He moved to Illinois in 1837 where in 1841 he was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Elisha H. Groves.

In 1846 Shumway was one of the members of the first group of Latter-day Saints to enter the Salt Lake Valley, under the leadership of Brigham Young.

He was the captain of the Sixth Ten company that headed west, and lead the first wagons across the Mississippi River.

After crossing the river, Shumway's team lead his company several miles away to Sugar Creek, Iowa, to wait for President Brigham Young and other leaders to arrive several days later.

[3] Charles Shumway married Julia Ann Hooker on 26 March 1832 in Sturbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.