Biography

02/11/1851 - 12/03/1932

Doctor Joseph Baltzell Showalter, Sr. (R41) Armstrong and Butler Counties 1889-1892

Early Life:

Doctor Joseph Baltzell Showalter, Sr., born February 11, 1851, Smithfield, Fayette County, Pennsylvania; son of Levi and Elizabeth Sarah Baltzell Showalter; attended, George’s Creek Academy, Smithfield; attended, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, 1883; graduated, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Maryland, 1884; school teacher West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois 1867-1873; moved, Borough of Chicora, Butler County, Pennsylvania, engaged, petroleum, natural gas businesses; physician, Borough of Chicora, Butler County, Pennsylvania, 1884-1890; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1887-1888, not a candidate for reelection, 1888; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1888-1892; elected, Republican, United States Congress, Special Election, 1897-1903; author; resumed his former business pursuits, resided, Butler, Pennsylvania; moved, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then Washington, District of Columbia; also engaged, development of land in southern Florida; married, Ella Marian McKee Showalter, children, Levi McKee Showalter; Genevieve Showalter, Elizabeth Pauline McCandless, Joseph Baltzell Showalter, Jr., Lucile Mckee Leggett, and John Baltzell Showalter; died, December 3, 1932 (aged 81), cerebral hemorrhage, home, Washington, District of Columbia; interment, North Side Cemetery, Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania.

Authored:

Showalter, Joseph Baltzell, 1851-1932; Extension of opportunities for early training in speech and language for deaf children, 1900.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1887-1888, not a candidate for reelection, 1888.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 41st district, Armstrong and Butler Counties, 1888-1892; committee assignments, Education, Library (Chairman), Public Health And Sanitation Public Printing.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Republican, United States House of Representatives, Fifty-fifth Congress, Special Election, April 20, 1897, vacancy, death, James J. Davidson; reelected, Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh Congresses, 1897-1903; not a candidate for reelection.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members S". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1890). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 697, 702-704, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 669.

Joseph Baltzell Showalter (1851-1932) - Find a Grave Memorial