Schoonmaker, S. - Dr.

DR. S. SCHOONMAKER is of Holland descent, and was born in Marbletown, Ulster Co., N.Y., June 16, 1827. His forefathers emigrated to this country prior to the Revolution. They were chiefly agriculturists, and patentees of the soil on which was reared their numerous descendants. His father was Jacob L., born in Rochester, Ulster Co., N.Y., Jan. 22, 1789, and, like his ancestors in patriotism, served his country in the capacity of a soldier in the war of 1812. His mother was Sarah Snyder, of Marbletown, Ulster Co., born Jan. 26, 1794. They were married June 16, 1813.

The issue of this marriage was four sons and three daughters, of whom the doctor was the fifth in the line. The mother died when he was only eight years old, thus leaving his early education solely to the supervision of his father. His education at this early age was carefully guarded by the father till his death, on Jan. 28, 1842, leaving the boy an orphan at the early age of fourteen years. He was then placed in a classical school by his guardian, in which he made rapid advances in mathematics and the Latin and Greek languages. He commenced the study of medicine at the age of seventeen, and graduated from the University of the City of New York before he was twenty-one years of age, with the highest honors of that institution of learning, spending his last patrimonial dollar for his medical education, and when supplied with the necessary outfit to commence his professional career, found himself five hundred dollars in debt. He commenced the practice of medicine in Rosendale, Ulster Co., April 1, 1848, in partnership with Dr. James H. Bogardus. One month from that date the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, by reason of Dr. Bogardus removing to Kingston, in said county, when he took sole control of a large and arduous, but lucrative practice. Thoroughly posted in the theories of medicine and surgery, and the minute details of his profession, as then taught in the best institutions of the country, he was able to cope with the best minds in the profession with whom he came in contact, and thus maintain the dignity of the "Alma Mater." At this time the Medical Society of Ulster County had become defunct; had been without organization or meetings for more than a score of years; he was active in helping reorganize the same. Has since then been its president, and twice its vice-president, and from its reorganization to the present time, from year to year, served on its most important committees.

He married, Sept. 19, 1853, Deborah Wood, daughter of Andrew S. Wood and Ann Eliza (Snyder) Wood, both of said town. Has no children.

He is a Republican by choice and association. Organized the Republican party, in 1856, in the town of Rosendale, and was the first president of the organization. Never aspired to office or craved its emoluments. When the war of the Rebellion commenced, in 1860, he made great professional sacrifices in time and labor to fill up the ranks of the Union army with new recruits and raise bounties for the soldiers’ families, and by word and pen labored unceasingly to maintain the old flag, the Union unbroken, and the faith of our Pilgrim Fathers over the mistaken advocates of negro slavery, having full faith in the final triumph of the Union cause, claiming that the result would be a test of the "truths of God against the frauds of man."

In 1867, Ulster County was without a railroad, and the proposition was made to build the Wallkill Valley Railroad, starting from Montgomery, in Orange County, and to terminate at Kingston, in Ulster County, and thus open up the beautiful valley of the Wallkill to easy trade and commerce with the traffic of the Hudson River and the city of New York. Dr. Schoonmaker was made a director of said road, one of its executive committee, and clerk of the same, and remained in those positions till the road was completed to Kingston.

His choice of church is the Dutch Reformed, in which he was reared, and of which his parents were communicants. Believes in the trinity of the Godhead, salvation by faith, and the atonement. Has no love for Calvinistic theology or the Heidelberg Catechism. Has no denominational prejudices; believes the Jew and the Gentile alike will be gathered into that universal church whose throne is in the heavens, and whose wisdom, power, and mercy is over all, and sufficient for all.

He has a passion for the pleasures of forest and stream. His fishing-rod and gun are his chief delights for seasons of recreation and amusement. Spends his winters in Florida, partly engaged in the practice of his profession among Northern visitors who seek that land of flowers to recuperate their wasted powers, and partly to enjoy that complete relaxation from toil and study to be found in the orange-groves and in her pine and palmetto forests.

Has practiced the profession of his choice uninterruptedly for twenty-two years, and for all that time has enjoyed the confidence of the large community of his patients, and the good-will of his professional brethren with whom he has had occasion to associate in consultations. Has always been a close student of medicine, and is well informed on all the new theories in the practice of medicine and surgery, and reads extensively on other subjects. Has ideas of his own in regard to all abnormal actions of the human system, their causes and consequences, and the treatment necessary to overcome the same. Is an uncompromising enemy of quackery in every form, and treats it with that contempt that true science waves over the pretender. Is positive in all his orders and directions about the sick-room, and will not tolerate the least interference from strangers or neglect on the part of the nurse. Is a man of independent will, quick perceptive powers, and great determination of character; and from the commencement of his professional career to the present time, in every vicissitude of life, amid the dark waves of frowning fate or the luring sunshine of smiling fortune, amid the riot and din or despairing storms or the peace of serene and happier skies, has "paddled his own canoe." Has taste and love for literature, and had his life been less active and busy he might have distinguished himself in the fields of polemical warfare. His writings on poetry, fiction, and scientific subjects are sufficient to make a volume. He has now partially retired from active practice, and takes great delight in contemplation and study, and in writing on various subjects.