George Leonard Shoemaker Family

George Leonard Shoemaker was born on June 3, 1890 in Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio. He was one of five children born to George Washington (1866-1921) and Clara Pontious Shoemaker (1865-1952). Those children were Edith Catharine, George Leonard, William Isaac, Maude Mae, and Lawrence Arthur.

George L. married Vernice Iona Steward on September 25, 1913. Vernice was born on September 25, 1893, in Liberty Township, the eldest daughter of George Marshall (1872-1951) and Lillie Belle Chroninger Steward (1872-1960). Vernice had two sisters and one brother: Alta E., Ruby L., and Elmer B. Elmer died in 1976; Ruby died in 1977; Alta died in 1974; and Vernice in 1972.

George L. and his two brothers died within fourteen months of each other. Lawrence died in 1960, William Isaac in 1961, and George L. in 1962. Edith is in a rest home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Maude is in the Fairlawn Haven Home in Archold, Ohio.

George L. and Vernice Shoemaker were the parents of four daughters: Jessie Irene, born May 8, 1915; Bertha Clarabelle, born December 22, 1919; Esther Marie, born January 10, 1923; and Joyce Virginia, born March 11, 1932. All were born in Liberty Township, just south of "Bridge Corners", except Joyce who was born in Delta, Fulton County, Ohio.

George farmed for fourteen years and then was employed by Willys Overland Jeep, in Toledo, until his retirement in 1957. He was constable of Liberty Township for several years. He and Vernice raised their family in Liberty Township except for four years that they lived in Delta. In 1952 they moved to Liberty Center and lived in the same house where Vernice's grandparents had retired to in 1911, and that her parents had lived in during their retirement. George L. died of a heart attack on February 11, 1962 and Vernice died on December 26, 1972.

Jessie Shoemaker graduated from Liberty High School in 1933 and married Gayle Shumaker, born March 10, 1904, in 1935. They lived on his father's farm in Harrison Township and both grain farmed and raised berries and melons for sale. Later they built a house in Napoleon on West Maumee Street where Jessie lives today. Gayle, or Jim, worked at the General Motors Foundry in Defiance, Ohio. Their children are Jean Jane, Harley Leonard, James Arthur, and Hal Allison. Gayle was widowed and brought a son and daughter to the marriage. They were William Harley and Marge Mae. Gayle died on March 24, 1956, the result of injuries from an automobile accident.

Jessie Shoemaker Shumaker married Donald Paul Cocke on December 7, 1957. Donald Cocke, born December 12, 1907, drove truck for the Eazor Trucking Company until his retirement. He died of leukemia on September 3, 1974. Jessie was an employee of Campbell Soup Compan) until her retirement in 1971. She had worked for all the various canning firms that preceded Campbell Soup on that location.

Jean Shumaker was born on September 26, 1935. She graduated from Napoleon High School, attended Taylor University, in Indiana, and worked in a law office before her marriage to Merlin Seibel, born February 9, 1924, on June 12, 1955. Merlin lived with his family on a farm near Verona, Ohio. Jean and Merlin now live there with their six children: Marilyn Jo, Larry Dean, Sherri Kay, Lori Jayne, Illena Kim, and Kelly Arlene. Marilyn Jo, born March 27, 1956, took advanced training in office procedure at Dayton, Ohio, after graduation from Napoleon High School. She lives with her grandmother, Jessie, in Napoleon and is employed at the Henry County Bank. Larry D., born June 2, 1958, attends Ohio State University's School of Agriculture. Sherrie, born October 20, 1959, Lori, born October 8, 1961, Illena, born January 28, 1964, and Kelly, born April 10, 1966, are in school in Verona, Ohio.

Harley L., born July 11, 1938, graduated from Napoleon High School and was a member of the Army Reserve for eight years. He married Carol Ann Wistinghausen, born January 10, 1940, Henry County, on May 18, 1958. They are the parents of three children: Peggy Sue, Gayle Carl, and Harley, Jr. They lived in Oregon, Ohio where Peggy Sue graduated from Clay High School in 1978. Harley coached Little League each summer. They built and moved into their new home on Buckeye Lane, Napoleon, in 1978. Harley drives truck for Van Water and Rogers Chemical Company. Peggy, born December 1, 1958, Gayle, born July 8, 1961, and Harley Jr., born October 29, 1965, are at home with their parents, and the two sons attend school.

James A. Shumaker, born September 12, 1939, graduated from Napoleon High School and was a member of the Army Reserve for eight years. He married Nancy Oberla of Wauseon, Ohio, in July, 1962 and they are the parents of Rusty Dee, born February 5, 1963, and Robin Lynn, born November 25, 1964. They attend school in Napoleon. James (Art) works for Cable TV of Defiance and is a talented artist. They own their home and live in Florida, Ohio.

Hal A. Shumaker, born March 2, 1941, graduated from Napoleon High School and attended Bowling Green State University. He served as a Pharmacist Sp. in the U.S. Army. Hal married Marilyn Jean Austermiller, born August 30, 1951, Henry County, and they are the parents of James Kenneth, born January 28, 1974, and Crystal Joy, born August 16, 1976. Hal works for Cable TV in Napoleon, and lives on Meekison Street in Napoleon, Ohio.

