George M. Showalter, one of Butler county's successful farmers and stockman, is a native of Iowa, born in 1869. He is a son of Samuel and Belle Showalter; the father was born in West Virginia, and Belle Greenland Showalter, the mother, was born near Mt. Carroll, Ill. The Showalter family came to Sedgwick county, Kansas, in 1876, and located on a farm in Gypsum township, where the father bought 320 acres of land, which is still in the family. Samuel Showalter died in 1904 in Wichita, and his wife now resides there in the home he bought prior to his death. This home is modern and commodious, very much in contrast to the one built on the old homestead in 1876, which was 12x16 feet, and in which they lived eight years.

George Showalter, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the country schools of Sedgwick county. His parents were very desirious[sic] that he should have a college education, and then take up the profession of law, but he chose farming and stock raising instead, in which he has made an unqualified success. He owns 1,200 acres in Pleasant township, which is one of the best farms in the county. It is well improved with a modern home, large barn 44x80 feet, silo 14x30 feet, with ten foot basement.

Mr. Showalter was married, in 1894, at Wichita, to Loretta Estella Swindell, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Joshua Swindell, who came to Kansas in 1880, and settled in Pleasant township. Her mother was Gula Wilson, prior to her marriage. She was a native of North Carolina. Mrs. Showalter has three brothers living, as follows: Roscoe, Adolphus and Ernest. Mrs. Showalter's father came from Indiana to

Arkansas, and from Arkansas, he came to Butler county with an ox team, and had twenty-five cents when he got here. He used oxen for several years after he came. Their first home was 14x16 feet, in which they lived ten years. Mrs. Showalter's father came with a mule team, as he thought horses could not live here then.

Mr. and Mrs. Showalter are the parents of nine children, all of whom are living at home, as follows: Floyd C., William E., Gracie L., Gula B., Roy E., Earl L., Worth L., Edna A. and Leburn G. Mr. and Mrs. Showalter have worked hard, and their efforts rave[sic] been crowned with success. Mr. Showalter has three sisters, all graduates from Kansas State Normal, and all of whom were very successful school teachers in Butler and Sedgwick counties.

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