Showman Family

Robert Showman married Martha Edwards, daughter of David and Cynthia Ann Meek, who was born on April 1, 1836 in Washington Township, Henry County, Ohio. She died in 1858. They were married on November 15, 1866. Robert was born in 1836 in Washington County, Maryland, son of John and Lovenia Showman. John Showman was born in 1811 at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. He married Lovenia Hammond in 1836. Lovenia was born May 22, 1813 at Rollersville, Vermont. John and Lovenia's children were: Robert W.; John H.; Annie L.; William R.; Vardinique; Frank M.; Sarah E.; Charles M.; and two children died in infancy. Annie L. Showman, born February 21, 1841, Fairfield, Ohio, married S. M. Heller. Annie's children were Charles M. Heller, 1859-1860; Lilly B. Heller, 1864; Ellam M. Heller, 1866; and Margaret L. Heller, 1868.

Robert W. Showman served in Company D. 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War.

Robert and Martha Edwards Showman children were: Blair D., born 1867; Cynthia C., born 1869; Lillian May, born 1872, married Wayne Palmerton; Fannie F., born 1874; and five more children that died in infancy.

Martha A. Edwards Showman was the first white child born in Washington Township. There were still Indians in the area at the time that the Edwards located there. The Edwards established their homestead along the Maumee River. One of the Ottawa Indian chiefs, Oxinoxica, and his band of followers, brought gifts for the child; and according to Indian custom, planted an oak sapling in the child's honor. The oak tree still stands west of Texas, Ohio.

The Showman family operated a grist and sawmill in Stryker, Williams County, Ohio, for several years but re-_ turned to the Edwards homestead in Washington Township in 1887 and built the house that stands along Route 24 near Texas.

Lillian Mae Showman was fourteen years old when the house was built, and lived in the house until she was ninety-six years old. She married Wayne Palmerton, who died in 1948, and Lillian lived in the house, alone, until 1967. Then she went to live with Mrs. Mary Silveus, Gerald, Ohio. Lillian died on December. 21, 1972, and would have been one hundred years old on May 9, 1973.

The Showman house built by Robert Showman on David Edwards homestead has been immortalized by area artists and is known by many as "The Palmerton House".

The cannonball rope bed that was donated to the Henry County Historical Society to use in the Vajen Log Cabin was originally part of the Edwards-Showman furniture. As far as is known, that is the only piece of furniture that was saved for historical purposes, that can be authenticated as part of the Edwards heritage.

The Showman sons that served in the Civil War were Robert W., William R., and John H. Showman.

Frank M. Showman married Abby Ellenwood and had no issue.

Charles M. Showman married Delia Young.

Belonging to this family were Cloyce Showman, a local artist, who died in 1969. He married Abby Rye and had children John, Austin, Bert and Caroline.

Melville Showman married Myrtle Overmier and had Marvin and MadyIon.

Meme Showman married twice. First to Walter Crozier and had Vardinique, Delia and Charles. The Crozier family history is in this volume. She married second, Ben DuPoy.

Louvenia Showman married Fred Pohlman and had a daughter, Nancy.

Lucy Showman married Leonard Johnson and had Leland, Lucille and Lillian.

Submitted by: GLE