George W. and Rebecca C. Shimer, about 1900

The Shimer Family in Calhoun Part II by Colvin W. Snider Reproduced from 'The Calhoun Chronicle' October 18th, 1979

Shimer Family helped establish several Calhoun churches

 Part 2 of a history of George Washington Shimer and his family. 

    During the next twenty-five years (after his return from service in the Civil War), George lived on his farm at White Pine farming and doing blacksmithing for his neighbors. His sisters, Mary and Patcy, married John Walker and William Holsten, respectively, and left home. His mother, Rachael, "Granny Shimer" as she was affectionately known in the rapidly growing household, continued in the home. Ten more children were born, making a total of 13. Cordelia E., the oldest daughter to live, was born April 8th, 1866. Sherman S. came on the scene on February 20th, 1868. Another daughter, Mae, was born October 4th, 1870,a nd a son, John Martin, was born October 25th, 1872. To the growing family, a son, Benjamin Bruce, was added on September 5th, 1874, and a daughter, Mary Maudelena, September 28th, 1875. James Garfield, October 28th, 1880, Viola Gay, October 20th, 1882, and Okey A., May 8th, 1885 completed the family. In 1878, Zedekiah was born but he died as a teenager. He was named after his mother's youngest brother and is buried in the Gainer Cemetery on Leading Creek. 

    While living at White Pine, George Shimer, his wife, Rebecca, and his mother, Rachael, were leaders in establishing a "class" whose members were the charter members of the Cherry Fork United Brethren Church. From the Civil War until he died in 1911, George Shimer was active in the United Brethren faith. As a "class leader" and lay minister he also helped start the congregation that built the attractive and much-revered Hoy Chapel U.B. Church on Leading Creek. This in turn became the "mother church" for many new congregations in the tri-county (Wirt, Richie, Calhoun) area. 

    By 1890, his daughter Cordelia had married Silas Simers, "Granny Shimer" (Rachael) had been laid to rest at the age of 85 by her husband on the family farm, Willis W. had married into the Cross family, and E. E. (Elzy) had married in 1889 Octava "Tommie" Elliott of of the Leading Creek area. Encouraged by his son, Elzy, and his fellow veteran, John Snider, George Shimer in 1890 relocated to Leading Creek. He bought a farm and established a general store at the junction of Coal Fork and Leading Creek. The store became the community center for a large area of Northern Calhoun County. In the community lived many solid citizens and, especially, a large number of veterans of the Union Army.

    As related earlier, George Shimer was a leader in establishing the congregation that in 1901 dedicated its new church building, Hoy Chapel. This church was the center of George Shimer's life until his death on October 3rd, 1911, at the age of 79. He had earlier sold his store to Washington Freed and when the community won a post office, the unofficial name of Shimertown became the official post office of Freed. George Shimer had lived a long and full life and left behind a large family, many descendants and the love and respect of all who knew him. As recorded in his obituary in the Grantsville News: "To his children, I would say, he has left you the most precious of all legacies: the example of a faithful Christian life, the memories of which, I am sure, no money can buy."

    George Shimer lived to see his son Sherman marry Catherine Hayes, and to go into the nursery business at Annamoriah. His daughter, Mae, married Al Hayes and lived in the Brohard oil field before relocating to Parkersburg. John Martin married and lived in the Freed area for many years before following his oldest brother, Willis, to Mill Creek and the lumber industry. Benjamin B. followed his father's footsteps into the mercantile business at Freed and was postmaster, justice of the peace and active in land holding and the oil and gas industry. Two children were born to Ben and Myrtle Trippett Shimer.

    The youngest four children married natives of Leading Creek: Mary Maudelena "Aunt Lena" who married William Snider, who, at the time of George Shimer's death, operated a store at Freed. They raised nine children. James married Zenia (Elzena) Haught of Three Mile Run, and after a few years relocated to Beaver Falls, PA., where he worked as a carpenter. He had three boys and twin daughters. Viola "Aunt Ola" married the Rev. Jacob Snider and nine of their children reached adulthood. Rev. Snider was the United Brethren minister who established many churches throughout the area. Okey, the youngest of the large Shimer family married Anna Cunningham and had a large family, all girls. Okey was 94 years of age in May, 1979, and still lives at Freed. His oldest sister, Cordelia, lived to be 98 and left a large family.