Dr. J. F. Kanawel, M.D. and Elmira J. Showers

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Husband Dr. J. F. Kanawel, M.D. ¹

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           Born: 4 Feb 1845 - Juniata Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: John Kanawel (      -      ) 2
         Mother: Barbara Woods (      -      ) 2

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       Marriage: 12 Oct 1870 3

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Wife Elmira J. Showers ⁴

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           Born: 4 Apr 1853 5
     Christened: 
           Died: 21 Nov 1894 4
         Buried:  - Centerville Cemetery, Centerville, Snyder Co, PA

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         Father: George W. Showers (1831-1878) 6
         Mother: Mary Yerger (1830-1868) 5

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Dr. J. F. Kanawel, M.D.

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He was reared as a farmer boy, enduring the hardships incident to that early time. He began his education at the Mount Pleasant school house in Fayette township, Juniata County, Pennsylvania, and although the methods and apparatus were crude he made the best of his opportunities. His father, who was a man of much intelligence, insisted upon a regular attendance at school, when other parents of that time were only too apt to keep their sons out owing to the pressure of farm work. Our subject pursued his studies at McAlisterville Academy after completing the course offered in the local schools, and then taught for four terms when he entered Tuscarora Academy in Academia, Pennsylvania, for further study. From his youth he had been desirous of entering the medical profession, and his first preceptor was Dr. A. J. Fisher, of McAlisterville. In 1866 he entered the University of Pennsylvania, and although his course was interrupted by the lack of funds, he graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1871. He found himself $750 in debt, a somewhat discouraging position considering the slow returns of the first years of professional life, but he engaged in practice at Centerville where he speedily won success. Going there a stranger where many others had failed, he entered into competition with several old practitioners. It was a German section where the language of the Fatherland was almost exclusively spoken, but the Doctor surmounted every difficulty. His close attention to his professional work did not prevented him from making some excellent investments. He helped to organize the Farmers' Bank at Mifflinburg, and the First National Bank at Middleburg, and was a stockholder in each institution. He owned in one tract 156 acres of land in Centre township, one tract near town containing thirteen acres, and also had a fine property in Centerville upon which he built a business block, his office being situated there. He had a fine home in Centerville, built by himself.
He was a member of the Sunbury Board of Pension Examiners, and of the Snyder County Medical Society, and a permanent member of the State Medical Society. For many years he was an active member of the Lutheran Church, serving fifteen years as deacon previous to his resignation in 1896. Politically he was a steadfast Democrat.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1051, 1087.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1087.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1088.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1051, 1088.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1051.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1050.