C[harles]. H[arvey]. SHOWALTER, residing on section 7, Middle Fork Township, has been identified with the interests of Ringgold County over twenty years. He was born in [Stribling Springs near Mt. Solon] Augusta County, Virginia, April 1, 1843, son of Nimrod and Sarah (SHAMBUAGH) SHOWALTER, natives of the same State. He was the third of a family of ten children. When three yeaers of age his parents removed to Putnam County, Indiana, where he passed his early life assisting on the farm and attending the common schools.

In 1863 he removed to Fayette County, Iowa, where he resided three years, then returned to Putnam County for a short time, and the same year [1866] came to his present home in Middle Fork Township. He purchased 120 acres of wild land, and has since added to his original purchase until he has a farm of 200 acres of well-cultivated and well-improved land. He has a comfortable, well-furnished house, surrounded with shade trees, an orchard of 200 trees, aand a good barn and out-buildings for feeding stock.

He was married September 29, 1867, to Miss Mary Jane SHAMBAUGH, daughter of C. D. and Sarah SHAMBAUGH, and they have five children - Sarah Lena, Charles Walter, Cora Peral, John William, and Avis Maud.

Mr. SHOWALTER has served as township trustee and as a member of the School Board. He is a worthy and consistent member of the Christian church, and in politics is a Democrat. He is classed among the leading citizens of his township. Postoffice, Redding.

NOTE: Nimrod Huffman SHOWALTER, pictured at right with his second wife Nancy, was born January 28, 1818, Rockingham County, Virginia, the son of Jacob and Catharine (HUFFMAN) SHOWALTER. Nimrod died January 19, 1888, Confidence, Wayne County, Iowa, with interment at Confidence Cemetery. Nimrod married first in Warren County, Virginia, on March 21, 1839 to Sarah Ann SHAMBAUGH, born February 9, 1817, Reliance, Frederick (present-day Warren) County, Virginia, the daughter of Jacob and Mary (BARROW) SHAMBAUGH. Sarah Ann died October 9, 1862, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana with interment at Hanna Street Blackstock Cemetery, Greencastle. Nimrod and Sarah Ann were the parents of ten children, Charles Harvey being the third-born child. Nimrod married second to Nancy Ann BROWN, born in Kentucky, 1834, and died in Lucas County, Iowa, after 1920. Nimrod and Nancy were the parents of five children.

Charles Harvey SHOWALTER died October 17, 1887. Mary Jane (SHAMBAUGH) SHOWALTER, pictured at right, was born in Reliance, Warren County, Virginia in 1849, the daughter of Charles Daniel SHAMBAUGH (1812-1894) and Sarah Elizabeth (GUYER) SHAMBAUGH (1826-1906). Mary Jane died on June 19, 1921. Charles and Mary Jane were interred at Middle Fork Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Charles and Mary Ann were the parents of six children:

1) Sarah Lena SHOWALTER, pictured below right
    born 21 Oct 1868, Mount Ayr IA; died 26 Jul 1941, Elmhurst IL
    interment Elm Lawn Cemetery, Elmhurst IL
    married 24 Dec 1889, Ringgold Co. IA William Robert HUMPHREY (1869-1917)

2) Charles Walter SHOWALTER
    born 15 Jun 1871, Mount Ayr IA; died 27 Feb 1922, Blockton IA
    married 14 Oct 1894, Redding IA Clara Belle DEFENBAUGH (1876-1955)
    Charles and Clara interred Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton IA

3) Cora Pearl SHOWALTER, born 17 Jan 1875, Martinsdale IA; died after 1941
    married 20 Jan 1899, Delphos IA Ira J. MICHAEL, born 24 Sep 1869, Putnam Co. IN

4) John William SHOWALTER
    born 24 Oct 1876, Mount Ayr IA; died 03 Dec 1960, Wenatchee WA
    married 03 Aug 1899, Mount Ayr IA Ora Belle GUTHRIE (1880-1969)
    John and Ora interred Evergreen Cemetery, East Wenatchee WA

5) Avis Maud SHOWALTER, born 12 Dec 1885, Ringgold Co. IA; died after 1941, Hastings NE
    married 12 Apr 1914 Earl Stacy HEATH (1878-1945)

6) Infant Son SHOWALTER, born 16 Oct 1887, Hastings NE; died 13 Nov 1887, Hastings NE
    interment Middle Fork Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA

Charles' brother Franklin Pierce SHOWALTER was born August 5, 1852, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, and died April 11, 1917, Benton Township, Ringgold County, Iowa, with interment at New York Cemetery, Wayne County, Iowa.

Charles' brother Isaiah Jacob SHOWALTER was born January 1, 1847, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, and died August 9, 1928, Avon, Polk County, Iowa. He married in Redding, Iowa on March 13, 1862 to Martha Agnes MILLER, born January 25, 1850, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and died September 8, 1915, Stuttgart, Arkansas County, Arkansas. Isaiah and Martha were interred at Hickory Grove Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Charles' brother Joseph Herbert SHOWALTER was born in Greencastle, Indiana, in April of 1856, and died in 1934, Escondido, California. Joseph married in Ringgold County, Iowa, July 4, 1880 to Ella Bessie MILLER, born in Ringgold County, Iowa, May 23, 1862, and died April 26, 1965, Greenfield, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, p. 390, 1887.

Nimrod Huffman SHOWALTER Iowa Family Group Sheet I, by W. Richard SHINDLE

Nimrod Huffman SHOWALTER Iowa Family Group Sheet II, by W. Richard SHINDLE

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z