The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-28


the story of his life. His exclamation
at the very moment of his death was,
II am James Shoemaker, an old set
tier. In that dying ejaculation. he
epltomlzed the great feature of his
llfe's history. He was the personi6-
cation of the sold Settler. +" He was
the prime mover in the organization of
our society his enthusiasm kept it
alive; he died it's president; and very
properly indeed was he its head officer.
AS old settlers, we mean to mourn
the fatal day, that smeared with blood,
ne was torn from our midst. The
very, spot on which he fell should be
marked by some tender memento OF
our fallen friend and associate.
Among the most interesting pictures
which hang on the walls OF memory
for us, is that of James Shoemaker,
sitting by the wayside, like white
haired pilgrim, alone, perusing the
landscape or viewing some enterprise
or development of the city. We see
him now, as he would so often sit,
mute, but full of observation. He
loved to rove in the paths where he
had SO often wandered in the summers
OF long ago, and on the hills where he
had fingered in the beautiful autumn
days of the past. And SO he continued,
| and such were his habits, till the dread
| arrow smote him, in the sunset of life.
The old settlers have a peculiar and
affectionate interest in Mr.. Shoe
maker. He not only originated the
very society assembled here this day,
but he was its honored president. We
are here to celebrate the virtues of our
chief. He was easily the leader in all
that pertained to this association. At
the very time of his death, his mind
was employed in making complete ar
rangements for this very meeting.
| He had solicited your speaker TO ad-
dress this meeting. But, alas, how
little did he dream that such an ad-
dress would be an eulogy upon his own
life and character.
James Shoemaker was born In Mon
roe county, Pennsylvania, June 9,
1898, and sprang from revolutionary
stock. He came from an honorable
family. and was one of seven sons and
four daughters He worked On his
father farm and in the MILL mean
time attending country schools, till 81
years of age, when he went forth to
seek his fortunes in the great world of
American opportunity. A clerk in a
store, and then connected with foun-
; day again partner in dry goods
store at Easton, Pa He thus passed
through that sort of an experience
which prepared him for his removal to
the far west On the 9th of May,
J 1857, he landed in the village of Man
kato, at the very time your speaker
first visited this locality. From that
time onward, his life and history were
part of the life and development of
the town Of his adoption. With no
high aspirations for official honors, he
/ yet often and in various ways received
the confidence of his fellow citizens
He early served on the board of county
commissioners, he WAS member of
the city board of education, he was the
first president of the board of trustees
of Glenwood cemetery association, and
a director in that body from its organ
ization to the day of his death. He
served as city assessor for sixteen
years, and probably was better inform
ed as to our property and resources
than any other man before or since.
He published several valuable city di-
rectories, one in 1878, again in 1882,
1885 and 1888. He was President for
| three years of the board of trade,
which body he aided in organizing in
1868
For several years he served as cor
oner of the county and was frequently
nominated by both political parties.
He served as state commissioner for
the state at the great centennial ex-
hibition at New Orleans in 1885. He
was a true American and a true pat
riot, and when changer came to this
frontier from the Sioux outbreaks, in
| 1862, he promptly enlisted to defend
our people from the bloody savages.
He became commissary sergeant in
Capt. William Bierbauer's company
from MankatO, and participated in the
memorable siege of New Ulm, where
his horse was killed from under him
during the engagement. He was sub
sequently elected second lieutenant for
a company to serve in the Indian war.
In this capacity he saw much active
and dangerous service. From this
rapid glance at his career, it will
readily be seen that Mr.. Shoemaker
was far from being an inconspicuous
member of this community.
| During the year 1860, he was absent
from Mankato, going to Pixies Peak
in the great gold excitement of that
year. But there were no satisfactory
results from that venture and that fall
he gladly returned to the young and
thriving village of his first life.
| Thus for forty four long and exciting
years, he was conspicuous in our vii
lage and city life. There was no pub
lie undertaking but received his I'M
selfish aid no good private enterprise,
| hI1f had his nnnntnnan0n opI
thetic support | know no like instance
where mans time and solicitude
were so freely, constantly and unset
hshly given to the general welfare of a
city.
He was united in marriage on the
30th of May, 1867, to Frances V. King,
daughter of John A. King of New
| York. There was bon to this union, an
only child and son, Charles j. Shoe
maker.
This son proved to be one of the
brightest and most hopeful young men
of Mankato. He was we'll educated
and a graduate of the university law
school at Ann Arbor, Michigan He
studied law with j. l.. Washburn, and
subsequently went with Mr.. Washburn
to Duluth as Junior partner. There
he was unhappily smitten with a
typhus fever, and died universally
lamented by our entire community,
at the early age of % years. The death
of this promising son was marked
and sad epoch in Mr.. Shoemaker
life. 1t cast shadow over all his sub
sequent years. From that sorrowful
day on, he was never again the same
buoyant, joyous and hopeful man.
"Out of the day and out of the night,
His joy had taken eternal flight. -
When Mr.. Shoemaker arrived in this
/ CITY ho hro,,nht with him ahont Of