Tag Archives: William B. Schwartz

William B. Schwartz flashback

[Editor’s note: I am placing this biographical entry here for two reasons: I just rediscovered it and I want to remind my dear readers about how fickle history can be. Over the last month, we have read about William’s early career, his marriage and the insanity of his wife. Although I have not found any 1892 newspaper clippings to apprise us of her condition, Mary Victoria continued to struggle with mental health issues. Whether they were real conditions as we know them today or misunderstood ones because of the limitations of late 19th century society on woman’s health, we may never know. Accessing the court records is an adventure for another day. So be mindful that William was under a lot of strain. A once bright future, full of promise, was heading towards disaster.]

WILLIAM B. SCHWARTZ was born in Holmes County, Ohio, July 1, 1858, and is the thirteenth of a family of fourteen children of Nicholas and Barbara (Kuntz) Schwartz, the former a native of Switzerland, the latter of Italy. In 1852, they emigrated to this country, settling in Holmes County, Ohio, on a farm, where they still live. William grew to manhood on a farm, enjoying the advantages of common schools until, at the age of eighteen years, he entered the Normal Department of the Humboldt School at Pittsburgh, Penn., remaining there eight months. He then returned home and assisted his father on the farm until the following winter, during which he taught a term of school in Holmes County. At the close of this term, he entered the Millersburg Normal Academy; remained there two years, graduating from the institution, in the scientific course class, in 1881. He again returned home and taught another term of school in his native county, at the close of which making a tour of pleasure and recreation through Missouri and Kansas. On his return through Missouri, he taught one term on the frontier of that State, returning to Ohio at its close, where he completed his studies in common law. He at the end of this time moved to Brazil, and was admitted to the bar February 2, 1883, since which time he has been in the active practice of his profession. Mr. Schwartz is one of the promising professional young men of Clay County, and is in possession of literary attainments and an energy which bid fair to place him in the front rank of the legal profession.

Charles Blanchard, editor, Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical (Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., 1884), 384.

Reversed by Supreme Court

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The case of Thomas Hyland, Auditor, et al. vs. the Central Iron & Steel company, which was a suit against the Auditor and Treasurer to enjoin them from collecting the taxes on the capital stock, as assessed by the County Board of Equalization, taken up by W. B. Schwartz, then county attorney, has been reversed in the Supreme Court.

“Local News of the Week,” Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 24 September 1891, p. 1, col. 4; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 7 February 2014).

Kentucky Tragedy

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KENTUCKY TRAGEDY
One Man Instantly Killed and Two Others Fatally Injured
LEXINGTON, Aug 28. – One of the bloodiest and most unprovoked murders ever committed in central Kentucky was enacted at Georgetown, Scott county, yesterday, in which one of the most prominent citizens and business men of the city was instantly killed, and two others were fatally wounded.
The difficulty started over a watermelon patch. Near Georgetown reside two families by the name of Kendall and Jarvis. The former has a large watermelon patch, and recently they accused the Jarvis boys of cutting their vines. Smarting under the accusation, the Jarvises went to Georgetown and swore out a peace warrant against the Kendalls.
The trial was set for yesterday morning. When they met in Georgetown the Kendalls opened fire on the Jarvis boys, who were said to be unarmed. In the firing, A. J. Montgomery was instantly killed while standing on the street, and the two Jarvises were each shot near the heart and are fatally hurt. Great excitement prevails, and a mob may be the result. The Kendalls were arrested.
The remains of the late A. J. Montgomery did not reach this city until Saturday morning, the connections at Indianapolis during the night having been…as to prevent the transfer being made from the eastern train to the Vandalia. Upon arrival the body was taken to the residence of Dr. W. J. Wolfe, from whence the funeral took place at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon, the internment being in the Hill cemetery. Services having been conducted, by his pastor at Georgetown, Ky., previous to leaving there, no ceremony beyond a few songs and a prayer were held here, the burial being however conducted by the Masonic fraternity according to their ritual. Besides the family and relatives of the deceased, a large delegation of business men and former acquaintances of Mr. Montgomery attended the funeral. Hiram Teter, F. W. Schromyer, J. D. Sourwine, Peter T. Luther, A. W. Turner, and W. B. Schwartz acted as pall bearers.

“Kentucky Tragedy,” Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 3 September 1891, p. 1, col. 3-4; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : 6 February 2014).

A Law Point

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A LAW POINT

What is Thought of Attorney General Smith’s Opinion by Brazil Attorneys – – Will the Board Employ Griffin

In yesterday’s DEMOCRAT we stated that the City School Board had referred the matter of the propsed employment of Frank Griffin to the Attorney General for his opinion, which we learn from the Superintendent Chillson and the School Board is not the case, but that it was brought to his attention by Griffin himself. The fact that the Attorney General addressed the document to the Board in answer to the question raised led us to say what we did, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary. The opinion of Mr. Smith in the case is wholly gratuitous, no school officer, neither high nor low, having asked him for it.

It is plainly evident that the Attorney General is not familiar with all the facts in the case. He assumes that Griffin has heretofore been employed in our city schools, which is not the case. Then, again, he goes on the presumption that Mr. G. failed to teach the full school tern for the year 1890-91, because the County Superintendent’s revocation of his license, which is declared an illegal procedure, wholly unfounded in law, while, as a matter of fact, Griffin resigned the school voluntarily.