William H., married Mena Wenner, of Henry County, and they are the parents of RaMona Jean and Kenneth William. William is a chemist for American Can Company of Chicago, Illinois.

Marge M. married Raymond Wachtmann and they have three children: David Arthur, Lynn Roger and Lisa Ann. Lynn married Trudy Blue of Napoleon and Lisa married Gary Tayler of Napoleon. Raymond is the manager of the Culligan Water Conditioning at Napoleon and they live on Oakwood.

Bertha, the second daughter of George L. and Vernice, graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1937. While working at Patterson Field, Dayton, Ohio, she married Cloyce Marvin Leatherman, born January 7, 1920. Cloyce was employed at Patterson Field. They were married on May 9, 1942 and Cloyce entered the U.S. Army Air Force on May 12, 1942. He served as a meteorologist for four years; two of them at Burtonweed Air Base in England. He returned to Bowling Green State University and graduated in 1947. He has taught mathematics in the Jackson-Burgoon School in Sandusky County, Fayette High School and Wauseon High School. He retired from teaching in 1976 after teaching at Wauseon for twenty-two years. He farms and teaches night classes at Northwest Technical College, Archbold. Bertha worked for McCord Corporation at Wauseon for thirteen years. Judy Ann was born while they lived in Burgoon. Jon Alan was born while his father was teaching at Fayette.

Judy A. was born on May 26, 1947 and attended Otterbein College. She worked for Eastern Airlines in Miami, Florida, for five and one-half years. She married Captain James Monroe Carson, born October 2, 1945 at Miami, Florida, on December 9, 1972. James, at the time of their marriage, was a C-130 pilot in the U.S. Air Force.

He was discharged in 1975 and he and Judy live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with their sons Toby James, born July 18, 1974 and Jared Samuel, born August 24, 1976. James is a district manager of Marathon Oil Company.

Jon A. was born on June 24, 1950, graduated from Wauseon High School, and worked for Zigler John Deere at Swanton, Ohio for several years and also farmed. He was awarded the "American Farmer Degree" in 1971. Jon married Candace Connin Bockelman, born July 9, 1946, a beautician at Wauseon, Ohio, on August 4, 1972. Candace was widowed in 1971 and had a son Michael Thomas, born November 21, 1970. Jon and Candace have a daughter, Rhonda Jean, born August 18, 1973, and a son, Kieth Alan, born on October 9, 1975. They live on a farm near Colton, Ohio. Jon was a member of the Air National Guard for six years.

The third daughter of George and Vernice was Esther Marie who died of diphtheria a month before her fifth birthday.

The fourth daughter, Joyce Virginia, graduated in 1950 from Liberty High School. In 1950 she married Lawrence Charles Sherman, who was born on July 19, 1932, of Napoleon. Joyce and Charles live in their home in Fulton County, Ohio. She works for Napco Plastics in Napoleon and Charles is a truck owner-operator. They are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living: Peggy Ann, Douglas Charles, Beth Lynn, Rodney Jo, Richard Alan, Michael Scott, Steven Paul, and Wendy Joyce. Beth L. died at birth.

Peggy, born April 15, 1951, attended Bowling Green State University and worked for the State Library at the time of her marriage on December 10, 1972 to Charles Lesniewicz, born October 10, 1949, of Toledo. Charles is a payroll clerk for United Parcel of Toledo. Peggy and Charles live in Fulton County. They are the parents of Andrew Jaye, born July 21, 1973, and Kerry Lee, born November 6, 1975.

Douglas C., born February 28, 1953, graduated from Delta High School, attended Toledo University and the Great Lakes Bible College. He married Charlene Byers, born November 16, 1955, of Lansing, Michigan. They live in Lansing, and are the parents of two children: Joshua Douglas, born September 11, 1974, and Elizabeth Ann, born February 25, 1978. Douglas is employed by the B and J Mobile Home Service.

Rodney Joe, born January 7, 1956, graduated from high school and attended Iowa Christian College, Des Moines, Iowa. He has been working in Arkansas.

Richard A., born December 14, 1957, graduated from high school and is attending Toledo University and works for Wickes Buildings. He lives with his parents.

Michael S., born November 6, 1960, Steven P., born March 31, 1963, and Wendy J., born March 4, 1965, live at home and attend Delta schools.

George Shoemaker's paternal grandparents were Isaac J. and Rebecca S. King Shoemaker of Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio. His maternal grandparents were William and Catherine Foster Pontious, Liberty Township, Henry County.

Vernice Steward Shoemaker's paternal grandparents were Frederick , and Emaline Hoover Steward of Liberty Township and her maternal grandparents were Benjamin Franklin and Asenath Babcock Chroninger of Liberty Township.

George Shoemaker was of German ancestry and Vernice was of English and Dutch ancestry.

Submitted by: Bertha Shoemaker Leatherman