TUSCARAWAS COUNTY OHIO BIOS: SHOWALTER, EPHRAIM (published 1884) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MRS GINA M REASONER AUPQ38A@prodigy.com September 12, 1999 *********************************************************************** The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio Warner, Beers & Co., 1884 EPHRAIM SHOWALTER, farmer, P.O. Shanesville, was born June 12, 1823, on the farm he now occupies in Sugar Creek Township, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Showalter. His father was born in Bucks County, Penn., and was raised in Westmoreland County. He came here in 1808, and he and Jacob Walter settled here and began clearing up a farm. They did their own cooking, and obtained their bread and other provisions from Mr. Knisely, three miles west of Dover, Ohio. About 1812, he married Elizabeth Thomas, a native of Maryland, but raised partly in this county. They died on the farm they had settled on, leaving a family of nine children, viz., Anna M. (deceased), wife of David Lower; Isaac (deceased), married to Mary Harrington, Ephraim, our subject; John T.; Catherine (deceased), wife of C. Zimmer; Elizabeth (deceased), wife of T. McCurdy; Esther, widow of C. Fretz, of DeKalb County, Ind.; Sarah (deceased), wife of Peter Dull, of the same county; and Susanna, wife of Samuel Dull, of Kansas. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, October 5, 1848, with Adeline, a daughter of Jonathan Fisher, by whom he had ten children, viz., Esther A., wife of C. Holser, of Michigan; Mary E., wife of Philip Warnes, of Berlin, Ohio; Sarah B.; Eliza J., wife of John Conrad, of Holmes Count, Ohio; Lucinda C.; Henrietta, now wife of Benjamin F. Teaters; William, Isaac, John E. and Emma. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Showalter settled on the old family homestead, which has never been out of the Showalter name, and have since resided here. He was engaged in the profession of teaching when he was about twenty-three years of age, and followed it for six terms; he was a good disciplinarian, and left a record as a successful teacher. Mr. Showalter is a Republican, and has been School Director of his district twenty-one years. He and the family are members of the Lutheran Church, of which he has been Trustee and Deacon, now holding the position of Elder. He is an upright and influential citizen of the township. William Henry is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Showalter, and was born May 9, 1857, and is twin brother of Henrietta. He is living at home, working for his father. He has already done some successful teaching, and is an intelligent young man, of good influence and social position Page 657, Sugar Creek Township. - After the War of 1812 had ceased, a rapid stream of emigration poured many settlers into the township, and in a few years it was thoroughly settled. In 1820, the following land owners resided here, and many of them had emigrated years before: Jacob Showalter, a Mennonite, owned a fraction of the northeast quarter of section 18. His brother Peter, a Dunkard, had thirty acres in the northeast quarter of section 19. John Showalter, who kept bachelor's hall with Jacob Walters until the latter's marriage, owned a farm in Section 18. Page 659, Sugar Creek Township. - The woolen mill is operated by John Showalter. On its site a carding and fulling mill was started, probably as early as 1830, by George Wertz. It was operated a long time by him, then changed hands several times, and finally reached its present management. Page 685, Wayne Township. - In the western part of the township, on School Lot 5, near Walnut Creek, is an old frame church built many years ago by a Winebrenner congregation. Among its early members were Peter Showalter and John Fair. Rev. Metzler is the present minister, and the membership is about seventy-five. -------------OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------