch Marple, father of Mrs. Henry H. Freas, was a farmer in Plymouth township. His father’s name was David and his mother’s maiden name was Mary Corson. He was a school director, elected on the Democratic ticket. He married (first wife) Mary Hallman, and they had three children; David, Hallman and Eliza. His second wife’s name was Elizabeth Hart. Their children: Mary (deceased), married David Lysinger, John (deceased), married (first wife) Mary Clime (deceased), and (second wife) Rosannah Hipple (deceased). Jacob H. (deceased), married Sarah Fisher, who resides in Hickorytown. Reuben H. (deceased), married Clara Meleher, who lives in Gwynedd. Sarah, wife of Henry H. Freas. Zieber H., married Amanda Gouck, and resides in Upper Gwynedd. Hannah Bertha, married (first) Benjamin Ambler, and (second) Jeremiah Graham (deceased); she lives in Norristown.