Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 10/26/1958

"YOU SHOULD never worry
about having something to do
tomorrow. If you do, you're not •
ready for retirement . . . "
That a d v i c e comes from
Joseph F. Shomers, the city's
chief electrical inspector, who
is ready for retirement. On Oct.
31. he'll close his record books
at City Hall for the last time,
ending a career as a municipal
employe that began June 1, 1927.
"I feel good about retiring
. . . I guess I'm a little lazy,"
Mr. Shomers,quips.
The congenial city official, 67
years old, lives at 1029 92nd
St., in the LaSalle section of the
city. He was born at 339 Sixth
St., which makes him a fullfledged
native of Niagara Falls.
In fact, the Shomers' family
roots go far back into the history
of the city.
My grandfather on my
father's side was here before
the Civil War," Mr. Shomers
said. "When the Civil War
came, he lost a leg serving in the
Union Army. Then my grandmother
volunteered as a nurse."

MR. SHOMERS, a career city
employe, first became involved
in municipal affairs' way back
in 1906 when Anthony C. Douglas
was running for election
against Mayor O. W. Cutler.
Joseph Shomers was just a
boy that election night.
Mr. Cutler was declared reelected.
Jubilant Cutler backers formed
a winding torch parade,
marching to the winning candidate's
home. Young Joe Shomers.
then 15, was in the parade.
The next day came a recount.
Douglas had won the election!
"And I got heck for staying
out so late that night," Mr.
Shomers recalls.

A KEEN INTEREST in
municipal affairs apparently
stayed with Joseph Shomers, for
he became LaSalle village clerk
on April 1, 1921.
He served in this post until
1927, when LaSalle was annexed
by Niagara Falls. Mr. Shomers
then became a clerk in the
city assessor's office, working in
this capacity until all of the
village property was transferred
to the city assessment rolls.
On Jan. 14, 1930, Mr. Shomers
was appointed an inspector
in the city's electrical department.

His job entails inspecting and
giving final approval to all elec-.
trkal installations in buildings
constructed in the city. And by
virtue of his. job, he's come to
know, virtual every nook and
cranny of the city.

AND HE'S QUALIFIED for
the job. Mr. Shomer's experience
in the field includes employment,
in the maintenance department
of the New York Telephone Co.,
the old Federal Telephone Co.,
the Ontario Power Co. and the
Niagara Electric Service.
During his youth Mr, Shomers
was educated at the Fifth
Street School and at Niagara
Falls High School.
In 1911, he married Gertrude
H. Luick, also of Niagara Falls.
Mrs. Shomers died last January.
They have eight children:
Joseph J. Shomers, Parkers-
burg, W.Va.; Frank Shomers,
1254 88th St.; John Shomers,
1029 92nd St.; Mrs. Emily Chris-
tian, Packard Ct.; William Shomers,
North Tonawanda; Mrs.
Joyce N. Schultz, 1229 93rd St.;
Thomas G. Shomers, North
Tonawanda; and Clarence Shomers,
North Miami Beach, Fla.

NORTH MIAMI BEACH
will fit right into Mr. Shomers'
retirement. He plans to visit his
son there during the winter
months. And while in North
Miami. Mr. Shomers will get to
see another Niagara personality
—Adin W. Chase, who retired
last year as the city's traffic
director. Mr. Chase lives just
south of Miami.
Asked what he plans to do
after retirement, Mr. Shomers
replied:
"Nothing—I'm just going to
have a good time and do
a little fishing occasionally.
He'll probably do a bit of
reading, too. Mr. Shomers says
he subscribes to Reader's Digest
and reads it "from cover to
cover" every issue.
His favorite meal is a "good
steak."
* * *
MR. SHOMERS is rightfully
proud of Niagara Falls as his
home town.
He helped organize the National
Electrical Contractors
Assn. chapter here and has travelled
about the country a lot as
an officer.
"When people say, 'Oh—
you're from Buffalo,' I resent
it," Mr. Shomers said. "I say
I'm most certainly not from
Buffalo, I'm from Niagara
Falls!"
In view of this, Mr. Shomers
should be a pretty good ambassador
for the city while visiting
in Miami.

