The Philip C. Schwab Family

Oswald Schwab and wife emigrated from Gevenich, Rhine Province, Germany to the United States in 1846 with their sons Mathias and Philip C. Schwab. Their first home was in Tiffin, Ohio. After Mrs. Schwab died, Oswald remarried and had two more sons, Charles M. and Peter.

Charles M. Schwab was Henry County Enginee during the 1890 era, also he was city engineer of Napoleon in 1898. In early 1900 he moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Peter Schwab was a farmer and lived in Pleasant Township, Henry County.

House-office of Philip C. Schwab

Philip C. Schwab, 1889

When the Civil War began in 1861, Mathias was drafted. Shortly after entering service he was injured and discharged.

Then his brother, Philip C., volunteered to replace Mathias for army duty. Philip C. was wounded in the battle of Lookout Mountain. He was found on the battlefield by another soldier, John Hess of Defiance, Ohio. Mr. Hess used his red handkerchief to make a tourniquet to check the flow of blood before medical help was reached. In after years Mr. Hess always jokingly said "Philip, you owe me a red handkerchief."

After his return from the army in 1865 he attended Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio. He majored in law and education.

In the early 1870's the Schwabs moved to Pleasant Township, Henry County. Philip C. married Mary Anna Kinstle in 1871. They bought a farm on Henry County Road "B." The children born to this union were Louise, Oswald, Frances, Joseph, Eleanora, Hermina, Zita, Leo, and Margaret. All moved from Henry Co. except Eleanora, who married Mathias J. Thome. Eleanora lived on the Philip C. Schwab homestead her entire life of 60 years.

Philip C. taught school for several years. He devoted the rest of his life to his office of Justice of the Peace and also served as Clerk of Henry County Board of School Examiners. He walked from his home to Napoleon (16 miles) when his service was required. He invariably returned home with a small bag of candy in his pocket.

His Justice of the Peace office was in his home, where he tried minor cases, administered oaths and performed civil marriages. Philip C. Schwab, an honored and esteemed citizen of Henry County, died February 5, 1894, age 49 years.

Submitted by Cecelia Thome