Life History

Other facts

Notes

• In most censuses and other references, she is called Eliza.  Her grave gives here name as Eliza A Shoemaker.  But in the 1885 census, where she is the Head of the household, she is reported as Elizabeth.  Eliza is a common short for Elizabeth, but also was used as a primary name.
  
  In the 1850 census, she is only 18 years old, and is reported to have been married only within the last year.  So the older children are not her children.  And even the baby may be the child of William's first wife, though I think it is likely Hiram is Eliza's child.
  
  1850 Federal Census, Delaware County, Ohio, 26 September, Oxford Township, page 296B, Hse #2761, Fam #2774
  Wm Shoemaker 26 M Farming $600 Real Estate b Ohio Married within the year [b abt 1824]
  Eliza Ann Shoemaker 18 F b Ohio Married within the year [b abt 1832]
  Wm W Shoemaker 6 M b Ohio [b abt 1844]
  Francis M Shoemaker 3 M b Ohio [b abt 1847]
  Hiram L Shoemaker 3mos M b Ohio [b abt May 1850]
  
  Between 1850 and 1856, William and Eliza moved from Ohio to Iowa.  They were in Jefferson County, Iowa for the 1856 state census.  In the 1856 census, Mary Ann is reported in the position and matching age for Francis, a son, in the 1850 and 1860 census.  The last child Eli is reported as 0 years old, and born in Iowa.  The last child before him, Annette, was born in Ohio a little over 2 years ago.  so they moved from Ohio to Iowa about 1854.  We might assume they moved directly to Jefferson County where they are now, and that Eli (Wesley) was born in that county, but I have not found any more definitive evidence to confirm that.
  
  1856 Iowa State Census, Jefferson County, Walnut Township, page 789, Hse/Fam #31
  Shoemaker, William 44 M Married b Ohio Farmer
  Shoemaker, Eliza 22 F Married b Ohio
  Shoemaker, William 11 M Single b Ohio
  Shoemaker, Mary Ann 9 F Single b Ohio
  Shoemaker, Hiram 7 M Single b Ohio
  Shoemaker, Elisabeth 5 F Single b Ohio
  Shoemaker, Annaett [Annette?] 2 F Single b Ohio
  Shoemaker, Eli 0 M Single b Iowa
  
  In 1860, they are in Adair County, living in the Grand River Township.  By 1870, they have moved to the neighboring county of Madison, in a township of the same name, named after a river in the area.
  
  1860 Federal Census, Adair County, Iowa, 23 July, Grand River Township, PO Greenfield, page 23, Hse #171, Fam #154
  Shoemaker, Wm 36 M Farmer $400 Real Estate #200 Personal born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Eliza 26 F Farmer born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Wm 16 M Farmer born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Francis 12 M born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Hiram 10 M born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Margaret 8 M born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Marinna 6 M born Ohio [Matches Annette, b abt 1854]
  Shoemaker, Eli 4 M born Ohio
  Shoemaker, Alice 2 M born Ohio
  Shoemaker, George 10 M born Ohio
  
  1870 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa, 13 July, Grand River Township, PO Venus, page 13, Hse/Fam #83
  Shoemaker, William 47 M W Farmer $2050 Real Estate $2000 Personal born Ohio Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Eliza 37 F W  Keeping House born Ohio Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Hiram 20 M W Working on Farm born Ohio Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Elizabeth 18 F W No Occup born Ohio Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Annette 16 F W No Occup born Ohio Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Wesley [Eli] 14 M W Works on Farm born Iowa Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Alice 12 F W No Occup born Iowa Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, George 11 M W Works on Farm born Iowa Cannot read/write
  Shoemaker, Joseph 7 M W At Home born Iowa [b abt 1863]
  Shoemaker, Albert 5 M W At Home born Iowa
  Shoemaker, Ida 3 F W At Home born Iowa
  
  William died in 1879, and in the 1880 census, Eliza is reproted as the head of the household with several children sti lin tehhousehjold.  I foudn it interesting that 17-year-old Carrington is reproted as a Farm Laborer while the older sons, aged 24 and 20, are simply "At Home."  Carrington matches Joseph from 1870.  No one is reported as illiterate this time, and the two younger ones are "In School."
  
