Exploring the Photos from Allen Shimer's History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America, 7 June 2012

From The History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America Volume II, Page 180, 1914.

John Saunders Edwards, Brother of Charles E. Edwards

John Saunders Edwards

John was b. 12 Feb 1812, probably in Leesburg, VA or Loudon Co. He marr. Susan Washington MacPherson 8 May 1838 in Washington, DC.

Susan was the daughter of Joseph Macpherson and Mary Elizabeth Washington and granddaughter of Robert Washington and Alice Struther. Robert Washington and General George Washington were cousins. Not only were they cousins, they were best friends. Robert is mentioned in the will of Gen. Washington and inherited one of Washington's walking sticks/sword which is now in the Ford Museum at Morristown, N. J. Susan is a descendant of Lawrence Washington and Joyce Flemming, the grandparents of Gen. George Washington. Susan was born in 1820, Washington D.C. and d. 21 Nov 1889. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery (Georgetown), Washington, DC.

Shimersville, Pennsylvania Continued

Shimerville 

Shimerville as discussed in this article refers to the four buildings at the traffic light intersection of 29/100, St. Peter’s and Shimerville Road plus a short distance down both 29/100 (King’s High Road, King’s Highway) and Shimerville Road. 

Members of the Shimer Family who Answered "The Call" in Defense of their Country

From Volume III:

(Click on the image to make it full sized)

Christ Lutheran Church of Lower Saucon Cemetery

Tombstone of Jacob Shimer, son of Jacob Scheimer (The First).
14 June 1734 - 6 June 1764
Death Age: 29 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 3 days

(Click on the photos to open the full size images)

John Seip Shimer and his Decendants

John Seip Shimer (April 4, 1764) is the youngest child of Jacob Shimer and Rosina Seip. He married Salome Van Buskirk, daughter of the Reverend Jacob Van Buskirk and Anna Hollenbach.

John Seip Shimer's children were:

Mary Shimer Grim (April 1, 1791 - July 13, 1869)

Nathan Shimer (August 30, 1793 - April 1, 1812)

Jacob B. Shimer (October 30, 1795 - January 22, 1882)

Elizabeth Shimer Apple (March 25, 1797 - January 7, 1835)

John B. Shimer (March 7, 1801 - November 21, 1880)

Charles B. Shimer* (June 27, 1802 - August 24, 1880)

Frederick August B. Shimer (June 27, 1810 - March 16, 1881)

(*My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather)

You can buy a copy of the History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America Volume I on Amazon. This article is featured in one of the later volumes of The History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America. There are six volumes total.

Abraham Shimer, First Shimer Born in America

Abraham Shimer was born at Skippack, PA and relocated to Shimersvillie, PA when his father relocated. Abraham then likely traveled by the Old Mine Road which is adjacent to the Delaware River to the Minisink Valley in New York and married Lena Westbrook.

Once again, I tried to track the locations mentioned in this article on google maps.

View Shimer Family History Map in a larger map

*NOTE* If you right click on the pages and select, "Open in New Window/Tab" it will open the books page in a separate internet window. In the new window, left click on the book page again and it will zoom in to the original size of the book page.

Page two recounts Capt. Abraham Shimer's fight with Indian's by Shimer's Brook in New Jersey. The story is slightly embellished by Allen Shimer. Thanks to google books, you can read the original text of the encounter.

Page three contains more stories of Abraham Shimer, these were likely drawn from older family members who passed them down to the author.

Additional Information on Abraham Shimer, who was a descendant of William Rittenhouse through his mother, can be found here.

Shimersville, Pennsylvania

Shimersville was named after Jacob Shimer, eldest son of Edward and Rosina Shimer. Edward Shimer is the fourth son of Jacob and Elizabeth Scheimer (AKA Jacob Scheimer, first Shimer in America). Shimersville has also been known as Shimerton, Shimertown, and Redington. Shimersville is not the same as Shimerville, which is located about 15 miles Southwest of Shimersville. 

You can buy a copy of the History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America Volume I on Amazon. This article is featured in Volume II of The History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America. There are six volumes total.

Additional Facts Concerning the Life and Times of Jacob Scheimer, The First.

J. Myron Shimer wrote this narrative for the beginning of The History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America: Volume V, 1931. At that time, he was the President of the Shimer Family Association, holding that position since 1928. It is a well written and enjoyable narrative that pieces together all the difference pieces of Jacob Scheimer's life and gives insight into the challenges he faced in Early America. It's also interesting to note the authors observation's at the end. He notes the significance of Jacob Scheimer's life, not just as the patriarch of much of our family but as a founder of our country. 

A Sketch of the Life of Henry Shimer, Husband of Shimer College Founder

Henry Shimer married Miss Frances Anna Wood in December 1857. Miss Wood is one of the founders of the Mount Carroll Seminary est. 1853. The Mount Carrol Seminary is now known as Shimer College, a liberal arts college in Chicago. According to Shimer Colleges' website:

"In 1853 in Mount Carroll, Illinois, Shimer’s founders, Frances Wood Shimer and Cinderella Gregory, had a vision of education which was far ahead of its time. They admitted students on the basis of capability, rather than on the applicant’s previous educational background. Their mission was to develop in each student a well-rounded knowledge and personal competence.

Now in its 158th year,  Shimer College still carries out that mission.  An independent four-year liberal arts college, Shimer’s academic programs feature an interdisciplinary core curriculum originally designed by Robert M. Hutchins of the University of Chicago and grounded in the Great Books tradition."

You can buy a copy of the History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America Volume I on Amazon. This article is featured in Volume III of the History and Genealogy of the Shimer Family in America.

The 78th and 96th Companies Destroyed, June 13-14th, 1918.

The respite, punctuated by such occasional tragedy, was pitifully short for Holcomb's men. At 12:40 AM on June 13, the major received and order to move at once to the woods northwest of Lucy as the brigade reserve. Holcomb promptly had his companies on the road and arrived before 4:00 AM.

Just before dawn General Harbord received a false report that a German counterattack had wrested Bouresches from 3/5. He ordered Holcomb to move two companies to the woods southeast of Lucy to be in position to retake the town. As daylight broke across the wheat fields, Holcomb led his 78th and 96th Companies across the two miles of open ground at the double, directly under the watching eyes of three German balloons. Midway through this dash, a runner from regimental headquarters caught up with Holcomb and informed him that the earlier report was false. No doubt frustrated, the major immediately veered for the cover of a small wood to his right.

For the record...

According to Marine Corps muster rolls, Chester Frank (Fritz) Lancaster, enlisted (or swore in) on 5 May 1917. He was attached to Company E at Mare Island, CA for basic training, which he completed in July 1917. He was then attached to 78th Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in Quantico, VA.

The 78th Company embarked, 19 January 1918, on the USS Henderson at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and arrived at St. Nazaire, France, on 5 February 1918.

Chester was with the 78th Company until 13-14 June when most of the Company was injured or killed in a mustard gas attack. 

Chester was evacuated to Juilly, also know as Army Red Cross Hospital No. 6. He stayed in France until 26 December 1918 when he was brought back to Quantico, VA on the USS North Carolina.