Salomon Yehuda Schwager

Family of Solomon and Ludmilla Schwager.

The origins of the Schwager family can, from the current state of research, not be conclusively determined. The place of origin of Benedikt Schwager’s ancestors is with certainty Kassejowitz/ Kasjovice (Bohemia). Benedikt Schwager’s grandparents cannot be easily identified. Benedikt Schwager’s father, Salomon Schwager, was born in 1928, according to the information on his gravestone. In the birth registers of Kassejowitz, a Salomon Schwager can be found, born in 1830 and whose ancestors can be traced back far. The very same is, however, registered as deceased at age 2 in the records.

Contrastingy, the parents of the real Salomon Schwager stay in the dark. He [Salomon] got married in 1859 in Kassejowitz according to the local marriage index. His wife was Ludmilla Weißkopf from Doschnitz/ Dožice, born in 1832 and daughter of Josef and Veronika, née Kirschner. At the time when the two older sons of Salomon Schwager were born in Kassejowitz, his profession is stated as soap boiler/ soap maker. With his two [1212] sons Isidor (1860) and Benedikt (1863), Salomon is listed as son of Theresia Schwager, information about his father is missing. In Linz, the couple had further children: 1865 Ferdinand, 1866 Alexander, 1868 Johanna, 1871 Heinrich, and 1873 Carl, whose name is, contrary to that of his siblings, followed by a conclusive note: “Salomon Schwager, son of Bernard Bleyer from Kasowitz [sic], Prachin district, Bohemia.” Rabbi Frank was godfather to this youngest child, which died at the age of four months.

In a genealogical tree, researched by descendants of the Schwager family, it appears that Salomon Schwager served in the imperial-royal army for 12 years. In late autumn 1864 the family probably moved to Linz and took up residence in their house in Hafnerstraße 21. Salomon Schwager now pursued the profession of a peddler (Hausierer). He is mentioned in the first list of Jews resident in Linz and Urfahr. Eventually, he opened a grocery store in Urfahr. In other documents and sources, Schwager is listed as a tradesman of brandy in barrels and sealed bottles or as a merchant for dry goods. The eldest son, Isidor, attended middle school in Linz for one year. Furthermore, several of his sons were trained in artisan professions, as shopkeepers, confectioner, as apprentice in dealing with leather and as shoemaker. [1213] In 1908, Salomon Schwager died in Kleinmünchen. He had, at this point, been widowed for two years, his children were married and widely scattered: Isidor Schwager with Karoline in Munich, Ferdinand and Ernestine in Vienna, Alexander with Regina in New York. Still in Linz was Benedikt with Albine. Heinrich and Julie lived in Kleinmünchen, as well as daughter Johanna, now married to Adolf Rabl.

Solomon Yehuda Schwager was born March 12, 1830. He was the second-born son of Eva Schwager of House 5. His birth was considered illegitimate, but his father Joseph Schwager is mentioned in a note in the record at HBMa 773 Folio 46, Line 270.

The birth is also recorded at HBMa 778 Folio 7, Line 77.