  1880 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa, 14 June, District 115, page 19 (scan 155C), Hse #171, Fam #179
  Shoemaker, Eliza W F 45 Head Widow Keeping House OH NY NY [b abt 1835]
  Shoemaker, Wesley [Eli] W M 24 Son At Home IA OH OH [b abt 1856]
  Shoemaker, George W M 20 Son At Home IA OH OH [b abt 1860]
  Shoemaker, Carrington W M 17 Son At Farm Laborer IA OH OH [b abt 1863]
  Shoemaker, Lewis A W M 15 Son Farm Laborer IA OH OH [b abt 1865]
  Shoemaker, Ida W F 13 Dau At School IA OH OH [b abt 1867]
  Shoemaker, Charles L W M 10 Son At School IA OH OH [b abt 1870]
  Shoemaker, Clara W F 7 Dau IA OH OH [b abt 1873]
  
  1885 Iowa State Census, Madison County, Grand River Township, page 106, Hse/Fam #49
  Shoemaker, Elizabeth 53 F Widow b Ohio Farmer
  Shoemaker, Wesley E 29 M Married [sic, but no wife rptd] b Ohio Farmer
  Shoemaker, Lewis A 19 M Single b Madison Co Iowa
  Shoemaker, Charles L 14 M Single b Madison Co Iowa
  Shoemaker, Clara S 11 F Single b Madison Co Iowa
  
  1900 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa, 11 June, Grand River Township, District 24, page 4A, Hse/Fam #81
  Shoemaker, Albert Head W M May 1865 35 Married 0 yrs IA OH OH Farmer
  Shoemaker, Linnie Wife W M Apr 1875 27 Married 0 yrs 0 children/0 living IA KY AR
  Shoemaker, Eliza mother W F Jan 1833  67 Widow OH NY NY
  
  On her memorial on Find a Grave, for some reason the date of death is reported as Death Jun 29, 1912, instead of the actual date on the gravestone, which is Jun 29, 1902.
  
  Eliza A. Witham Shoemaker
  Birth Jan., 1832
  Death Jun. 29, 1912 [the grave says 1902]
  Inscription:  wife of William
  Burial West Branch Cemetery, Macksburg, Madison County, Iowa
  Created by Mary M Daley Feb 29, 2008
  --  Find A Grave Memorial #24962540, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Shoemaker&GSiman=1&GScid=96628&GRid=24962540&

Sources

• 1. 1860 Federal Census, Adair County, Iowa
  • 23 July, Grand River Township, PO Greenfield, page 23, Hse #171, Fam #154
• 2. 1850 Federal Census, Delaware County, Ohio
  • 26 September, oxford Township, page 296B, Hse #2761, Fam #2774
• 3. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
• 4. 1880 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa
  • 14 June, District 115, page 19 (scan 155C), Hse #171, Fam #179
• 5. 1856 Iowa State Census, Jefferson County
  • Walnut Township, page 789, Hse/Fam #31
• 6. 1900 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa
  • 11 June, Grand River Township, District 24, page 4A, Hse/Fam #81
• 7. 1870 Federal Census, Madison County, Iowa
  • 13 July, Grand River Township, PO Venus, page 13, Hse/Fam #83
• 8. 1885 Iowa State Census, Madison County
  • Grand River Township, page 106, Hse/Fam #49
• 9. Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934
• 10. 1850 Federal Census, Delaware County, Ohio
  • 26 September, Oxford Township, page 296B, Hse #2761, Fam #2774
• 11. My Heritage, Shoemaker Website
• 12. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• 13. 1900 Federal Census, Union County, Iowa
  • 13 June, Spaulding Township, District 148, page 8A, Hse #138, Fam #139
• 14. California, Death Index, 1905-1939
• 15. 1930 Federal Census, Rice County, Kansas
  • 12 April, Lyons Ward 1, District 13, page 8A, 103 S St John St, Hse #211, Fam #231
• 16. 1925 Kansas State Census, Rice County
  • Lyons Township, 319 E Main St, Family #365
• 17. 1930 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma
  • 30 April, Tuttle Ward 2, District 33, page 2B, West Elm St(No St #), Hse #40, Fam #42
• 18. 1920 United States Federal Census
  • 6 January, Tuttle Town, District 191, page 2B, Elm Street, Hse/Fam #29
• 19. 1895 Iowa State Census, Madison County
  • Grand River
• 20. 1910 Federal Census, Grady County, Oklahoma
  • 19 April, Tuttle City Ward 2, District 109, page 3A, Hse/Fam #1