BIO: George C. SHOWALTER, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  G. C. SHOWALTER, proprietor of the Philipsburg Steam Laundry, and of 
property to some extent in his section, is a man of marked business 
ability and enterprise.  His versatility and resource have been 
successfully displayed in various occupations, and his recent entrance 
into the laundry business upon a large scale, and with improved modern 
appliances, is a distinct advantage to the city of Philipsburg, while 
promising to bring due rewards to himself.  His landed interests have 
come to him by inheritance, but previous to his father's death he had 
made his own way in the world of business.
  The Showalter family is of German origin, and has been established in 
Pennsylvania for several generations.  Our subject's grandfather, John 
Showalter, settled in Clearfield county early in the present century, 
coming from Lancaster county, Penn., and he died when this grandson was 
still a child.  His wife, Elizabeth (Dorley), was of Irish descent.
  The late Russel D. Showalter, the father of our subject, was born in 
Half Moon township, Centre county, in 1825, and lived to the age of 
sixty-seven years and three months.  Until his retirement from active 
business, ten years previous to his death, he was engaged in 
agriculture and lumbering, furnishing logs on contract.  Thrifty and 
far-sighted, he made extensive purchases of real estate, and the wisdom 
of this provision is seen in the fact that land which cost him $1,350, 
would bring at least $60,000 at the present time, and is constantly 
increasing in value, the coal deposits being very rich.  R. D. 
Showalter was a man of great influence, his upright character, no less 
than his abilities, giving his opinions weight with all who knew him.  
Until the Civil war broke out he was a Democrat in politics, but the 
logic of events in those stirring times led him into the Republican 
fold, and later he became an ardent Prohibitionist.  From his youth up 
he was an active member of the M. E. Church, serving in various 
official positions, and allowing no extreme of wealth to keep him from 
his place at the regular meetings.  Storm or calm found him equally 
ready, and his house was at all times a hospitable home for the 
itinerant preachers of his day.  His first wife, Lydia Ann (Tate), who 
was also a devout Methodist, was born in Clearfield county in 1828, and 
died in 1877.  Her father, Joshua Tate, was an honored resident of that 
county in his time, and died there when between sixty and seventy years 
of age.  On July 9, 1878, R. D. Showalter married for his second wife 
Mrs. Acda [sic] C. Wilson, of Salona.  By the first marriage there was 
a family of eight children, three of whom died at an early

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  359

age.  Of the others: Jennie died at the age of fifteen; G. C. is the 
subject proper of this sketch; Emma T. married C. H. Davis, a jeweler 
of Philipsburg; Charles resides in Kansas City, Mo.; and Norah married 
W. W. Junkins, of Erie, Pennsylvania.
  G. C. Showalter was born March 1, 1854, and he spent his youth at his 
birthplace in Decatur township, Clearfield county, attending the 
district school and working upon the home farm.  On attaining his 
majority he taught school for two terms.  At the age of twenty-four he 
married Miss Maggie V. Sankey, a native of Centre county, born in 1855.  
Their only child, Nannie V., died in her fifteenth year.  After 
marriage Mr. Showalter worked in a planing-mill for some time, and then 
followed agriculture for ten years.  Later he removed to Philipsburg, 
and in 1895 he opened the steam laundry mentioned above, the first ever 
established there.  He is executor of his father's estate, and owns 
half the surface of the land comprised in the inheritance.  Two coal 
mines are now in operation on the property. The habits of industry, 
gained in years when he depended entirely on his own exertions, have 
not been altered by his present wealth, and Mr. Showalter is active not 
only in business but in local affairs.  In politics he is a Republican; 
socially he belongs to the Knights of Malta, and since 1877 he has been 
a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he is now past grand.  In 
religion he abides by the faith of his honored parents, and is a member 
of the M. E. Church.

1870 Decatur Township, Clearfield County census -
Russel D. Showalter, 45  
Lydia A. Showalter, 41  
George C. Showalter, 16  
Hannah V. Showalter, 13  
Emma F. Showalter, 9  
Charles F. Showalter, 5  
Leanora Showalter, 3