Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Ferdinand Schwab
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
FERDINAND SCHWAB is one of the successful
farmers of Clay County. He resides
on section 36, Mulberry Township, where
he owns 160 acres of land, the estate being well
improved and adequately furnished with good farm
buildings. This county and township have been his
home since May 1880, at which time his now
thoroughly cultivated farm was a tract of raw
prairie.
Mr. Schwab is a native of world-renowned and
romantic Switzerland. His birth took place in the
Canton of Bern, Feb. 2, 1851, he being a son of
Jacob and Elizabeth Schwab. In that country the
mother died when in middle life. The father came
to the United States in company with three of his
sons in 1878, and has since lived with a son, Frank
Schwab, Jr., in Bloom Township. He has now attained
to the age of seventy-five years, and is still
quite active. In his native country he had been
engaged in farming and also two flouring-mills.
The paternal family comprised four sons and three
daughters, all now surviving except a son, who died
in Switzerland.
Our subject is the youngest son, and youngest
child but one in his parents' family. The loss of
his mother occurred when he was but ten years
old. Mr. Schwab was reared and educated amid
the beautiful scenery of his native clime and after
reaching man's estate came to America. He made
his home in Henry County, Ill., for five years, and
then went back to his native land for his father and
two of his nephews. Accompanied by them he
made his second departure from Switzerland in
August, 1878. Taking passage at Havre, France,
they landed in New York City after a voyage of
less than two weeks, and came at once to this State.
At the home of the bride in this county, Mr.
Schwab was united in marriage with Miss Emma
Ruegg. She is, like her husband, a native Swiss,
and when young, came to this country with her
parents. Mr. Ruegg settled in Illinois, and some
years later removed to this State, where he and
Ills wife are yet living. The union of Mr. and
Mrs. Schwab has been blessed by the birth of two
bright children, Samuel and Bertha.
Mr. Schwab is a Democrat in politics, and as
stanch in the support of the party as in the maintenance
of his moral principles. He is enterprising
in the occupation which he has chosen in life,
kindly in his domestic relations, and favorably regarded
in the community.
A handsome lithographic view of Mr. Schwab's
residence is shown on another page.