Joseph married LUICK, Gertrude Helen in 1911 in Niagara County, NY. Gertrude (daughter of LUICK, Johann Jacob Leonhard and RUECKERT, Emilie Dorothea) was born on 8 Mar 1894 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died in Jan 1958 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. SHOMERS, Joseph J was born on 19 Feb 1912 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 8 Jan 1996 in Parkersburg, Wood County, WV.
2. SHOMERS, Frank P was born on 12 Apr 1913 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 5 Jul 1992 in Cameron, Steuben County, NY.
3. SHOMERS, John Peter was born on 9 Dec 1915 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 15 Jan 2006 in Jessup, Wayne County, GA.
4. SHOMERS, Helen Dorothy was born about 1918 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 9 Mar 1924 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
5. SHOMERS, Emily M was born about 1919 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY.
6. SHOMERS, William F was born on 8 Apr 1921 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 6 Mar 2012 in Buffalo, Erie County, NY.
7. SHOMERS, Joyce M
8. SHOMERS, Thomas G was born on 16 Dec 1930 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 4 Jan 2006 in North Tonawanda, Niagara County, NY.
9. SHOMERS, Clarence Luick was born on 31 Aug 1932 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY; died on 15 Aug 2004 in Hollywood, Broward County, FL.

John married BOHNACKER, Matilda about 1884 in New York. Matilda was born on 24 Jun 1859 in New York; died on 5 Jun 1927 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 6/6/1927

Was Member of Falls Pioneer
Family; Funeral Tomorrow
Afternoon.

Mrs. Matilda Bonacker Shomers
died at 11:30 a.m. yesterday at her
home, 339 Sixth street. She had
been 111 since last December and
during her long period of suffering
won tho admiration and sympathy of
many friends and neighbors by her
optimistic *pirlt and fortitude,
A member of one of the pioneer
families of the Niagara frontier, Mrs.
Shomers was born in Niagara Falls.
Had she lived until Juno 24, she
would.have bsen S8 years old. Before
Illness prevented she was
prominent in fraternal circles being
a member of Rosebud Re be. .ah lodge,
Flagler chapter. Order of the Eastern
Star, and Niagara Falls court,
Order"0f The Amaranth
Mrs. Shomers Is survived by her
husband, John P. Shomers, veteran
mail carrier of the Falls branch of
the postal service: four sons, Burt,
Joseph F., former La Salle village
clerk and Harry, ail of this • city,
and John P. Jr., of the state of
Washington; a daughter, Mrs. Burt
Cole, Oneida; five grandchildren,
Joseph, Frank, John 1'. 3d., Emily
and Billy; a sister, Miss Catherine
Bonacker, and a brother, George
Bonacker, of this city. Clarence D.
Shomers,' another son, was killed in
action In France during the World
war.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bonacker
will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at
the family home, the Rev. Albert S.
Bacon of the First Presbyterian
church, officiating. Burial will be
in Riverdale cemetery.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 8/9/1913

SHOMERS FUNERAL
MONDAY MORNING
The funeral of Peter Shomers. -ffho
died Thursday evening, will be he'l
from the house, No. 727 Spruce avemii
Monday morning at 9 o'clock. Mr.
Shomers was 79 years old and a veteran
of the Civil War. He was survive!
by two sons, John of this city, anl
Charles of Buffalo, and three daugh.
ters. Miss Catherine Shomers and Mr?.
Albert RommeiJl of this city, and Mrs.
William Glassbrook of Niagara Fa!:s,
Ont Burial will be In St, Mary's cemetery.

Peter + MORAN, Bridget. Bridget was born about 1840 in Ireland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]