Daniel Showalter

Daniel Showalter (1830–1866), was California miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, soldier for the Confederate States of America in Texas.

Showalter was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania and came to California in 1852. He lived in Horseshoe Bend, Mariposa County where he was a miner. He ran for and won a seat in the California State Assembly 6th District in 1857–1858 and 1861–1862. In the heat of the struggle to elect a new Senator for California he insulted another state assemblyman, Charles W. Piercy from San Bernardino County, who challenged him to a duel.

Despite dueling being officially illegal in California at the time, it proceeded nonetheless on Saturday afternoon, May 25, 1861, near the residence of Charles S. Fairfax, three miles west of San Rafael in Marin County. The weapons chosen were rifles, to be fired at a distance of forty yards. The first fire was ineffective and Showalter demanded another. On the second fire, Showalter shot Piercy in the mouth and killed him. This was the last of the duels between political figures in California.

Now a fugitive as a result of the duel, Showalter made his way south to Los Angeles County, joining with friends and fellow secessionist sympathizers who wanted to go east to join the Confederate Army. This party was caught at Minter Ranch on November 29, 1861, by a 1st Volunteer Cavalry patrol under Second Lt. C. R. Wellman from Camp Wright, in the mountains southwest of the Warner's Ranch, in the San Jose Valley of eastern San Diego County. On December 10, fearing a large rescue party was coming from El Monte, the commander of Camp Wright sent them under guard to Fort Yuma. Eventually they were released after swearing alliegence to the Union. Showalter then went on to Texas where he was made lieutenant colonel of the 4th Arizona Cavalry Regiment.

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