PETER E. SHEWMAKER was born in Crittenden County, October 9, 1831. He is a son of Peter and Margaret (Reed) Shewmaker, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. His father was a son of William Shewmaker. He was born in 1800, and came with his parents to Kentucky when quite small, settling in Crittenden County, where he died in 1883. Subject's mother is still living in Crittenden County, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Angelina Holeman. Subject is the seventh of a family of twelve children. He remained with his parents until his twenty-first year, and then went to Arkansas, where he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he has since worked. He remained in Arkansas until 1863, in which year he came back to Crittenden County, and engaged in carpentering and farming. He purchased a farm of 271 acres in 1874, which he has since operated. In 1882 he opened a store on his farm, and is now doing a good business with a general stock of merchandise, representing a capital of about $2,000. Mr. Shewmaker was married January 8, 1871, to Sarah J. Duvall, daughter of W. S. Duvall of Crittenden County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shewmaker, viz.: Rose E., Sarah E. and William.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 737.