Biography:

Dr. Edwin Shoemaker was born in Blenheim Twp (Oxford County), Ontario on the 7th of April, 1870.  Dr. Shoemaker was the eldest of 6 children born to Charles Frederich Shoemaker and the former Wilhelmina “Minnie” Bobzin.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Louis Shoemaker, Charles William Henry Shoemaker (who died at the age of 2 months), William Shoemaker (who was born 17 months after the death of his brother named William), Henry Shoemaker and Charles Lorne Shoemaker.

Dr. Shoemaker graduated M.D. from Trinity College in 1898.  Upon his graduation he was a double gold medalist.  He set up his medical practice in Wheatley.

Dr. Shoemaker married Lily Mae McGillivray on the 21st of June, 1899 in the small community of Eldon (Victoria County), Ontario.  Mrs. Shoemaker was born in February of 1878.  She was the youngest of 10 children born to Archibald McGillivray and the former Mary Campbell.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Dougald McGillvray, Christina McGillvray, Archibald McGillvray, Sarah McGillvray, Donald McGillvray, M.A. McGillvray, Susanah Eliza McGillvray (who died at the age of 29 of tuberculosis), John Alexander McGillvray and Ida Kathleen McGillvray.

Dr. and Mrs. Shoemaker moved to Newfane, New York in 1898.  They had two children in Newfane.  Vera Leanna Shoemaker was born on the 26th of June, 1900 and Edwin Allan Shoemaker was born on the 11th of February, 1910.

The following article appeared in the June 17, 1902 edition of the Buffalo Commercial newspaper, “Dr. Edwin Shoemaker with his wife and little daughter, had a narrow escape from serious injury on Sunday last.  They were driving along the Creek road when the horse took fright at a trolley car and became unmanageable.  They were all thrown out and the buggy was badly smashed.  All escaped injury excepting the doctor, who received a bad cut in the face.”

In November of 1912, Dr. Shoemaker was appointed as a member of the Board of Examining Surgeons in Lockport (N.Y.).

On the 23rd of October, 1914, an article appeared in the Buffalo Morning Express about an 18 year old youth who had accidentally shot himself in the face with a .22 caliber rifle.  The youth was home alone at the time of the accident and he ran nearly a mile to Dr. Shoemaker’s office.  A village physician never knew what emergency would walk into the office at any given time.  Dr. Shoemaker commented in the newspaper that “the youth will probably recover”.

Dr. Shoemaker belonged to the Newfane Masonic Lodge, F & A.M. and Israel Temple in Buffalo.

In 1915, Dr. Shoemaker was elected as the delegate to attend the meeting of the Eighth District Branch of the State Medical Association.

Mrs. Shoemaker died on the 11th of March, 1924.  Dr. Shoemaker died on the 25th of February, 1931.  Dr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are buried at the Corwin Cemetery in Newfane, Niagara County, New York.

*Dr. Shoemaker’s daughter Vera Shoemaker became a nurse.

**Dr. Shoemaker’s son Dr. Edwin Allan Shoemaker practiced medicine in the state of New York.  He served during WWII with the United States military.  Dr. Edwin A. Shoemaker died on the 24th of June, 1971 and he was buried at Wrights Corners Cemetery in Newfane, New York.