W. B. Shoemaker, Sr.

W. B. Shoemaker, Sr. was born March 20, 1823 in Choctaw County Ala. and died June 16, 1915, age 92 yrs, 2 months and 29 days. He was married to Miss Malinda Waites in 1847 and moved to Jasper County soon after. To them were born four children; J. A., W. B. Jr., M. T. and Elizabeth. He was married the second time to Miss Rebecca Jane Turner in 1859 and to this unison was born seven children: Fannie, Sallie, Mollie, Henry, Tom, Monroe and an infant, who only lived about one month.

He was again married in 1878 to Miss Sarrah E. James and to them were born five children: Charlie, Genevera, G. W., Jess and Lee.

He is survived by his wife, eleven children, seventy seven grand children, and seventy one great grand children, which makes his family one of the largest in this section of the country.

He joined the Antioch Baptist church in 1873 and remained a member there for several years but later joined the Primitive Baptist church at Bethlehem, of which he was a member at the time his death.

He served in the militia during the civil war, being captured at the siege of Vicksburg.

He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor, and while he had not been able to mingle with his friends for several years, he will be missed and his life's work is not ended. While he lived a long time, yet he will be greatly missed in his home.

A grandson

There is a difference of two years in the record which his family has and that of his brother, Henry, who had the births of all his brothers and sisters in the family bible and this is the one I have used.