My Genealogy Hound

MORRIS HALLOWELL SHOEMAKER, a leading real estate agent, who is also largely interested in life and fire insurance business, his office being located in a building erected and owned by himself at the north corner of Swede and Airy streets, Norristown, is the son of Isaac Longstreth and Jane (McLean) Shoemaker, both deceased. He was born in Upper Dublin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1863. He is the youngest of nine children, four of whom are still living. They are John, Mrs. Emma S. Cottman, of Jenkintown; William M., and Morris H. Shoemaker, all residing in Montgomery county.

Morris H. Shoemaker was reared on the homestead in Upper Dublin township, attending the public school at Prospectville until he was nine years of age, when his father rented his farm and removed to Jenkintown, where he attended Abington Friends’ School. In 1870 Isaac L. Shoemaker removed to Norristown, and he entered the schools of that borough, graduating from the high school in 1878. It was the wish of the father that his son should become a lawyer, and he accordingly entered the office of George W. Rogers. Esq., but after a few months decided that he did not care to pursue legal studies further. He secured a position in a large mercantile house in Philadelphia, in which he filled a number of situations for several years. During this time he obtained considerable knowledge of insurance and real estate business, and decided to make it his future occupation. He resigned his Philadelphia position in March. In April, 1893, he opened an insurance and real estate office at the corner of Swede and Airy streets, Norristown, he having secured desk room of Rogers & Long, where a few years previously he had abandoned the study of law. This office is at the present time a leading insurance office of the county, Mr. Shoemaker representing about twenty-five of the strongest and largest fire insurance companies in this country, besides a number of foreign companies. He has given particular attention to local manufacturing risks, and controls more of such than all the other Norristown agencies combined. Mr. Shoemaker also gives considerable attention to the real estate business, and has charge of the sale and leasing of a large number of properties, doing a large business in the collection of rents. Owing to the retirement of Mr. Rogers from active law practice, and the ill health of Mr. Long, his partner, and the fact that Mr. Shoemaker had firmly established himself in business at his present location, he purchased the property of Mrs. H. U. Brunner, the owner, April 1, 1901. He immediately remodeled and greatly extended the building, transforming it into a well-appointed office building, and it is occupied by a number of leading attorneys, its location near the court house making it among the most desirable and eligible in Norristown for the purpose to which it is devoted.

In politics Mr. Shoemaker is a Republican, and he has held various positions in his ward. He is treasurer of the Montgomery Building and Loan Association, and is interested in a number of local industries and corporations.

In April, 1896, Mr. Shoemaker married Mary, eldest daughter of the late Alexander Hooven, and the couple established themselves in the home of his father, No. 820 DeKalb street, which he had purchased after his father’s death, and in which he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have on child, Eleanor, born in 1899.

Mr. Shoemaker is descended on his father’s side from Peter Shoemaker, a member of the Society of Friends, who emigrated from Germany, and landed in Philadelphia, August 14, 1685, in the vessel ‘‘Frances and Dorothy,” from London. His mother’s parents were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. They were buried at the old Presbyterian church, at Abington. His father was a member of Gwynedd Monthly Meeting of Friends. He is a pewholder and a frequent attendant at St. John’s Protestant Episcopal church, Norristown, of which Mrs. Shoemaker is a member.