The opinion of the Attorney General in the construction of law is presumed to be good until set aside by decisions of the courts, when asked for by officers as a guide to the discharge of their duties under the Statue. Under his letter of instructions the City School Board may proceed to employ Griffin without any license or recognition on the part of the County Superintendent. In case he is so employed, Superintendent Chillson has given notice that he will test the matter in the courts.

A representative of the DEMOCRAT obtained the following expressions from our city attorneys bearing upon the Attorney-General’s opinion:

George A. Knight – The Attorney-General being the law adviser of State officers, and having elected to give an opinion to the School Board of this city on their right to employ Mr. Griffin, notwithstanding the fact of the County School Superintendent’s attempt to revoke his license, and in the absence of a decision of the courts upon the subject, the School Board is justified in employing Griffin as a teacher in the schools of the city. I examined the law carefully before the Hon. Attorney General published his opinion and reached substantially the same conclusion, and I believe his construction of the law to be correct.

Robert Fisher – If the facts upon which the Attorney General has given his opinion are correctly stated, the Board would be authorized to act in accordance with the opinion and would not be liable upon their bond for any loss accruing to the city from their acts. They are personally responsible for the correctness of the statement of facts. They render themselves responsible for the correctness of the facts by acting upon the opinion.

W. B. Schwartz – If Griffin taught any part of the school year and would have taught the full school year had he not been interfered with by the Superintendent, he has not forfeited his pre-emption license, and the attempted revocation by the County Superintendent is illegal and the City School Board will be authorized to pay him public money.

“A Law Point,” Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 13 August 1891, p. 2, col. 1; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 5 Feburay 2014).

An eventful day

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AN EVENTFUL DAY

W. H. CHILLSON RE-ELECTED COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT

Lewis Miller Chosen County Assessor – – Commissioners and Circuit Court in Session

The most exciting contest for Superintendent of Schools ever known in Clay county terminated Monday morning by the re-election of W. H. Chillson, of Clay City. All the Township Trustees were present, assembling in the basement of the Court house, and after listening to short speeches by Messrs. J. L. Wilson and W. B. Schwartz in opposition to Mr. Chillson and by Mr. Nelson W. Marshlall in reply, a ballot to postpone the election until after dinner was taken, resulting three for to eight against. Candidates were then put in nomination, the first and only ballot resulting, Chillson eight and J. P. Koehler three. Trustees Winn, Schopmeyer and Wilson voted for Koehler, all the other casting their votes for Chillson.

“An Eventful Day,” The Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 4 June 1891, p. 1, col. 5; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 4 February 2014).

Special prosecutor

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In the prosecution brought by the State, on the affidavit of Mark Carpenter, against Dr. Swinehart, some days ago, in Justice Shultz’s court, set for hearing to-day, Swinehart plead guilty to carrying concealed weapons and was fined $1 and costs, amounting to $55. W. B. Schwartz appeared as special prosecutor in the case.

“Local News for the Week,” The Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 28 May 1891, p. 1, col. 3; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 3 February 2014).

Marked change

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Relatives of Mrs. W. B. Schwartz are greatly encouraged over her present condition. There is a marked change for the better.

“Personal Paragraphs,” The Brazil Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), p. 1, col. 4; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 3 February 2014).

Painful news

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The friends of Mrs. W. B. Schwartz will be pained to learn that since her coming home she has suffered a relapse in health to such an extent that her return to Indianapolis is thought advisable. – [Democrat.

“Mrs. W. B. Schwartz,” Clay County Enterprise (Brazil, Indiana), 7 January 1891, p. 1, col. 1; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 2 February 2014).

The same clip was also published the following day in The Democrat:

“Personal Paragraphs,” The Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 8 January 1891, p. 1, col. 6; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 2 February 2014).

The Trouble Begins

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Our readers will be pained to hear of the misfortune which was befallen the family of our fellow-citizen, W. B. Schwartz, the young wife and mother having been adjudged insane, supposed to be the result at least partially of disease and physical weakness.

“City and Vicinity,” The Democrat (Brazil, Indiana), 4 September 1890, p. 1, col. 3; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 1 February 2014).

[Editor’s note: This story was big enough that it was picked up by several papers around the state. The following article also appeared on the same day in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.]

Mrs. W. B. Schwartz, wife of a prominent attorney at Brazil, has been declared insane. She labors under the hallucination that her devoted husband and father, Mr. A. B. Wheeler, a wealthy real estate man, are trying to poison her.

“Local News,” Fort Wayne Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana), 4 September 1890, p. 3, col. 5; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 1 February 2014).

Relocating

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Dr. H. A. Schwartz, of Somerdale, Ohio, brother of W. B. Schwartz, has located in this city for the practice of his profession. See his card in another place.

“Dr. H. A. Schwartz…,” Clay County Enterprise (Brazil, Indiana), 11 June 1890, p. 1, col. 1; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 30 January 2014).

H. A. SCHWARTZ,

PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON,

BRAZIL, IND.

Office in Englehart Bros’. Drug Store, East Main At. Can be consulted in English or German at all hours.

“Advertisement”, Clay County Enterprise (Brazil, Indiana), 27 August 1890, p. 5, col. 6; digital image, Newspaper Archive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 30 January 2014).