James Martinus Schoonmaker

James Martinus Schoonmaker Sr. (June 30, 1842 – October 11, 1927) was a German American colonel in the Union Army in the American Civil War and a vice-president of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the Third Battle of Winchester on September 19, 1864.

"James M. Schoonmaker" redirects here. For the American sailor, see Ding Schoonmaker.
James Martinus Schoonmaker Sr.
James Martinus Schoonmaker circa 1913
Born(1842-06-30)June 30, 1842
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
DiedOctober 11, 1927(1927-10-11) (aged 85)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Place of burial
Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnion Army
Years of service1861 - 1865
RankColonel
Commands held14th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
 • Third Battle of Winchester
AwardsMedal of Honor
Other workRailroad executive

Biography
J. M. Schoonmaker in Union uniform

He was born in Peebles Twp. (subsequently Pittsburgh) on June 30, 1842, to James Schoonmaker and Mary Clark Stockton. James was a student at the Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh) when the American Civil War began and enlisted in a local company of recruits which was assigned to the 1st Maryland Cavalry, rising to the rank of lieutenant. During the next thirteen months, he proved himself repeatedly in battle and in command of his troops.[1]

In August 1862, Schoonmaker was authorized by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to raise the 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment, and was promoted to the rank of colonel. He later also commanded a cavalry brigade in the Cavalry Corps, under the command of Philip Sheridan.

At the Third Battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, Schoonmaker led his troops in a dismounted charge against Confederate artillery in Fort Alabama (Star Fort). It was for this action he received the Medal of Honor on May 19, 1899. The Medal of Honor citation reads: "During the Battle of Star Fort, Virginia, at a critical period, gallantly led a cavalry charge against the left of the enemy's line of battle, drove the enemy out of his works, and captured many prisoners."[2]

After the war he made a fortune in coke around Pittsburgh and was on the board of directors at Mellon Bank. He married Alice Brown and Rebekah Cook and had three children: Gretchen Schoonmaker, William Schoonmaker, and James Martinus Schoonmaker Jr.[3] He died on October 11, 1927, in Pittsburgh.[4] He is buried at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

Schoonmaker monument at Homewood Cemetery (Jakob Otto Schweizer, sculptor)

See also

References
  1. Frank C. Harper (1896). Pittsburgh of Today.
  2. "Civil War (M-Z); Schoonmaker, James M. entry". Medal of Honor recipients. United States Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2010.
  3. Harrington Emerson (1913). Col. J.M. Schoonmaker and the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad. Engineering magazine Company.
  4. "Col. J.M. Schoonmaker. Chairman of Board of Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Road Dies". New York Times. October 12, 1927. Retrieved 2009-07-24. Colonel James M. Schoonmaker, Chairman of the Board of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, died tonight. He was 86 years old.Colonel Schoonmaker ...
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