My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM MARTIN SCHUWERK, attorney-at-law at Evansville, is one of the ablest and most popular men in his profession. He was born near Cleveland, Ohio, April 12, 1856, and is a son of Peter Paul and Elizabeth (Mosser) Schuwerk. The father of our subject was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, where his birth occurred in 1814. In 1852, when a young man, prior to his marriage, he emigrated to the United States, and two years later was married in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

In the fall of 1859, the parents of our subject made their advent into Randolph County and located on a farm near Evansville, where the father was living at the time of his decease ten years later. After his death, the mother of our subject removed to the city, where her decease occurred in 1888. She reared a family of six children, of whom Rosa, Fred and Paul are deceased. Those living besides our subject are Mary and Anna.

William Schuwerk, of this sketch, accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois in 1859, and received his primary education in the schools of Randolph County. Later he entered McKendree College, and was graduated from that institution and its law department in 1882. The following year he began to practice his profession, and today has a large clientage and is one of the leading lawyers in the county.

June 7, 1883, our subject and Miss Mary M. Hoffman were united in marriage. Mrs. Schuwerk was born in Macon County, Ill., in 1862, and was the daughter of Michael and Josephine Hoffman, who at present make their home near this city. To our subject and his wife have been born two children, Myrtle M. and William H. The popularity of Mr. Schuwerk is indicated by the fact that he was elected a member of the Thirty-sixth General Assembly of the Illinois Legislature in 1888, serving a term of two years. His record is that of a man interested in public improvement, liberal in his views regarding appropriation, but averse to extravagance or fraud. In his political views he always affiliates with the Democratic party, and cast his first vote for Samuel J. Tilden.

Socially Mr. Schuwerk is a Mason, and joined Kaskaskia Lodge No. 86 in 1885. He is also an Odd Fellow, being a member of Egypt Star Lodge No. 285, of Red Bud, Ill. He is a charter member of Hercules Lodge No. 228, K. of P., at Chester, Ill., and is connected with Lodge No. 2658, K. of H. at Red Bud, and the Odd Fellows’ encampment at Chester. He has been very influential in these different orders and represented the Masons in the Grand Lodge at Chicago during 1887-88-90-92.

The Hon. Mr. Schuwerk was admitted to practice in the United States Courts in June, 1890. He sees at a glance the difficult point in question and readily sees the means to be adopted to carry it. Stanch in principles, clear in perception and decided in character, he deserves the good things which have come to him and the high character for probity which he has gained through his business and social acquaintance.