The Fred Schwiebert Family

Front: Fred Schwiebert, Clarence, Louis, Emma; back: Arthur, Amelia, Martha, Christine, 1926

Fred C. Schwiebert, one of 10 children, was the son of Heinrich and Anna (von der Broeling) Schwiebert. He was born near Okolona in Henry County, Ohio, on August 31, 1879. In December, 1880, the family moved to a farm which they had purchased in Marion Township near Hamler, Ohio. On this farm he worked with his father and brother clearing the land and farming.

On April 27, 1904, he married Emma Helberg, born March 14, 1878, daughter of Christian and Anna (Drewes) Helberg of Napoleon Township. They lived on a farm in Marion Township until 1909 when they bought 80 acres in Monroe Township, 1/2 mile west of Hope Lutheran Church of which they were members. To this union were born six children: Christine, born September 17, 1905; Clarence, born May 16, 1907; Martha, June 7, 1909; Amelia, March 28, 1911; Arthur, December 24, 1914; and Louis, November 27, 1919. The children attended Arps One Room Elementary School in Monroe Township, to which they walked 11/2 miles every school day, rain or shine, except on very rare occasions when the snow was very deep and then Dad took us and the neighborhood children in a bobsled.

Dad did general farming raising corn, oats, wheat, hay, and later sugar beets which the children blocked and topped. He also had cows, pigs, and chickens which supplied the meat, butter, milk and eggs. Two trusty horses pulled the farm machinery and wagons. One of Dad's biggest enjoyments was playing cornet in the Hamler Band. It was quite a thrill for the children to see him dressed in his uniform ready to play at some convention. Mother Emma was an accomplished seamstress. She made many wedding and confirmation dresses for the young ladies in the Henry County area. One of these ladies had moved to the state of Kansas and passed away in 1975 at the age of 93 years. One of the relatives told us that she had requested that she be buried in her wedding dress. Her request was granted. It was one that Mom had made.

In 1929, our parents, Fred and Emma, purchased 40 acres just south of Hamler on S.R. 109. In 1935 they built a home on this farm and moved there with the two youngest boys Arthur and Louis. At this time Dad was semi-retired from farming and worked at Campbell's during the tomato harvest. He also liked to build farm trailers.

Uncaptioned Fred Schwiebert photo

He was very active and rarely sick until shortly before he passed away on June 7, 1958, at the age of 78. Mom followed him on September 30, 1961, at 83. One daughter, Amelia (Mrs. Arnold Meyer) had preceded her parents in death on June 23, 1957, at the age of 45.