Biography

Schwed

Edward Schwed

Occupation: Baker, Business Owner, Real Estate Investor, Money Broker

Born: August 15, 1836

Birthplace: Germany

Death: August 23, 1916

 

Pauline Schwed

Occupation: Real Estate Investor

Born: 1850?

Birthplace: Germany

Death: ?

 

Charles Schwed

Occupation: Attorney?

Born: 1877

Birthplace: New York

Death: February 7, 1906

Joseph Schwed

Born: 1885?

Birthplace: Leadville?

Death: October 10, 1886

 

Nellie Pauline Schwed Howell

Occupation: ?

Born: January 29, 1887

Birthplace: Leadville?

Death: February 16, 1966

 

Walter Schwed:

Occupation: Lawyer

Born: 1899

Birthplace: Leadville?

Death: ?

Edward Schwed was a baker, business owner, real estate investor, money broker and long-time resident of Leadville.  Schwed in Gemany on August 15, 1836, and he immigrated to the United States in 1854. [1] Pauline, also from Germany, was born around 1850 and immigrated to the United States in 1863.  Prior to making their way to Leadville, the couple had one child, Charles, who was born in 1877 in New York state. [2]

 

Schwed’s initial appearance in Leadville occurred during 1879.  In that year he established his business on West Chestnut Street, near Leiter Avenue. [3] Throughout their early years the family relocated around the city.  It also appears that it was during this time that the family began investing in real estate as evidenced by newspaper ads. [4] In 1881, Schwed’s residence was listed at 204 East Third Street. [5] By 1884, Schwed was living at 208 South Maple Street. [6] During 1885, the family was listed at 317 West Third Street and Schwed ran his bakery out of the residence. [7]

Names associated with this surname:

  • Edward Schwed
  • Pauline Schwed
  • Charles Schwed
  • Joseph Schwed
  • Nellie Pauline (Schwed) Howell
  • Walter Schwed

In 1885, Pauline gave birth to Joseph.  During the same year, Schwed was caught up in legal troubles. After passing away in New York state, Schwed’s brother purportedly left $10,000 worth of life insurance.  He subsequently became involved with his brother’s widow, Elaine DuShane. [8] Ostensibly, as evidenced by Figure 1, Schwed married DuShane and deserted her shortly thereafter in New York. [9] Over the years, the situation appears to have escalated and DuShane threatened to kill Schwed provided he did not give her a cut of the inheritance.  After a neighbor overheard DuShane threaten to kill Schwed, the case was taken to Leadville courts. The outcome of this convoluted affair is not known.

 

On October 10, 1886, Joseph passed away at the age of 1.  He was buried in Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery. [10] In 1887, the family had a daughter, Nellie. [11] In 1899, Pauline gave birth to another son, Walter. [12] In the same year Schwed became interested in local politics and ran for a city council seat in the 2nd Ward on the Republican ticket (Figure 2). [13] Schwed later transitioned away from baking and focused on real estate and money brokering.

In 1900, Schwed was listed as a money broker at the family’s address at West Third Street. [14] Additionally, the family rented rooms and maintained their real estate investments in the city.  Schwed and Pauline appear often because of local disputes regarding tenants.  For instance, in April of that year, a boarder attempted to charge Pauline for theft.  The occupant testified that she paid the Schweds, but a rent receipt had been stolen from her. [15] Pauline upheld that she had never given a receipt and that the tenant did not pay her rent.

 

In early February, 1906, Charles was charged with insanity.  A local newspaper reported that Charles was taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital after he “lost his mind while on the streets and was raving mad when officers arrested him.” [16] It is not known what caused this behavior. On February 7, 1906, Charles Schwed passed away at 29 years of age. [17] He was buried in Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery.

Meanwhile, Nellie and Walter were attracting attention for their academic and extracurricular success.  Both children were listed many times as honor roll students and active members of Lake County High School’s Debate Club.  Walter participated in many sports, including the track team. [18] Nellie was an officer of the Cloud City Rebekah Lodge in 1908. [19]

 

After graduating from Lake County High School, Walter relocated to study law at the University of Denver in 1911.  Nellie married William Howell and later moved to Los Angeles.  Nellie was afterwards reported to have had one child.

Edward Schwed passed away on August 23, 1916, at 80 years of age.  His funeral service was held at the family home in Leadville. [20] The service was attended by Walter, Nellie, Pauline, and many friends from Schwed’s early days in the city.  An obituary refers to Schwed as a “pioneer” of Leadville. [21] He was buried in Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery next to Charles Schwed. [22]

 

It appears that Pauline continued to keep up on the family’s real estate in Leadville.  The last known traces of Pauline appear in a 1923 tax notice in Leadville. [23] Nellie Schwed passed away on February 16, 1966.  She was laid to rest at Grand View Memorial Park and Crematory in Los Angeles, California.  Details concerning the life of Walter Schwed following these events are not available.

 

 

"Mr. Schwed's Troubles"

Carbonate Chronicle, August 1, 1885

Campaign ad for mayor of the Republican ticket.

The Herald Democrat, 1885

1 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK4H-2TL : accessed 9

January 2018), Pauline Schwed in household of Edward Schwed, Leadville Ward 2, Lake, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration

district (ED) ED 69, sheet 4B, family 102, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records

Administration, 1982), roll 121; FHL microfilm 1,374,134.

2 Ibid.

3 Clark, WM, Root WA and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory Of Leadville And Business Directory

Of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. Daily Times Steam Printing House And Book Manufactory; Denver, CO: USA.

1879.

4 “Store Room for Sale or for Rent.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. June 19, 1898.

5 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Second Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The

Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of

Leadville For 1881”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1881.

6 Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The

Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of

Leadville For 1884”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884.

7 Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, and Ballenger’s Sixth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The

Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of

Leadville For 1885”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885.

8 “Mr. Schwed’s Troubles.” Carbonate Chronicle. Leadville, CO; USA. August 1, 1885.

9 “Schwed’s Troubles.” Carbonate Chronicle. Leadville, CO; USA. August 1, 1885.

10 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVVJ-2NSY : 13 December 2015), Joseph

Schwed, 1886; Burial, Leadville, Lake, Colorado, United States of America, Hebrew Cemetery of Leadville; citing record ID

18473052, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

11 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK4H-2TL :

accessed 9 January 2018), Pauline Schwed in household of Edward Schwed, Leadville Ward 2, Lake, Colorado, United States; citing

enumeration district (ED) ED 69, sheet 4B, family 102, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and

Records Administration, 1982), roll 121; FHL microfilm 1,374,134.

12 Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. October 22, 1899. P4.

13 Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. March 31, 1899. P7.

14 Ballenger, JH and Richards. “Ballenger & Richard’s Nineteenth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The

Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of

Leadville For 1900”. Corbet and Ballenger and Richards Publishers. 1900.

15 “Search for a Receipt.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. April 21, 1900.

16 “Charged with Insanity.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. February 3, 1906.

17 “Who’s Where In Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery”. Historical Research Co-operative. Leadville, CO; USA. 1981

18 “High School Athletes Broke No Records at Annual Field Meet Yesterday Afternoon.” Leadville, CO; USA. May 10, 1908.

19 “Rebekah Installation.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. January 3, 1908.

20 “Edward Schwed.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. August 26, 1916.

21 Ibid.

22 “Who’s Where In Leadville’s Evergreen Cemetery”. Historical Research Co-operative. Leadville, CO; USA. 1981

23 “Treasurer’s Notice on the Request for a Tax Deed.” Herald Democrat. Leadville, CO; USA. January 19, 1923.

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