My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE MICHAEL SCHWAB, deceased, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Oberamt-Kintzelsau, town of Hollenbach, January 16, 1834. He was the son of Tobias and Barbara (Steichauf) Schwab. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, three of whom are now living as follows: Frederick, of Charlotte street, Pottstown; Charles Tobias, of Stowe, Pennsylvania; and John, of Shelby, Ohio. Barbara is the deceased wife of Leonard Rahn, of Hollenbach, Germany.

The father of Mr. Schwab was a baker, land-owner and farmer. He died in Germany at the age of more than fifty years. His widow lived to seventy years or more.

Mr. Schwab’s grandfather, Steichauf, was a farmer in Germany and died there at an advanced age.

George M. Schwab, now deceased, was about nineteen years of age when he came to America. He worked in a bakery in Philadelphia for several years. He then went to Pottstown and was employed with Michael Spindler in his bakery for four years. He then opened a bakery on his own account on High street and succeeded in establishing a large business which he continued until his death. He also was a director in the Citizens National Bank of Pottstown.

On April 9, 1859, George M. Schwab married Catharine Schurg, daughter of Johann Michael and Clara (Honung) Schurg. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. George F. Miller. The couple had seven children, three sons and four daughters: Clara Barbara, unmarried; Anna Margaret, who became the wife of T. Walter Baer, and they are the parents of three daughters: Ethel G., Mabel F., and Florence E. Baer; they reside in Philadelphia; Marie T., who became the wife of Allen A. Trout, of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and died two years later at the age of twenty-two years, leaving a daughter, Flora M., now also deceased; Katharin Elizabeth, unmarried; George William, unmarried; Charles Frederick, unmarried; and Martin Luther, unmarried.

George M. Schwab died March 7, 1896, in his sixty-third year. His widow, who survives, was born in Bartenstein, Germany Oberampt-Gerebrunn, May 5, 1836. She is an active member of Emmanuel Lutheran church, as was her husband. He served on the church council for some years.

Mrs. Schwab’s mother died when her daughter was a mere child. Her father died in 1876, at the age of seventy-six years. They had ten children, six sons and four daughters, seven of whom are now living, as follows: York, Lewis, John, Andreas, Leonard, Catharine (Mrs. Schwab), and Mary, wife of Frederick Schwab.

Mrs. Schwab’s paternal grandfather was John Schurg. He was a farmer in Germany. His wife’s name was Clara. They had a small family.

Mrs. Schwab’s maternal grandfather was Michael Honung. He was a farmer and died in Germany, at the age of eighty-two years. He had three children, one son and two daughters.

Mr. Schwab was an Odd Fellow. In politics he was a Democrat. He was one of Pottstown’s prominent and highly respected citizens. He accumulated money and property by his industry and, good management. He was a man of the highest integrity and was thoroughly respected by the community in which he lived. He died, leaving behind him a good name,-the most precious of legacies-to his children. In 1884 he took a trip to his fatherland and also visited Belgium, France and Switzerland, and in 1888 his eldest daughter made a trip to the same country.