Hiram Shoemaker, a prominent and well known citizen of Council Bluffs, was born in Mentor, Ohio, on the 10th of June, 1836. His parents were Dr. Alexander and Elizabeth (Harmon) Shoemaker, the former born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June 10, 1801, and the latter at New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1808. They were married in New Baltimore, Ohio, in 1825, and the father practiced medicine in Portage and Mahoning counties, Ohio, previous to his arrival in Council Bluffs on the 10th of May, 1854. He came here on a steamboat which he purchased at Wellsville, Ohio, in partnership with William McClelland. They went down the Mississippi river to St. Louis and thence came to Council Bluffs by the Missouri river. This boat was afterward used as a ferry on the latter stream, plying between Florence, Nebraska, and a point opposite in Iowa, seven miles above Council Bluffs. Dr. Alexander Shoemaker was engaged in the practice of his profession in Council Bluffs until the time of his death, which occurred on the 22d of August, 1867. He had gained a wide and favorable reputation as a medical practitioner of skill and ability and his death was therefore deeply deplored throughout the community. His wife survived him for a number of years, passing away here on the 21st of May, 1884, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Dr. Shoemaker had also been a member. A brother of our subject, Judge W. S. Shoemaker, is a prominent attorney of Omaha.

Hiram Shoemaker acquired a common-school education in his native state, where he remained until 1855, coming thence to Council Bluffs, where he clerked for a time in the general mercantile store of Babbitt & Ross. He then engaged in the real-estate business and entered some land in Harrison county, Iowa, which he farmed for several years, making his home, however, in Council Bluffs.

From 1859 until 1863 he conducted the City Hotel, which stood on the northeast corner of Park avenue and Broadway, where the Ogden Hotel is now located. He was next engaged in the drug trade for a short time, was subsequently identified with the meat business for a few years and later conducted a confectionery store. At intervals, however, and up to the present time he has been engaged in the real-estate business, though failing health does not permit him to devote as much time to it as he formerly did. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Council Bluffs than Mr. Shoemaker. He has been an important factor in business circles and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. He is public-spirited, giving his co-operation to every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community. At the time the Civil war broke out he helped to recruit Company A, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and Company D, First Nebraska Infantry, thus proving his loyalty to the Union cause.

On the 14th of November, 1860, Mr. Shoemaker was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Gardner, who was born in Worcestershire, England, on the 14th of November, 1842, and during her girlhood came to America with her parents, being reared, educated and married in Iowa. She is a daughter of James and Sylvia Gardner, who came to this country from England in 1853, entering land adjoining the city of Council Bluffs. The father departed this life in the year 1884 and his wife survived him for only a short period.

Unto our subject and his wife were born the following named: Ada Belle, whose birth occurred October 6, 1861, passed away at the age of two and one-half years. George W., who was born September 7, 1863, is engaged in the railroad business. He makes his home in Council Bluffs and by his marriage to Anna Throop has one child, Laura. James A., who was born September 30, 1865, died two years later. Frank G., whose birth occurred November 5, 1867, makes his home in Council Bluffs. Charles H., born December 24, 1869, resides at Wall Lake, Iowa, where he is engaged in the lumber business. By his marriage to Sana Sherwood he has two children, Charlie and Mary. Horace G., who was born March 19, 1872, left here in 1891 on a trip west and has not been heard of since. Wilson C, whose natal day was September 19, 1874, makes his home in Council Bluffs. He is traveling salesman for the wholesale firm of Paxton & Gallagher, and by his marriage to Bessie Delosh, has one child, May. Elizabeth May, whose birth occurred on the 1st of March, 1877, has passed away. Fred H., born June 25, 1879, lives in this city and is connected with the Independent Telephone Company. He married Miss Minnie Faust and they have two children, Frederick and Howard. Edmund G., who was born December 20, 1881, makes his home with his parents and is traveling salesman for the Missouri Valley Milling Company. In February, 1906, he was united in marriage to Miss Buddie Morgan, who passed away two months later. All of the children of Mr. Shoemaker were born and educated in Council Bluffs.

In his political views our subject is a republican and is a worker in the local ranks of his party. He served for several years as councilman from the first ward, and was city assessor for nine years, as well as township trustee. During his term of service in the latter office he had authority to check on the county funds to pay expenses of the poor and those needing help from the county. His accounts were always found to be correctly kept, and the able and efficient manner in which he discharged all his duties made him a valuable incumbent in any public office to which he was elected. Among other official positions, he held that of city weigh-master. While not a member of any church, he attends the services of the Methodist denomination and has always been a very liberal contributor to the various churches of Council Bluffs.

Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker live in a beautiful home at No. 232 Harrison street, which he erected in 1906, and in addition he owns several other properties in this city, from which he derives a very desirable income. He is a man of broad sympathies and the poor and needy have found in him a friend. The difficulties which he had to encounter in his own business career have made him ever ready to extend a helping hand to those who try to aid themselves.

In whatever relation of life we find him — in political circles, in business or in social relations — he is always the same honorable and honored gentleman, whose worth well merits the high regard which is uniformly given him.

[History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, Volume II, 1907, submitted by Cathy Danielson]