Christian C. Schwaner

SCHOWALTER, SCHWANER, SHOWALTER

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/13/2004 at 11:04:46

"The History of Madison County, Iowa"
Union Historical Comapny, Des Moines, Iowa, 1879
page 550

Ch. C. Schwaner, Winterset, harness-maker; was born in Prussia, September 24, 1848; he came to America in 1853, and settled in Keokuk in 1856; he afterward went to St. Louis and learned his trade, and came to this county in 1869; he married Miss Kate Schowalter in 1871; she was born in Franklin Centre, Lee county, Iowa; has three children, John E., William and Rolla.
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A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

Transcribed and edited by Kent G. Transier, 07 Jan 2010

Christian C. Schwaner, of Winterset, Iowa, was born in Prussia, Germany, September 24, 1848, the only son of John C. and Amelia Schwaner. In 1853 John C. Schwaner and his family left their native land and came to America. After their arrival in the United States they passed a few months in each of the cities of Baltimore, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and finally settled permanently in Keokuk, Iowa.

John C. Schwaner was a tanner by trade and was a skilled workman in the manufacture of some special lines of leather. He soon established himself in the tanning business, which he conducted successfully until about 1875, when he practically retired, content with the comfortable competence which he had acquired through his earnest and well directed efforts. Ha and his good wife were the parents of one son and four daughters who grew to maturity, and all of the number are still living, having families of their own. The mother died at Keokuk, January 8, 1892, but the venerable father is still living and resides with his daughter in Keokuk.

Christian C. Schwaner, the immediate subject of this review, remained with his parents until he had attained the age of fifteen years, spending a portion of the time in attendance at the public schools and at a private German school, but his educational advantages were limited. The fact that he is now a well-informed man is largely due to his having been endowed with a keen power of observation and a retentive memory, and incidentally to the valuable lessons he has learned in the school of experience. At the age of fifteen he left home and went to St. Louis, Missouri, to learn the harness and saddle makers’ trades with the firm of Sanford, Orendorf & Company, and on the completion of his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman at St. Louis, Keokuk and other points.

The year 1870 stands as the date of Mr. Schwaner’s advent in Winterset, where he forthwith began business upon his own responsibility as a manufacturer of and retail dealer in harness and saddlery, and soon a liberal and representative patronage was accorded him. To meet the demands of his large and constantly increasing trade he was obliged to augment the facilities of his establishment, and in 1876 he erected his substantial and commodious brick store-house, 22x70 feet in dimensions, two stories in height with basement, and supplied with every convenience and improvement for the facile and successful manufacturing of his goods.

In 1883 Mr. Schwaner organized the Peerless manufacturing Company, wholesale manufacturers of saddlery, hardware specialties, and of this company he is manager. The specialties consist of many important and valuable improvements, which are the inventions of Mr. Schwaner, patented by him and controlled by the Peerless Manufacturing Company, who make extensive shipments of their products to all parts of the United States and certain portions of Canada. This important and ever advancing industry is the outgrowth of the business established in a small way by Mr. Schwaner, a quarter of a century ago, and it not only reflects lasting credit upon his enterprise, consecutive application and business sagacity, but entitles him to rank among the foremost business men of the State. He has won prosperity through systematic, legitimate business methods, by patiently and persistently following a fixed purpose in the line of his undertakings, never entering the alluring field of speculation. Conservative in his ideas to the degree of safeness, he has yet kept pace with the progress of events, and wherever known ha been recognized as a man of unusual energy, clear foresight and unvarying business fidelity and honor.

In 1871 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Schwaner to Miss Catherine Showlater, Keokuk, Iowa and they are the parents of three children: John, who is engaged in business with his father; William, a practicing dentist at Winterset; and Roll, who is at present a student in the Missouri Dental College, at St. Louis. The parents and sons are all members of the First Presbyterian Church. The family is one of prominence, holding a high position ins social circles.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Schwaner is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., and Lebanon Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., of Winterset; and of Temple Commandery, No.4, K. T., of Des Moines; he also holds membership with Madison Lodge, No. 136, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of Rock City Encampment, No. 65 of Winterset.

Mr. Schwaner is president of the Building Savings and Loan Association of Winterset, and has a number of times been elected to this office. This is one of the prosperous institutions of the town and is spoken of with pride by its citizens. He supports the Democratic party, but is in no sense a politician and has no desire for political honors, preferring to devote his energies to his various business enterprises, in which he has won a deserved success.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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