CHRISTIAN SCHWARBERG. - The German emigration has had its effect upon history for many ages, from the time when the people of that district swept down to Italy and France, revolutionizing the history of the Latin countries, to the present day, when the advance of the German civilization has a marked effect upon the progress of the world. America is indebted to the fatherland for citizens of value and worth. Among the number residing in Springfield who claim Germany as the land of their nativity is Christian Schwarberg, who was born in the kingdom of Hanover on the 27th of March, 1830, his parents being Johann and Johanna (Frommyer) Schwarberg. For many years the father devoted his attention to educational work, long acting as principal of the schools, and at a later day Christian Schwarberg, of this review, became a teacher in a school in which his father had taught for fifty years.

There were twelve children in the father's family, of whom four are now living. Of these Christian Schwarberg is the eldest. He remained in his native land until seventeen years of age and then, in 1847, crossed the Atlantic to Baltimore, Maryland, whence he made his way to Little York, Pennsylvania, where he resided for two years. On the expiration of that period he came direct to Illinois, settling in Springfield in 1849. In York he had learned and followed the carpenter's trade, and in 1855 he began contracting and building here, and has since been identified with the improvement of the city in this way. He has erected many of the leading structures of this city, and in an early day he assisted in completing the old courthouse that was first used as a statehouse. He was afterward engaged in the construction of the Second Methodist Episcopal church, helped to build the first buildings on the fair grounds and has erected many homes and business blocks here. He has seen Springfield emerge from a village into a beautiful city, with all conveniences and accessories of an advanced civilization, and as the years have passed he has manifested an active and helpful interest in what has been accomplished. When he journeyed westward he crossed the Allegheny mountains and went by river to Pittsburgh and thence to St. Louis. From that place he proceeded to Springfield. Not only has he been active in business affairs, but in public office he has rendered valuable service to his fellow townsmen. He acted as assessor and was deputy assessor of Springfield township for fifteen years. In politics he was at one time a Democrat, but is now a supporter of the Prohibition party.

On the 30th of January, 1851, Mr. Schwarberg was united in marriage in Springfield to Miss Rachel Way, the wedding being celebrated by the Rev. Albert Hale, who is pastor of the Second Presbyterian church and who has also married all of Mr. Schwarberg's children. Mrs. Schwarberg was born in Philadelphia, June 19, 1834, a cousin of Byron Taylor, a noted man, and a daughter of John and Ann (St. Clair) Way, who were natives of the Keystone state, but are now deceased. They became pioneer settlers of Sangamon county, locating in Springfield, Mrs. Schwarberg being but four years of age at the time of her arrival here. She is one of a family of ten children, six of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Schwarberg had five children, of whom three are now living. Edward, the eldest, a resident of Jacksonville, Illinois, married Miss Emma Kidd and they have two living children: Edward, who married Miss Page and has one daughter, Alma; and Willie. They also lost a son, Robert, who died in Springfield. Anna is the second member of the Schwarberg family and is the wife of Albert Shamel. They have a daughter, Maude, who is a popular school teacher and is highly accomplished in vocal and instrumental music. Augusta is the wife of Arthur Withrow, a farmer of Mechanicsburg, Illinois, and they have four children: Mirle, who married Miss Anna Sparrow, by whom he has a daughter, Clarissa Withrow; Frank, Raymond, and Para. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Schwarberg, one died in infancy, and a son, Frank, died at the age of twenty-three years. The parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary is 1901, on which occasion all of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were present, with the exception of the son, Edward, of Jacksonville. They received many souvenirs of the occasion, indicative of the regard in which they are held, and again the wedding ceremony was performed, this time Rev. E. P. Stover, pastor of the Kumler Methodist Episcopal church, officiating. About seventy-five guests were present and the occasion was a most memorable one.

Mr. and Mrs. Schwarberg are members of the Kumler Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held most of the offices, including those of a class teacher, trustee, elder and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is greatly interested in Sunday-school work and has done much for the promotion of the cause here. Not only has he assisted in the erection of the church, but has given liberally of his means to its support, and his wife has been treasurer of the Home Missionary Society for a number of years and is still identified with the missionary work in Springfield.

At an early age Mr. Schwarberg was thrown upon his own resources, but he looked at life in a practical, commonsense way, realizing that there is no royal road to wealth, and through earnest, persistent effort he has gradually acquired a comfortable competence and now has a good home at No. 1440 North Third street. He has seen great changes occur in Springfield, for at the time of his arrival houses were still lighted by tallow candles. Mr. Schwarberg assisted in building the first house on the site of what is now Oak Ridge cemetery when the district was covered with hazel brush and was so thick that it was almost impossible to make one's way through it. The house stood on the original site until about a year ago, when it was removed to Monument avenue and remodeled. In those early days there were many wild turkeys and ducks, and deer were still to be seen upon the prairie. Mr. Schwarberg could have purchased five lots for twenty-five dollars where the high school building now stands. He remodeled the Trapp school building, built an addition thereto, and he also built four ward school buildings in Springfield, being then in the employ of John Armstrong. Many of the homes of the county were erected under his supervision, and in many places are seen evidences of his handiwork and skill. In those early days he was employed in the construction of a house for Ben Watson at what is now Riverton, and to that place he had to go by boat, and from the boat landing had to carry the tools a long way. He also assisted in completing the old governor's mansion at a time when the moldings had to be made by hand, as there was no planing mill here. The tools were carried back and forth from the place of work in a wheelbarrow, for in those early pioneer times there were only two drays in the city. The many changes which have been wrought by time and man have brought Springfield to a state of advancement and progress unsurpassed by any city of the state, and Mr. Schwarberg has every reason to be proud of the fact that he has borne his full share in the work of improvement here.