Schwab Centennial Farm

SCHWAB, STUBBS, SWANGER, HAWORTH, RIVENBURGH, KNAUER, MCFEE, LAMBI, GAROUTTE, CARR, BUCHER, ROHRIG

Posted By: Peggy Elliott Webster (email)
Date: 1/30/2014 at 17:54:48

Alexander Schwab was born in Berne, Switzerland, January 1, 1837. In 1850, he, with his parents and brothers came to America and settled near Findlay, Ohio. Alex left the family home and traveled west to Lee County, Illinois, where he met and married Helen Stubbs March 19, 1859. In 1863, they purchased a parcel of land in Section 18, Richland Township, located on the East Nodaway River. Mr. and Mrs. Schwab with their two small children Frederick and Anna (Swanger), came by covered wagon to make their home on this land in 1864. In 1865 they purchased and in Section 15 of Washington Township, also on the river, where they built a home and resided for four years. Here Alice (Haworth) and George were born. On February 1, 1869, they purchased 160 acres, the SW1/4 of NW1/4 and the NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 2 and the NE1/4 of SE1/4 and SE1/4 of NE1/4 of Section 3 in Richland Township from two claimants in New York state for $259 and $375 plus back taxes. They built a two-room home on this property and, having sold their other farm, moved their growing family to the new home in October, 1869. This new farm was 100% tillable and was located on the "ridge road" to the new town of Greenfield.

Wells were dug, a lean-to kitchen and a two story ell were added to the original house, a grove was planted to the west and north, as was an orchard. Here three of the seven children were born: Oscar, Rosa (Rivenburgh), and Ida (Knauer). Alex and Helen retired to Greenfield in 1895.

On March 20, 1901 Oscar A. Schwab brought his bride, Hanna McFee, to this home and here their family, Warren and Lois (Lambi), were born. In 1914 a large barn was erected and in 1927, the old home was replaced by a 2-story square house with modern conveniences. To this home Warren brought his bride, Clara Garoutte, on June 7 1933. Oscar and Hannah retired to Greenfield.

Four children were born to Warren and Clara: Sylvia (Carr); Carol (Buchar); and Cathy (Rohrig)and Gerald. Mr. and Mrs. Schwab have retired on the farm. Sylvia's husband does the farming. Three of these children are still actively engaged in farm or farm related work. Sylvia, with her family, lives 1/2 mile of her birthplace on a farm once owned by her great-grandfather; Carol lives on a farm in southeast Nebraska; and Gerald, with a Ph.D. degree in Farm Management from Purdue is professor at Michigan State University at Lansing.

When the original two-room home was torn down in 1943, the sills, 12 x 12 hand-hewn timbers 20 feet long, were found to be in perfect condition.

The Schwabs are actively interested in the United Methodist Church, as well as the Historical Society, the Cancer Society, and Anquestors, the Genealogical Society of Adair County.

Source: Adair County History 1976, page 567-568