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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
BENJAMIN F. SHOEMAKE, of Madison Township, is a native of this county, born Aug. 11, 1861, and is a son of Wesley and Elizabeth (Coffin) Shoemake. The father is a native of Iowa, born in Jefferson County in 1841, and removed with his parents to this county in 1843. The mother is a native of Indiana, born in 1842. Mr. Shoemake received his rudimentary education in the common schools, which was supplemented by two years' attendance at Penn College. Nov. 6, 1884, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Cora Else, a daughter of John J. and Susanna (Gearhart) Else, for biography of whom see elsewhere in this volume. She was born Feb. 2, 1868. By this marriage there is one child, Wildia Grace, born Sept. 20, 1885. Politically Mr. Shoemake is an ardent Republican. Himself and wife are members of the Church of God. Mr. Shoemake occupies the position of Treasurer of his School District. He is the owner of 109 acres of first class, highly cultivated and well-improved land, and follows mixed farming, but makes a specialty of stock-raising, mostly hogs and cattle. He is a young man of considerable push, coupled with large intelligence and capability, and is possessed of a laudable ambition to make life a success, and is prospering finely, thanks to the prudent management of his affairs. He merits and receives the esteem of his numerous friends and acquaintances.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy