The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 918 A portrait of Robert K. Shoemake appears in this publication. ROBERT M. SHOEMAKE. For over twenty years Robert M. Shoemake, now deceased, was a resident of Kittitas county but for almost a quarter of a century made his home in Washington. he was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, October 16, 1864, a son of Enoch and Mary Shoemake. The father died in the year 1873, after which the mother carne to Washington with her son Robert in 1894, their home being established in Klickitat county. Mrs. Shoemake afterward removed to California, where her last days were passed. Robert M. Shoemake was reared and educated in his native state, early becoming familiar with farm work in all of its branches. His education was acquired in the public schools and throughout his life he learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience. He was married in 1897 and the following year went to Tacoma, where he resided for five years, during which period he was engaged in the dairy and fuel business. In 1903 he arrived in Kittitas county, where he engaged in renting land for four years. He then purchased two hundred and forty acres five miles northwest of Ellensburg and thereon built a house and barn. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of the place, which he converted into rich and productive fields from which he annually gathered good harvests. He raised hay and grain, which yearly taxed his barns and bins to their capacity, and he also made stock raising a feature of his place. On the 13th of March, 1897, Mr. Shoemake was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle McQueen, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Dopkins) McQueen, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Wisconsin, in which state they were married. They became residents of Klickitat county, Washington, in 1874 and the father was there engaged in the lumber business to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878. His widow survives and is now living in Oregon. To Mr. and Mrs. Shoemake were born four children: Stella, the wife of L. G. Simmons. a resident of Ellensburg; Mabel, the wife of A. R. Yuill, of Ellensburg, and the mother of two sons; Bessie and Gladys, both at home. Two of the daughters, Stella and Bessie, are graduates of the Washington State Normal School at Ellensburg. Mr. Shoemake was a member of the Modern Woodmen and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which Mrs. Shoemake also belongs. His political belief was that of the prohibition party, which indicated his attitude on the temperance question. He ever stood for those forces which work for the uplift of the individual and the welfare of the community. His aid and influence were ever on the side of right, progress, truth and reform and his labors were productive of excellent results along those lines. He was also well known as an honorable and successful farmer and his many sterling traits of character made him one of the highly respected citizens of his community. He was called to his final rest on the 8th of February, 1918. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in January 2008 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.