Notes:
Data source is Leonard Showalter. E-mail lshowalter@delphi.com
A. J. Fretz gives marriage date as Aug 4, 1884. Gives name as Andrew Lenhard. Others give birthplace as LaGrange, Indiana.
Two obituaries from area newspapers:
A. L. Showalter
Andrew Leonard Showalter was born June 8, 1862, the third child of Abraham and Hester Ann Fretz Showalter.
When he was a small lad the family migrated to Michigan from their home near Butler, In-
diana, and located near Mt. Pleasant. Those first years in Michigan were years of hardship, privation and hard work. His father worked in the lumber woods, his mother cooked for the lumbermen, and the children assisted wherever there was work to do.,
His sister, Mary Melissa, was married to William Kline, who had been working at the lumber camp where the family was employed, and later moved to Onekama make her home. Several years later, the Showalters also moved to Onekama purchasing the farm now owned by William Miehlke.
In September 1884, he took as his bride Mary Brandt and they purchased. the farm across the road now owned by Ralph Lantz Here their nine children were born and raised. For a number of years the men did blacksmithing on the farm in addition to the farming. During the winters Mr. Showalter would join a. lumbering crew to help out the family budget.
At about the turn of the century, he and his sons built the large building across the street from the present garage building, in which they had a saw mill, later a feed mill, and a blacksmith shop. For a number of years the family lived upstairs in the building until their home was erected south of the village. As the need for more space arose, they built a small garage across the: street, adding to it as was necessary.
For the past. 30 years he and his son Ernest have been in partnership in the garage and blacksmith business. Although his health has been failing he was active to the last, helping with any work which was to be done.
His one recreation was deer hunting, and was his most beloved topic of conversation No doubt the camp life reminded him of his rugged pioneer life in the woods and he planned from one year to the next for that huntIng trip to the Upper Peninsula.
A. L (Sandy) Showalter, Aged Onekama Blacksmith, Died Sat'y
Onekama-This community was deeply saddened Saturday to learn of the sudden passing of A. L. Showalter, (Sandy), pioneer resident. Mr. Showalter had been in his usual health, and was assisting his son in cutting down a tree, when he was seized with a heart attack and passed away.
He was 87 years of age, having been born June 8, 1862, in Indiana.
He leaves to mourn his sudden passing four Sons: Eldon of Arcadia, Florida, Joseph of Midland, Louis of Battle Creek, and Ernest of Onekama, two daughters, Mrs. Hester England of Chicago, and Mrs. Hazel Specht of Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin. His wife, a son Charles, and two daughters, Mrs. Lusetta Wagoner and Frances; preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2:00 p. m, from the Congregational Church, Onekama, Rev. Anthony Nelson officiating. He will be laid to rest beside his wife in Onekama cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are in charge of Edwards Funeral home, Bear Lake. The body will be taken to the home Tuesday, where it will repose until Wednesday noon, when it will be taken to the church to lie in state until the hour of services.