Henry Showalter was born about 1816 in Botetourt County, Virginia to Abraham Showalter and Mary Magdalena Ranck. Abraham and Magdalena settled in Botetourt county where they lived and raised their family.[1][2][3] Henry's family were Swiss Mennonites who came to Virginia from Pennsylvania and originally from Switzerland for religious freedom. Five Showalter brothers sailed from Rotterdam on the ship Brotherhood. They arrived in America in 1750 and settled in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.[4] Henry's grandfather Henry migrated from Pennsylvania to Fincastle in Botetourt County, Virginia where he is listed on the 1810 U.S. census.[5]
From The Germans of the Valley, by John Walter Wayland we learn that "most of the Germans that settled in the Valley were church members, and the sects represented among them were the Quakers, Mennonites, Dunkers, German Calvinists or Reformed and Lutherans". [6]
Map of Old Botetourt.
The Great Wagon Road provided a route for inland trade and settlers heading West. The Road stretched 700 miles beginning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and running through Lancaster and Bethlehem to York, then on to Gettysburg, and into the western Maryland to the important trade center of Frederick. Turning southwest, the road crossed the Potomac River at the Evan Watkins Ferry and follows the Shenandoah River across the "back country" or "up country" to enter the Shenandoah Valley at Winchester, Virginia. The Shenandoah Valley lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains on the East and the Appalachian Mountains on the West. The word Shenandoah was derived from a Native American expression meaning "Beautiful Daughter of the Stars." Continuing down the 200 mile length of the Shenandoah Valley the Great Wagon Road followed the route of the earlier Great Warrior's Trail through Harrisburg, Staunton, Lexington. South of Shenandoah Valley, the road reached the Roanoke River at the town of Big Lick--present day Roanoke, Virginia.[7]
Henry's younger brother Noah was a minister. The "Biographical history of primitive or old school Baptist ministers of the United States" includes this biographical sketch of Noah that supports the family origins in Virginia:[8]
"NOAH SHOWALTER Showalter, Elder Noah, of Illinois, was born in Virginia, September 25, 1826, and died February 19, 1906, in his seventy-ninth year of age. He united with the Primitive Baptists about the year 1854, was ordained deacon four years later and in 1862 was set apart for the work of the gospel ministry. All this was done by the Little Rock Church, Cass County, Ill., and soon afterwards Elder Showalter moved to Iowa and later to Kansas. Later he settled in Moscow, Idaho, and had the care of churches most of his ministerial life and was loved by those among whom he labored."
By 1840 Abraham and family were living in New Bern in newly formed Pulaski county.[9] Henry's grandfather Henry Showalter died in 1841. After this the family in found living in Illinois.
Family & Migrations
Henry Showalter migrated from Virginia to Illinois.
Henry Showalter migrated from Illinois to Kansas.
Henry Showalter migrated from Kansas to Texas.
Henry married Ruth Robinson on October 13, 1842 in Roanoke county, Virginia. She is named Rutha Robinson in the marriage record.[10]
Their marriage bond was signed on October 12, 1842. Ruth's brother Allen Robinson signed the document in addition to Henry.[11]
Marriage of Henry and Ruth.
Ruth and Henry are named in the marriage license of their son Samuel Showalter in Nebraska in 1890. She is named as Ruth Robinson and he is named Henry Showalter.[12]
In 1850, Henry and Ruth and Henry's father, mother and siblings migrated to Cass County Illinois.[3][10] Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database shows Henry, his father Abraham and his brothers Abraham Jr., George, Henry, Noah and William all purchasing land in Cass county. [13]
Ruth's brothers Daniel, Allen, Zirkle and Perry Robinson also migrated to Cass County and were neighbors of Henry and Ruth in the 1850 census.
