Vincent Warner Shoemaker, b. March 10, 1880, d. January 31, 1942 in Shamrock, TX, was my grandfather. His mother was Melvina Melissa Crites, b. March 11, 1851 Findlay, Hancock Co. Ohio, daughter of Jacob T. Crites and Julia Ann Powell. I have a notarized certificate stating that Vincent Warner Shoemaker was born on March 10, 1880 in Findlay, Ohio, signed by his mother, Melvina Melissa Crites Shoemaker, and witnessed by his aunt, Samantha Crites Winters. Although she admits to being his mother, she does not name a father. The people who knew are all gone, but her husband was William Shoemaker. Finding out which William is my goal. Census: In the 1850 Census, Melvina's family is listed in Bloom Twnshp, Fairfield Co Ohio. Melvina isn't born yet. 1665 Crites, Jacob 26 M Brickmaker OH 1665 Crites, Julia Ann 20 F OH --Julia Powell Crites 1665 Crites, Nancy C 1 F OH--Nancy Catherine Crites b 1849 1665 Powell, Jacob C 22 M OH---Julia's brother? 1665 Gearhart, Ann M 2 F OH In the 1880 census, Jacob and family has moved to Van Buren, Putnam, Ohio J. T. CRITES Self M Male W 66 OH Blacksmith PA VA Julia A. CRITES Wife M Female W 50 OH Keeping House OH OH Nancy C. CRITES Other Female W 26 --- --- --- Samantha CRITES Dau S Female W 24 OH At Home OH OH Alver CRITES GSon S Male W 12 OH At Home PA OH William CRITES GSon S Male W 9 OH At Home PA OH Geo. W. CRITES GSon S Male W 9 OH At Home PA OH Paul A. CRITES GSon S Male W 7 OH At Home PA OH (I don't know why Nancy is listed as other, she was daughter). And I don't know who the Crites Grandchildren listed are, but I have pictures of some of them) Both Jacob and Julia are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Hancock Co., and I have copies of their death certificates. Melvina isn't in this family listing, she is listed... Liberty, Hancock, Ohio 1880 census Wm. SHUMAKER Self M Male W 30 OH Plasterer OH OH Melvena SHUMAKER Other M Female W 29 OH Keeping House OH OH Amelia B. SHUMAKER Other S Female W 3 OH At Home OH OH Vincent W. SHUMAKER Other S Male W 2M OH At Home OH OH (I have no idea who Amelia B. Shumaker is, nor why Melvina, Amelia and Vincent are listed as Other.) So far so good. In 1916, a Wm. Shoemaker died, in Violet Twnshp, Pickerington Village, Fairfield Co. Ohio. I have a copy of his death certificare. He is listed as married, and Melissa Shoemaker is listed as the informant. This Wm. Shoemaker is too old to be the Wm. that is listed in the census, and his family research appears in several places on the Web and LDS sites. Evidently, he did not have a wife named Melvina Melissa, he did not have a son named Wm., and his last listed wife preceeded him in death by several years. Why would Melissa give the information? My grandfather missed his fathers passing because he was living in Roumania, and had since 1904, drilling oil wells for an American oil company. He and his family returned to the US in 1917. Just to make things interesting, I have a business card for a J.W. Shuemaker of the Boys Industrial School in Lancaster, Fairfield Co OH. that was found in my grandmother's papers after she passed away. Who is he, and what relationship to the rest of the Shoemaker/Shumaker's? Since the BIS was established in 1857, this card could be anywhere from then to the late 1800's. No dates, of course. Could this be Jacob?, father of the Wm. who died in 1916? There is bound to be someone who knows, or can look up (other census records?) that can tell me who the heck I am searching for! Any ideas, input, suggestions would be appreciated. Alice Mechler More information and pictures of the above are at: http://grumbles.kemisu.com I am cross posting this to the Hancock list as well. Sorry for any duplication or inconvience.