Jezreel Shoemaker

Birth: Oct. 29, 1796, Bourbon County, Kentucky, USA

Death: May 30, 1879, Manti, Sanpete County, Utah, USA

Burial: Manti Cemetery, Manti, Sanpete County, Utah, USA, Plot: Lot 4 Blk 1 Plat A Grv

Jezreel Shomaker, son of Lakey Shomaker and Sally Ellis, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, October 29, 1796. He was brought up as a frontiersman in Pendleton County, where he was engaged in lumbering and farming. On April 1, 1824, he married Nancy, daughter of John and Mary Robinson Golden, born in Pendleton County, Kentucky, April 22, 1808. About 1828 they removed to Illinois and located in Adams County, near Quincy, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land and purchased other claims, having the largest farm in the county.

When neighbors settled around him he donated land for a school house, which was erected. He became quite a prominent man in Adams County, giving quarters to all religious societies, yet claiming allegiance to none, until in the 1840's, when he joined the Mormon Church. This required the selling or giving away of all he had, and in 1847 he fitted up teams and wagons and crossed the plains, arriving in Salt Lake City with the pioneers in Capt. Charles Rich's company. His wife rode in a carriage and drove a horse team all the way.

He first located in Salt Lake City and then removed to Sessions settlement, near Bountiful. In the fall of 1849 he joined the pioneers and came to Sanpete, locating in Manti, one of the first colonists. He remained there until his death. He had good teams and plenty of provisions when coming to Manti, and assisted many poor families in getting the necessaries of life. When the Mormon Church wanted money the leaders called upon Jezreel Shomaker and secured a portion of his savings. If the poor needed grain or clothing they never called on him without getting assistance. He prospered in the accumulation of land and property, and occupied many prominent positions in civil and ecclesiastical matters, serving as Mayor for three terms and being a member of the first City Council.

Spouse:

Nancy Golden Shomaker 1808 - 1879

Children:

Theophilus Shomaker 1832 - 1849

Marion Shomaker 1836 - 1857

Jerusha Shomaker Billings 1840 - 1915

Ezra Shomaker 1843 - 1922

Laura Ann Shomaker Tuttle 1848 - 1903

Lakey Shomaker 1850 - 1914

Created by: Dawnetta

Record added: Jul 27, 2009

Find A Grave Memorial# 39954963