Henry purchased 40 acres in Cass county in 1853[14] and he purchased an additional 40 acres in 1857.[15] Ruth, Henry and family were residing in Chandlerville, Cass, Illinois in 1855[16] for the state census and for the 1860 U.S. census[17] and in 1865 for the Illinois State census.[18]
Name of Purchaser
Legal Description
Section
Township
Range
Meridian
Date Purchased
County
SHOWALTER ABRAHAM
LOT3NENW
16
18N
09W
3
01/25/1856
CASS
SHOWALTER ABRAHAM
LOT11E2SW
16
18N
09W
3
12/14/1855
CASS
SHOWALTER ABRAHAM
LOT6SENW
16
18N
09W
3
01/25/1856
CASS
SHOWALTER ABRAHAM
LOT4NWNW
16
18N
09W
3
01/25/1856
CASS
SHOWALTER ABRAHAM SR
NESE
09
18N
09W
3
07/22/1853
CASS
SHOWALTER GEORGE
E2SE
08
18N
09W
3
09/29/1855
CASS
SHOWALTER GEORGE
S2SW
09
18N
09W
3
09/29/1855
CASS
SHOWALTER HENRY
NWNE
17
18N
09W
3
08/23/1852
CASS
SHOWALTER HENRY
SWSE
08
18N
09W
3
09/29/1855
CASS
SHOWALTER NOAH
NESE
21
18N
09W
3
07/19/1853
CASS
SHOWALTER NOAH
W2SE
21
18N
09W
3
08/30/1855
CASS
SHOWALTER WILLIAM
W2NE
21
18N
09W
3
11/04/1850
CASS
SHOWALTER WILLIAM
NWNW
21
18N
09W
3
12/06/1853
CASS
SHOWALTER WILLIAM
E2NW
21
18N
09W
3
07/21/1855
CASS
Henry and his family are still living in Chandlerville for the 1870 U.S. census.[19]
Henry's parents died in Illinois about 1870[20][21] and the family migrated to McPherson County, Kansas in 1874 where they settled in Christian.[10]
The History of Moundridge Kansas mentions the Showalters as early settlers of Christian, Kanas, "One other group of Mennonite families came from Illinois and Iowa in 1875 and 1876. They established the town of Christian, which is told about in the first chapter of this volume. Names in that group were Krehbiel, Hirschler, Rupp, Galle and Schowalter."[22]
Map of Christian showing plats for Henry and his son P.L. (Perry).
Ruth, Henry and family were living in Moundridge, McPherson County, Kansas for the 1875 Kansas State census.[23] and the 1880 U.S. Census.[24] Henry is listed on the McPherson County Tax List in 1875, 1877 and 1879.[25]
Ruth and Henry had nine children, four sons and five daughters.[10]
After 1890 most of Henry and Ruth's children had left Kansas.[10] In 1894 Perry moved to Sonoma County, California and Sam moved to Seattle, Washington. Only Elizabeth, William and Temperance remained in Kansas. In 1894 Henry and Ruth moved to Velasco on the gulf coast of Texas.
The new town of Velasco was surveyed and laid out in 1891, when a new Velasco post office was established.
The port was officially opened by the United States secretary of the treasury on July 7, 1891.
A year later over $1 million worth of lots had been sold. Promoters working throughout the Midwest advertised the Velasco Hotel and an area along the river designed as Riverside Park. [26]
Residence & Timeline
Death & Legacy
Henry died three years later on April 19, 1897 in Texas and was buried in the
Mound Township Cemetery in Moundridge, McPherson County, Kansas.[27]
These two obituaries for Henry were published in Kansas in 1897.
"Henry Showalter died at his home near Velasco. Texas, on the the 19th of April, of rheumatism of the heart, after only a few days sickness. The deceased was an early resident of this county and moved to Texas only about three years ago. The bereaved family have the sympathy of their many friends here."[28]
"Died - Mr Henry Showalter who formerly lived near this place and is the father-in-law of S.B. Davis died at his home near Velasco, Texas, April 19. He was confined to his bed about 5 days and passed away with the paralysis of the heart. Mr. Showalter leaves a wife, five daughters and four sons to mourn their loss. He was a good Christian and lived to the age of 82."[29]
After Henry's death, Ruth returned to McPherson county where she lived with her daughter Tempy and her grandson Oliver until she died in 1901.
Sources
↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLC-SVQ : accessed 13 May 2018), Abram Shewalter, Botetourt, Virginia, United States; citing p. 72, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 130; FHL microfilm 193,689.
↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5W-T7G : 17 August 2017), Abraham Showalter, Botetourt, Virginia, United States; citing 317, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 189; FHL microfilm 29,668.
↑ 3.03.13.23.33.43.5 1850 U.S. Census. Year: 1850; Census Place: Cass, Illinois; Roll: M432_99; Page: 16A; Image: 457. Ancestry.com. Family Number: 205. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Name: Henry Shewatten
[Henry Showalter]
Age: 34
Birth Year: abt 1816
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1850: Cass, Illinois, USA
Gender: Male
Family Number: 205
Henry Shewatten 34
Ruth Shewatten 30
Eliza Shewatten 7
Temperance Shewatten 5
Saml F Shewatten 4
Perry L Shewatten 2
↑ McNelley, Susan. "Jacob Showalter (Abt. 1710 - 17 73 ) of Northampton Co . PA." Our Family History. Accessed June 27, 2018. http://www.tracingsbysam.com/middleton_hx/Jacob Showalter (Abt. 1710-1773) of Northampton Co. PA.pdf.
↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH23-1PT : accessed 29 June 2018), Henry Shewalter, Botetourt, Virginia, United States; citing p. 660, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 66; FHL microfilm 181,426.
↑ Wayland, John Walter. "The Germans of the Valley (Concluded)." The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 10, no. 2 (1902): 113-30. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4242503.
