Reuben B. Showalter

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Reuben B. Showalter
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Grant 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1887 – January 5, 1891
Preceded byWilliam John McCoy
Succeeded byJohn J. Oswald
8th Mayor of Lancaster, Wisconsin
In office
April 1889 – April 1890
Preceded byCharles H. Baxter
Succeeded byEdward M. Lowry
Personal details
Born(1842-06-03)June 3, 1842
Smithfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 27, 1912(1912-01-27) (aged 69)
Lancaster, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Cemetery, Lancaster, Wisconsin
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Martha Jane Arthur
(m. 1868⁠–⁠1912)
Childrenat least 3
OccupationMason, banker
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1864–1865
RankPrivate, USV
Unit2nd Reg. Wis. Vol. Cavalry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Reuben Benoni Showalter (June 3, 1842 – January 27, 1912) was an American mason, banker, and Republican politician from Grant County, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1887 and 1889 sessions, and served as the 8th mayor of Lancaster, Wisconsin.

Biography[edit]

Showalter was born on June 3, 1842, in Smithfield, Pennsylvania. He would later reside in Lancaster, Wisconsin, Richland County, Wisconsin and Beetown, Wisconsin. During the American Civil War, he served with the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment of the Union Army. Showalter later became a bank president.[1][2]

Political career[edit]

Showalter was elected to the Assembly in 1886 and 1888.[3] Other positions he held include alderman and Mayor of Lancaster and Chairman Grant County, Wisconsin board of supervisors. He was a Republican.

Personal life and family[edit]

Reuben Showalter was the last of six children born to Reuben K. Showalter and his wife Rachel (née Brownfield) Showalter. His father died when he was a young child, and he moved with his mother and siblings to a farm in the town of Lancaster, in Grant County, Wisconsin.[4]

Two of Showalter's older brothers also served in the Union Army. His brother John was an officer in the same company as Reuben, Company C of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment. His eldest brother, Levi, was second lieutenant of Company C in the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and was wounded at Gettysburg.[4][5]

Reuben married Martha Jane Arthur in 1868. They had at least three children together, though only two survived to adulthood.[4]

Reuben Showalter died on January 27, 1912, after a period of declining health. He was interred at Lancaster's Hillside Cemetery.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1901. pp. 448–449.
  2. ^ "Wisconsin News: The Marriage of William Carter". The Weekly Wisconsin. June 8, 1895. p. 2. Retrieved May 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. 1889. pp. 507–508.
  4. ^ a b c d "Hon. R. B. Showalter". The Weekly Teller. February 1, 1912. p. 1. Retrieved April 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Second Regiment Infantry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865 (Report). Vol. 1. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 353. Retrieved April 24, 2023.

External links[edit]

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Grant 2nd district
January 3, 1887 – January 5, 1891
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Lancaster, Wisconsin
April 1889 – April 1890
Succeeded by
Edward M. Lowry