Henry Showalter
1828 - 1873 (45 years)-
Name Henry Showalter Birth 1828 Botetourt Co., VA 
[1] Gender Male Death 27 Aug 1873 Alleghany Springs, Montgomery Co., VA [2] Cause: gunshot wound Person ID I3617 Meadow Bluff Meanderings Last Modified 5 Feb 2026
Father Nicholas Showalter, b. 1796, Botetourt Co., VA d. Aft 1880, Montgomery Co., VA (Age 85 years) Mother Elizabeth Griffith, b. 1802, Franklin Co., VA d. Aft 1880, Montgomery Co., VA (Age 79 years) Marriage 16 Sep 1818 Franklin Co., VA [3] Family ID F927 Group Sheet | Family Chart
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Notes - Listed as insane in 1870 Montgomery Co., VA census.
The Tri-Weekly News, Lynchburg, VA, Monday, 1 Sep 1873, p. 4, col. 3
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tri-weekly-news-lunatic-shot-and-kil/190688049/
A LUNATIC SHOT AND KILLED. - We learn from the Christiansburg Messenger that Henry Showalter, a crazy man living near Alleghany Springs, was shot and killed on Monday night last by a negro named Barney Slata. The circumstances as given by the negro to Mr. Dunklee are as follows: Barney has charge of a saw mill near, Alleghany Springs. In the night he heard his mill running and got up to ascertain the cause. Suspecting some foul play, he returned to his house and got his gun to make further search. Seeing an object somewhat concealed looking like a man, he called to know what he wanted, &c. The object disappearing and re-appearing caused him to be more positive in his demands, and at length he fired and killed a man whom he afterwards discovered to be Henry Showalter. This unfortunate Showalter has been wandering about the hills and mountains of his neighborhood for many days eluding pursit [sic] and shunning officers. His untimely death is no surprise.
- Listed as insane in 1870 Montgomery Co., VA census.
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Sources - [S1542] Virginia, Montgomery County, FCR: Montgomery Co., VA 1850, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M432, roll 962, District 41, p. 78A, dwelling 1052, family 1052, Henry Showalter, accessed 5 Feb 2026 (Reliability: 3).
- [S2610] Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, Virginia, U.S., Death Registers, 1853-1911 (Database Only), ((http://www.ancestry.com : 2022)), accessed 5 Feb 2026), Henry Showalther, 1873, Montgomery County. (Reliability: 3).
- [S1805] Marshall Wingfield, Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1786-1858, ((http://www.ancestry.com : 1999)), accessed 12 Feb 2026), Showalter-Griffith, 1818. (Reliability: 3).
- [S1542] Virginia, Montgomery County, FCR: Montgomery Co., VA 1850, (http://www.ancestry.com: National Archives and Records Administration, 2009), M432, roll 962, District 41, p. 78A, dwelling 1052, family 1052, Henry Showalter, accessed 5 Feb 2026 (Reliability: 3).