↑ Pittman, R. H. Biographical History of Primitive or Old School Baptist Ministers of the United States: Including a Brief Treatise on the Subject of Deacons, Their Duties, Etc., with Some Personal Mention of These Officers ... Stone Mountain, GA: Primitive Baptist Publications, 1984.
↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHBW-F4G : 20 August 2017), Abraham Showalter, Newbern, Pulaski, Virginia, United States; citing p. 203, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 572; FHL microfilm 29,690.
↑ 10.010.110.210.310.4 "Rutha Showalter Obituary". Moundridge Journal (McPherson County, Kansas). November 8, 1901.
↑ Library and Archives of the Nebraska State Historical Society; Lincoln, Nebraska. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908 [database on-line].
↑ "Illinois State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:61MD-G6Z : 11 March 2018), Henry Showalter, Cass, Illinois; citing p. 29, State Archives, Springville; FHL microfilm 976,179
Event Place Chandlerville, Cass, Illinois, United States
Gender Male
Age 36
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1824
Birthplace Va
Page 165
Henry Showalter M 36 Va
Ruth Showalter F 37 Va
Eliza Showalter F 7 Va
Temperance Showalter F 15 Va
Samuel T Showalter M 14 Va
Perry L Showalter M 12 Va
William A Showalter M 9 Ills
John R Showalter M 7 Ills
Mary M Showalter F 5 Ills
Lovenda Showalter F 3 Ills
Henreetta Showalter F 1 Ills
↑ "Illinois State Census, 1865," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCKQ-XB3 : 12 March 2018), Henry Showalter, , Chandlerville, Cass, Illinois; citing p. 26, State Library, Springfield; FHL microfilm 972,751.
↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M64X-M7X : 12 April 2016), Henry Showalter, Illinois, United States; citing p. 5, family 31, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,691.
Name Henry Showalter
Event Type Census
Event Year 1870
Event Place Illinois, United States
Gender Male
Age 53
Race White
Race (Original) W
Birth Year (Estimated) 1816-1817
Birthplace Virginia
Page Number 5
Henry Showalter M 53 Virginia
Ruth Showalter F 49 Virginia
Temperance Showalter F 24 Virginia
William Showalter M 19 Illinois
John Showalter M 17 Illinois
Mary Showalter F 14 Illinois
Clarinda Showalter F 12 Illinois
Henrietta Showalter F 10 Illinois
Perry L Showalter M 22 Virginia
↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 June 2018), memorial page for Mary Magdalena Ranck Showalter (unknown–12 Sep 1872), Find A Grave Memorial no. 76673199, citing Bell Cemetery, Philadelphia, Cass County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Chris (contributor 46940591) .
↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 June 2018), memorial page for Abraham Showalter (unknown–unknown), Find A Grave Memorial no. 76673189, citing Bell Cemetery, Philadelphia, Cass County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Chris (contributor 46940591) .
↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5H-4PV : 29 August 2017), Henry Showalter, Mound, McPherson, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 272, sheet 527D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0387; FHL microfilm 1,254,387.
Name Henry Showalter
Event Type Census
Event Date 1880
Event Place Mound, McPherson, Kansas, United States
Gender Male
Age 62
Marital Status Married
Race White
Race (Original) W
Occupation Farmer
Relationship to Head of Household Self
Relationship to Head of Household (Original) Self
Birth Year (Estimated) 1818
Birthplace Virginia, United States
Father's Birthplace Virginia, United States
Mother's Birthplace Virginia, United States
Sheet Letter D
Sheet Number 527
Person Number 0
Volume 1
Henry Showalter Self M 62 Virginia, United States
Ruth Showalter Wife F 60 Virginia, United States
Temperance Showalter Daughter F 35 Virginia, United States
W A Showalter Son M 29 Illinois, United States
Henrietta Showalter Daughter F 20 Illinois, United States
↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 28 June 2018), memorial page for Henry Showalter (9 Apr 1816–19 Apr 1897), Find A Grave Memorial no. 175519840, citing Mound Township Cemetery, Moundridge, McPherson County, Kansas, USA ; Maintained by Chris (contributor 46940591) .
Mrs. Rutha Showalter died at her home in this city Saturday at 3:45 a.m., aged 81 years, 8 months and 10 days. The funeral services were held Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the Christian church, Rev. Robt. Hewitt of Sedgwick county officiating. Miss Ruth Robinson was born in Fincastle, Virginia Feb. 22, 1820. She married Henry Showalter Oct. 13, 1842. They moved to Illinois in 1850 and in 1874 to this state. Nine children, four boys and five girls were born from this union and all are living. Those who reside in this city are Will and Tempy Showalter and Mrs. Eliza Jane Davis. Deceased was held in high esteem by her acquaintances. The members of the family residing here desire to express their heartfelt thanks to the neighbors who so kindly rendered assistance in caring for the deceased during her last illness.
"Rutha Showalter Obituary". Moundridge Journal (McPherson County, Kansas). November 8, 1901.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Henry by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Henry: