“Shoemaker” is embedded as part of the gate. This marks the entrance to the Shoemaker Family Cemetery. It is located just north of Western Avenue. The nearest intersection is Allan and Jamestown Road in Bethesda MD.
The Shoemaker Family Cemetery is small. It holds the remains of a family that once lived and farmed this land. This cemetery is not on any street front. It is accessible via a grass alley.
Let’s delve into the story of this family. We will uncover who rests here. We will also learn a bit about their lives.
The Shoemaker Family Cemetery contains only eight recorded burials. Frieda Klopfenstein transcribed these records on February 2, 2002. She noted that the markers were not in place. All were propped against the fence. The bases for the markers were still there. The markers had been removed from them. It appeared there could have been more burials. She recorded all stones including footstones.
Among those buried here are Elizabeth A. Shoemaker. She was born on July 8, 1815 and died on December 17, 1889. She is remembered as “Our Mother”. Jesse Shoemaker was born December 6, 1815 and died December 14, 1887. His footstone is marked “J.S.”.
Their son, Jesse Shoemaker, Jr., also rests here. He was born September 18, 1844 and died December 12, 1894. John Shoemaker is another son. He was born September 8, 1842 and died April 11, 1887. He was the beloved husband of Margaret A.
Sarah Williams is also buried in the Shoemaker Family Cemetery. She was born June 24, 1809 and died January 19, 1889. Eliza E. Coon rests here too. She was the wife of Henry Coon. She was born December 4, 1868 and died June 5, 1888. Footstones marked “F. R. C.” and “J. P. C.” are also present. They might be related to the Coon family.
Another Shoemaker Family Cemetery exists in Chevy Chase MD. It marks the historic 140-acre Shoemaker family farm. Isaac Shoemaker, a Quaker, established it in 1839. He introduced new agricultural methods. The family farmed the land until World War I.
Today, the Shoemaker Family Cemetery serves as a reminder of the past. It is a quiet place where family history is preserved. It is a testament to the lives of those who came before us. Local residents use it as a flower garden. Headstones lean against the fence. The exact locations of the graves are now uncertain. Yet the Shoemaker Family Cemetery endures. It is a link to the Shoemaker family’s legacy.