Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 76.
 
FRED SCHWAB
 
     The interests and activities of Fred Schwab have touched life at many
points and Mount Angel counts him as one of the greatest individual forces in
its development. He was born November 1, 1862, in Iowa, and his parents were
Louis and Josephine (Winter) Schwab. When his father settled in western Iowa
there were only five white families in that section of the state and through
arduous effort he hewed a farm out of the wilderness. He raised the crops best
adapted to that region and was also a breeder of sheep. His family numbered
seven children: Mary, who became the wife of Joseph Meyer and has passed away;
John, whose widow resides in Mount Angel; Adolph B., who lives in Portland,
Oregon; Caroline, who is Sister Gaudentia in a convent at Spokane and holds the
title of Mother Provincial, in which connection she has charge of religious work
in the states of Montana, Idaho and Washington; Fred; Dorothy, who is identified
with a nunnery at Colfax, Washington, and is known as Sister Rosula; and
Pauline, who is the wife of Edward Gooley and lives at Big Bend in eastern
Washington.
 
     Fred Schwab was educated in Iowa and his schoolmates were Indian boys. He
aided in the management of the homestead and in 1881 came with the family to the
Pacific coast. His father died in the following year and the mother passed away
in 1894. Fred Schwab engaged in ranching and for about three years was connected
with the logging industry. In 1893 he founded the business which is now
conducted under the style of the Fred Schwab Commission Company and which has
been in continuous operation at Mount Angel for thirty-four years. All of the
stock in the corporation is owned by the family and Joseph B. Schwab has charge
of the branch at Stockton, California. The firm deals in potatoes, grain, hops,
feed and building material on a commission basis and sends its buyers from
Eugene, Oregon, to Yakima, Washington. The company ships about five hundred
carloads of potatoes yearly and also sells feed and building material to the
retail trade. Fred Schwab directs the activities of the firm and under his wise
guidance the business has constantly expanded. He is equally well known as a
financier and since its organization in 1905 has been a dominant force in the
management of the Bank of Mount Angel, of which he was the first president,
while he now acts as vice president of the institution, which owes much of its
prestige to his constructive efforts. He owns stock in the Mount Angel Cannery
and is also financially interested in the local creamery. His plans are well
formulated and have their basis in broad vision and keen sagacity.
 
     In 1893 Mr. Schwab married Miss Anne Mary Mayer, who was born in
Wurtemberg, Germany, and came to the Pacific northwest about the year 1890. Her
parents were Joseph and Gertrude Mayer, both of whom passed away in their native
land. To Mr. and Mrs. Schwab were born eleven children: Mary, who is Mrs. Louis
Le Doux, of Mount Angel, and has seven children; Gertrude, who is the wife of
Harry Craig, of Mount Angel, and the mother of one child; Joseph B., who makes
his home in Stockton, California, and has a wife and two sons; Bertha, who lives
with her brother in Stockton; Agnes, who is Mrs. Clyde Lindsey, and has two
daughters and resides in Ukiah, California; Paul, who is foreman of the Schwab
establishment in Mount Angel; Fred, who died March 27, 1926; Leo, who is also
active in the management of the business; Rose, who is bookkeeper for the
company; Louis, who is likewise connected with the firm; and Amanda, a student.
 
     Mr. Schwab is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order
of Foresters and St. Joseph's Society. He enjoys good music and about 1885 was
one of the organizers of Mount Angel's first brass band, of which he has been
president for many years. He belongs to the Community Club and aided in forming
the Marion County Federation of Community Clubs, which is largely responsible
for the fine highways in this section of the state. For eighteen years Mr.
Schwab figured prominently in public affairs, filling the offices of school
director and recorder, and also served as president of the council, and was the
first mayor of Mount Angel. His public spirit has been manifest in tangible
efforts for the general good and the record of his life presents a forceful
illustration of what constitutes good citizenship.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.