The John S. Showman Family

Sometime in the 1840's, a freighter, operating a four horse freight wagon between Hagerstown and Baltimore, Md., quit the freighter business,loaded his freight wagon with his household goods, a huge grind stone and a fifty gallon iron kettle and with his wife Louvinia and baby son, Robert, moved to Fairfield Co., Ohio, driving on the stage coach route on the N. side of the Ohio River. Here he sharecropped till after the mid 1850's. The family increased to five boys and three girls plus a baby boy who died here with croup.

In the mid 1850's they moved again to Hancock Co., Ohio, where John's older brother, Pembrooke, was already established. This was a temporary stop of about a year. John was scouting for a farm to buy. He finally found and bought a river bottom farm in Washington Township, Henry Co., about200 acres between the Maumee River and the Miami-Erie Canal. Also included in the farm were 30 odd acres at the east end of the farm on the north side of the canal. The farm had a fair set of farm buildings, two good wells of water and a large orchard. The Showman tribe moved in 1857.

Before they could make many improvements the Civil War broke out and the three older boys, Robert, Will, and John, enlisted and remained in the service until the close of the war. This left John S. Showman with Frank, 15 years old, Charles, 11 years old and a hired boy Matt Middleton, 15 years old, with far more than was possible to be done.

In the 1870's and into the 1900's the farm became highly productive. The old set of buildings were abandoned about then because they sometimes flooded during an ice gorge. A new set of buildings were established on the northwest corner of the farm on the Canal Road.

Two of the sons, John and Will, moved out of this area and we have lost contact with those families.

Frank Showman married Abby Ellinwood and moved to Michigan where they purchased a section of land. They resided on this farm for many years. They then bought a farm in Washington Township where they remained several years until their death.

Robert Showman was married to Martha Edwards. She was the daughter of David and Cynthia Edwards who came to Henry County in 1835 to open a homestead along the banks of the Maumee River. Martha was the first white child born in Henry County. The Ottawa Indians used to stop on their travels along the river and were delighted with the first white baby. A small oak tree was planted by these Indians to commemorate the birth of this child. In passing through the Indians used to stop and eat with this family but would not eat without bringing some food. This oak tree is still living and stands near State Rt. 24.

From the marriage of Robert and Martha were one son, Blair, and three daughters, Cynthia, Fanny, and Lillian May, all are deceased. May married Wayne Parmerton and resided on the Robert Showman farm until a few years before her death at the age of 100.

When the original John S. Showman farm was sold, one of the sons, Charles, acquired 87 acres between the Miami-Erie Canal and Turkey Foot Creek. Charles married Delia Young in 1889. From this union was born two sons, Cloyce and Melville, three daughters, Meme, Louvinia, and Lucy.

Cloyce married Abby Rye; to them were born three sons, John, Austin, and Bert and one daughter Caroline. Cloyce remained on the farm until his death in 1969. He is also known in this area for his beautiful paintings.

Melville was married to Myrthle Overmier; they resided in Liberty Center. To them was born one son Marvin and one daughter Madlyn. Mel was known for his musical ability, made musical instruments such as guitars and mandolins, and he also composed several songs.

John S. Showman

Louvinia Showman

Meme was married to Walter Crozier, now deceased; she later married Ben DuPoy also deceased. To Meme and Walter were born two daughters, Vardinique and Delia and one son Charles. They resided on farms near Liberty Center.

Louvinia was married to Fred Pohlman; both are now deceased. To them was born one daughter, Nancy. They made their home at Napoleon.

Lucy married Leonard Johnson, now deceased, and resides on a farm near Liberty Center. One son, Lealand, now deceased, and two daughters, Lucille and Lillian were born to this family.

A section of the original Showman farm remained in the family for over one hundred years when the State of Ohio purchased the land to be used as a State Park.

Submitted by Lillian A. Langel