Obituary printed in Dec. 16, 1914 Tribune, Blair, NE

Hans D. Schwager

One of the best known and highly respected Germans in this community died of paralysis at the age of 72 years, 1 month and 7 days, December 7, 1914.

Hans D. Schwager was born in Holstein, Germany, and when a boy he learned the trade of a blacksmith and, after his two years as a journeyman from place to place as the custom was then, he came to New York, almost penniless. A friend lent him money to get to Davenport, Iowa, then a Mecca for aspiring, young Germans that were seeking employment and, as work was slack and he heard of the land beyond the Missouri, he pushed on to Omaha. Here he failed to get work at his trade so he drove a team and worked in a brickyard for a few months and finally got work with the late Thomas Bailey in Ft. Calhoun in 1869 and succeeded in buying the half block including blacksmith and wagon shop and also the residence where he was married to Miss Margaret Moller by this writer, at the same time with Hans Stoltenburg now of Douglas county, with the late John Seirk and his wife as witnesses, June 1871.

Those were stirring times, thousands of cords of wood were cut here every winter and the shop ran sixteen and eighteen hours a day, week after week. After a few years his health failed; he bought the P.N. Stiltz farm on the edge of town where he, by hard labor and care, made a complete success and finally sold all but three acres and the big residence and retired from active labor.

Ever since we came here 43 years ago, he has been our warmest friend and his house was always opened to us, till he was more of a brother to us than a friend. He was not a member of the church here but one of the trustees and faithful contributors to its treasury. He meddled but little with politics, was elected justice of peace one year and never could be induced to run again although he was voted for four years by his friends. He was school director several terms.

He leaves besides his wife, six children. Charles, the head of the Omaha Alminto Dairy Co; Henry, also with the company; Mrs. Charles McIllvaine, also of Omaha; August and Lutie, of Sugar, Idaho, who came to the funeral; Miss Magdalena at home and a brother, Claus in Omaha, and a number of grandchildren.

In spite of the snow and cold there was an immense gathering at the funeral from Blair, Ashland, Bennington, Omaha, and surrounding country.

The great banks of flowers showing the esteem in which he was held by his many friends.

He was buried Dec. 11, 1914, in the Ft. Calhoun cemetery near the graves of his father and four young children.

Rev. Schwartz, D.D. of Omaha Presbytery, conducted the services in English and German; the anthems were sung by the Karbach sisters, of Omaha.

Pallbearers were Charles Voss and Ed Stoltenburg, of Bennington, and Guy Slader, George Rohwer, Jacob Seirk, Fred Frahm and Henry Rohwer, of Ft. Calhoun and vicinity. Honorary pall bearers were Charles Rathjen, John Hindricksen, Nicholas Rix, Peter Schmidt, Sr., Peter Klindt, W.H. Woods, Joe Bolln, and also Hans Stoltenburg of Douglas Co.

--W.H. Woods

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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