Rachel Ann Shoemaker^{[1, 2]}

1859 - 1909  (49 years)

• Name	Rachel Ann Shoemaker
  Born	5 May 1859	Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Gender	Female
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Mennonite
  Residence	1871	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Mennonite
  Residence	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Mennonite
  Residence	1884	Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Interesting	1909
  	accident
  Name	Rachel Ann Sitler
  Eby ID Number	00112-7088
  Died	26 Feb 1909	Leetonia, Columbiana, Ohio, United States
  Buried	Nold Mennonite Cemetery, Leetonia, Columbiana, Ohio, United States
  Person ID	I4993	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	John F. Shoemaker,   b. 24 May 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Feb 1905  (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Ann Sherington,   b. 26 May 1832, , Atlantic Ocean ,   d. 15 Apr 1906  (Age 73 years)
  Married	4 Jun 1854	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  Family ID	F1567	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Moses Sitler,   b. 12 Mar 1860, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	25 Dec 1884	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F1569	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Rachel Shoemaker, "is married to Moses Sittler and resides in Latonia, Ohio, U.S." Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.]. _____________________ Sad Death of Mrs. Sittler Struck by Passenger Train at Letonia, Ohio, and Almost Instantly Killed - Her Companion's Miraculous Escape. A correspondent from Letonia, Ohio sends the following particulars regarding the death of Mrs. Moses Sitler, formerly Rachael Shoemaker of Breslau. Announcement of her death reached here a few days ago, but there were no particulars, which are now supplied. Friday afternoon this village was greatly shocked when the sad news that Mrs. Moses Sitler had been killed at the Mill street crossing, by the afternoon west bound passenger train, known as No. 31, and due here at 3.44 p.m., flashed to the ears of everybody. The following is the account as gleaned from good authority: Mrs. Sitler, in company with a neighbor lady, Mrs. Jonas Shantz, had spent the day at the home of a friend, Mrs. Wm. Spink, in Midway, and had a very pleasant time, Mrs. Sitler being of a very cheerful disposition. These two ladies reached the Mill street crossing just east of town, where Mrs. James Gaughan met the same fate a few weeks ago, in safety. The track was blockaded by a passing eastbound freight train which was loaded with cattle. Mrs. Sitler stepped on the outside plank of the west bound passenger train track to wait until the freight passed. This was on the east side of Mill street. Mrs. Shantz stood a little back of her and to the west, both being too close to the track for safety, a thoughtless act. The attention of both was taken up with looking at the cattle, and neither heard the on rushing passenger train which whistled wickedly, the noise of the freight deadening the sound. Another freight was standing on a nearby siding and a brakeman, seeing the danger, screamed a warning a number of times. Mrs. Sitler seemed to step back for a moment, and he thought she heard, but it is thought it must have been a movement made in her conversation with Mrs. Shantz, as the latter states nothing was heard until the train struck Mrs. Sitler. She was thrown thirty feet against the fence at the cattle guards on the west side of Mill street and landed on her face in the gutter there. When she was struck she was thrown violently against Mrs. Shantz who was thrown off her feet and stunned for a second or so. As soon as she could collect her thoughts she began to wonder if Mrs. Sitler was under the cars and discovered her at the above named place. She hastened to her and soon other persons were on the scene. David Peppel who was aiding Sylvanus Peppel in raising the plaining mill recently purchased by Emmet Morgan, saw the woman hurled, was first to the rescue. He was closely followed by Sylvanus Peppel and Bartley Strouse. The victim was turned over and Dr. McCready was hastily summoned, but the victim only drew a couple of breaths before the end came and had expired before the doctor arrived, a deep gash on her forehead was the only mark on the face and it is thought every bone in her body must have been broken. A large crowd had assembled by this time. The remains of Mrs. Sitler were put on the train and taken to the Pennsylvania freight depot where they lay until a stretcher could be secured from Crowell's undertaking rooms. Here the heart-rending scene of father and son took place, many leaving the place, the scene was so sad. Mr. Sitler was at work at the Cherry Valley furnace and when he learned that a woman had been killed the thought flashed through his mind, "That's my wife." The son, who attends the Salem business college, was home only a few minutes when the sad news came. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at two o'clock from the English Lutheran church, her pastor, Rev. H. A. Rinard, officiating and taking as his text, Stop! Look! Listen!" the funeral was very largely attended, every seat in both annex and auditorium being occupied. The flowers were many and beautiful. Interment was in the Mennonite cemetery east of town, eside her little son, who died quite a number of years ago. Deceased was born in Breslau, Ontario, Canada, on May 5, 1859, and was the daughter of John Shoemaker and wife, her maiden name being Raechel Shoemaker. She was one of a family of ten children, she making the third that is deceased, with her parents, the two others being boys who died in their youth. She was married to Moses Sitler of the same place on December 25, 1884. They came to the United States and to this village on February 28, 1885, where they have resided ever since, at one time living on the old Yoder farm, in Midway. She visited her home in Canada generally every two years until the death of her parents. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sitler, John Milton, who was born February 9, 1886, and who died September 1889, and John aged about 20. Deceased was aged 49 years, 9 months and 21 days at the time of her death. Besides the husband and her son she leaves the following brothers and sisters to mourn their loss: Mrs. Frank Wilson of Chatham, Canada; Mrs. C. W. Sweet and son Perry, Miss Bella Shoemaker, John and Reuben Shoemaker of Buffalo; Mrs. Enock Shantz of Walkerton, Ontario, and Miss Mazie of Toronto, Can., all of whom with the exception of the latter two were present at the funeral. The Chronicle-Telegraph Mar 18 1909 pg 5

  
  

• Sources

  [S10] Book - Vol II A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 464. [S10] Book - Vol II A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 486. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Division 1 Page Number 40 Household Number 187. [S2] Church Records - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian). Name: Moses Sitler Age: 24 res: Breslau Place of Birth: Waterloo Tp. Names of Parents: John Sitler & Sarah Clemmer Name: Rachel A. Shoemaker Age: 24 res: Breslau Place of Birth: Breslau Names of Parents: John Shoemaker & Anna Sherington Name: John A. Shkoemaker res: Breslau Name: Louisa G. Quirmbach res: Breslau Date of Marriage: Dec. 25, 1884 [S604] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 45. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 1 Page 40. [S1943] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1861, Div. 12 Page 87. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. John F. Shoemaker, joiner of Waterloo Twp. married 4 Jun 1854 in Waterloo Twp by License to Anna Sherington of Waterloo Twp.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 May 1859 - Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Mennonite - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1884 - Breslau, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 25 Dec 1884 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 26 Feb 1909 - Leetonia, Columbiana, Ohio, United States Buried - - Nold Mennonite Cemetery, Leetonia, Columbiana, Ohio, United States  = Link to Google Earth