According to the U.S. Immigration Index, Henry Shamhart arrived from their home in Germany in 1802 at the port of Philadelphia, PA, at age 7, with his father, Simon Henrich Schamhardt. The elder Mr. Schamhardt brought his wife and children and settled in Maryland. Young Henry grew up there with his family, and at the age of about 18, served in Tilghman's Reg't, Cavalry, Maryland Militia, in the War of 1812 (source: service record).

A record in Leitersburg, Maryland's Historic District papers says that Henry Shamhart in 1818 purchased Lot #30. Also, in U.S. Land Office Records Henry Shamhartt purchased 47.8 acres of land 1 Apr 1829 and the same acreage 1 June 1829 in what is now Noble County, Ohio, Section 36, Range 7W, Township 8N.

Henry Shamhart is listed in the 1820 census of Beaver Twp., Guernsey County, Ohio, he and a female, both over age 45, so this could be his father who is thought to have died in Ohio about 1826.

Henry's son John's biography in an 1887 Illinois history book says Henry married "Katie" Overly in Guernsey County. In the 1830 census is Henry Shamhart, Beaver Twp., Guernsey Co., Ohio with appropriate ages for Henry and Catharine "Katie" and their children.

Children (as recorded in census records, Bible records in Henry's pension file, original marriage and death records, and son John's biography in an 1887 Illinois history book):

George W., b. 13 July 1821; physician, allopath, d. 24 Jan 1906 Latona, IL (Directory of Deceased American Physicians 1804-1929); mar. Leah McVey 13 Feb 1845 Guernsey Co., Ohio.

Larrison Levina, b. 27 Mar 1823; mar. 8 Oct 1840 George F. Long, Guernsey Co.


Martha, b. 1 Dec 1824; d. rec. says 1 Dec 1825, d. 31 July 1909 Delaware, Ohio, widowed; mar. Joseph Day 6 June 1844 Guernsey Co.

Henry, b. 25 Oct 1826; d. 27 Oct 1826

John Edgar, b. 28 Oct 1827 Guernsey Co., Ohio; went to Calif. 1853-1856; mar. Mary Catherine Brill 27 Apr 1857 Noble Co., Ohio (bio says 26 Apr); went to Jasper Co., IL Apr 1864; d. there 25 July 1906

Elizabeth Anne, b. 24 Dec 1829; mar. George S. Hilliard

Emily Caroline, b. 9 Apr 1831; Caroline mar. Asberry Knouff 9 Nov 1852 Noble Co., Ohio (in another record his name is Francis A. Knouff)

Mary, b. 15 Mar 1833; mar. 6 Nov 1852 Noble Co., Ohio, William James; d. 25 Jan 1910 Washington, Guernsey Co., Ohio, widowed, bu. Kennonsburg

William Henry, b. 28 Jan 1835; mar. 13 May 1857 Rachel Williams, record in Noble Co. (Bible rec. says 30 May); d. 27 Apr 1863

Ephraim W., b. 5 July 1837; mar. in Noble Co., Ohio 2 Mar 1861 Manerva Forsyth, dau. of William Forsyth; in Summerfield, Ohio 1870 census, later in Cache, Utah and Franklin Co., Kansas

Amanda Catharine, b. 18 Aug 1839; mar. in Noble Co. 18 Aug 1858 George Bolton; went to Kansas

Pheby, b. 20 Feb 1842; d. 17 Mar 1842

Jane, b. 11 Feb 1843; d. 25 Mar 1843

Thompson Luther, b. 2 July 1846; mar. Mary A. Williams, dau. of Peleg and Belinda; lived in West Liberty, IL, later in Smallwood, Jasper Co., IL

David, b. 7 Jan 1849; d. 15 Feb 1849

Reason Alvin, b. 27 Apr 1852 at 10:04 a.m.; d. 7 Mar 1873