THE SCHWERTFEGER / SCHWERT FAMILY:

Family and Descendants of
Joseph Schwertfeger
= Joseph Schwert
(1869 - 1895)

Spouse: Anna Sarach
(1870 - 1941)


Joseph Schwert was born on September 20, 1869 in Lagschau, about 40 km south of Danzig, West Prussia. The village is now Łaguszewo, located about 40 km south of Gdańsk, Poland. The baptismal ledgers of the Catholic church at nearby Kladau indicate that Joseph was baptized on September 22, 1869, with Thomas Kokake and Marianna Truchlinska being witnesses.

On March 30, 1887, Joseph departed the port of Hamburg, Germany, on the passenger ship Polynesia for New York City. The passenger list (obtained from LDS Microfilm #473087) shows that Joseph was accompanied by his parents, Carl (Karl) and Veronica Schwertfeger. Also on board were three of Joseph's siblings: Friedrich Schwertfeger, Rosalia Schwertfeger, and Maria Schwertfeger. This record is also affirmed in "Germans in America," although Joseph's gender is transcribed in error as being female and the surname as being "Schwerdfeger." The six joined the rest of Rosalia's siblings already residing in Buffalo, New York. There, Joseph anglicized his surname to "Schwert."

The 1890 City Directory for Buffalo, New York, lists Joseph as residing at 229 Mulberry Street, and it lists Joseph's profession as being a "mason." Records of Saint Boniface Church, 124 Locust Street, show that on September 9, 1890, Joseph married Anna Sarach, daughter of Johann and Rosalia (née Wishnefska) (= Wishnaefska = Wischnesky) Sarach. They had at least four children, two of whom survived to adulthood.

Records obtained by Geri Ellerbrock present the naturalization record for a "Joseph Schwert." The date of arrival does not match, but this could simply be a notation error. Geri's data are as follows:

  • Joseph Schwert
  • Country: Germany
  • Naturalization: 19 Jan 1895
  • Date of arrival 1870 ( poss. 25 Aug)
  • Cert. or Vol. # 49 page 326, Superior Court # 2291
  • Witnesses: Albert Mossbrso (?) and John Patz
    It is probable that the John Patz who was witness was the spouse of Mary (née Schwertfeger/Schwert) Patzke/Patz. Mary was Joseph's sister -- and thus John Patz was Joseph's brother-in-law.

    Death records at Saint Boniface record Joseph's death on November 17, 1895. Cemetery records indicate that he was "26 years, 1 month, 28 days old," that he resided at 31 Kingsley, and that he died of "typhoid." Despite these cemetery records stating that Joseph was interred in "Section YY," he was actually interred at the south end of Lot 1, Section TT, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

    On October 20, 1897, at Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Anna married Joseph Ohl, who was born in Schönwarling, West Prussia on September 6, 1869. Joseph was a son of Anton and Julianna (née Kopitzka) Ohl, and he was baptized at Langenau as "Anton Joseph Ohl." Anna's two surviving daughters, Gertrude and Rose, were given the Ohl surname, perhaps under formal adoption. Following the marriage of Anna and Joseph Ohl, the 1900 Census indicates that the couple then had at least two additional children of their own.

    Joseph Ohl died of a heart condition on January 11, 1929. According to this certificate, at the time of his death, Joseph Ohl resided at 9 Wood Street; his interment record, however, lists the address as "753 Elk Street." Joseph is interred in Lot 600, Section B, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. Joseph's birth information on both documents is in error. His grave appears to be unmarked.

    Anna died on May 17, 1941. At the time of her death, she resided at 241 May Street. Anna is interred in the southwest corner, Section A, Lot 822, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. The grave appears to be unmarked.

    • General location of the grave of Joseph Schwertfeger/Schwert. South end, Lot 1, Section TT, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, New York, USA

    (Photo by Donald P. Schwert, 2014. Click on photo for enlargement)

    (Photo by Donald P. Schwert, 2014. Click on photo for enlargement)

    Grave of Joseph Schwertfeger/Schwert. South end, Lot 1, Section TT, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, New York, USA. Despite the gravestone indicating that Joseph was born in "1870," he was actually born in 1869.

    (Photo by Donald P. Schwert, 2014. Click on photo for enlargement)

    General location of the gravesite of Joseph Ohl, Lot 600, Section B, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. Grave appears to be unmarked. A map to the gravesite is available here.

    (Photo by Bernard William Patz, 2004. Click on photo for enlargement, 85K)

    General location of the gravesite of Joseph Ohl, Lot 600, Section B, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. The grave appears to be unmarked.

    (Photo by Bernard William Patz, 2004. Click on photo for enlargement, 136K)

    Gravesite of Joseph Ohl, Lot 600, Section B, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. The grave appears to be unmarked. A piece of paper has been placed onto the ground to mark the gravesite for this photo.

    (Photo by Bernard William Patz, 2004. Click on photo for enlargement, 112K)

    General location of the gravesite of Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, southwest corner, Section A, Lot 822, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. The grave appears to be unmarked. A map to the gravesite is available here.

    (Photo by Bernard William Patz, 2004. Click on photo for enlargement, 129K)

    Grave of Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, southwest corner, Section A, Lot 822, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. The grave appears to be unmarked. A piece of paper has been placed onto the ground to mark the gravesite for this photo.

    (Photo by Bernard William Patz, 2004. Click on photo for enlargement, 116K)

    Parents of Joseph Schwertfeger / Schwert:
    Descendants of Joseph and Anna (née Sarach) Schwertfeger / Schwert:
    Documents and Other Artifacts:

    • Ship Passenger List: Passenger ship Polynesia, departed Hamburg, Germany, for New York City on March 30, 1887. Passenger list ("218") includes: Carl and Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger, Maria Schwertfeger, Joseph Schwertfeger, and Rosalia Schwertfeger. A larger, denser version of this passenger list is available here. Document is from from LDS Microfilm #473087.

    • Marriage Record: August Sarach and Rosalia Lorenz, July 23, 1889, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY. August Sarach was evidently a brother of Anna Sarach.

    • Marriage Record: John Sarach and Juliana Riegel, November 5, 1889, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY. John Sarach was a brother of Anna Sarach, who is listed as a witness.

    • Marriage Record: Joseph Schwert and Anna Sarach, daughter of Johann and Rosalia Sarach, September 9, 1890, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY.

    • Baptismal Record: Aurelia Rosa Schwert, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, December 13, 1891.

    • Baptismal Record: Gertrude Veduga Schwert, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, January 22, 1893.

    • Baptismal Record: Rosa Schwert, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY. Born April 23, 1895; baptized May 2, 1895.

    • Death Record: Death record from Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, for Joseph Schwert, November 17, 1895.

    • Interment Record: Joseph Schwert, United German & French Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. Despite this record stating that Joseph was interred in "Section YY," he was actually interred at the south end of Lot 1, Section TT.

    • Marriage Record: Anna (née Sarach) Schwert and Joseph Ohl, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, October 20, 1897.

    • Birth Certificate: Aloysius Ohl, born July 9, 1898, natural born son of Joseph and Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, Buffalo, NY.

    • Baptismal Record: Aloysius Ohl, born July 9, 1898, natural born son of Joseph and Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, Buffalo, NY. Baptised at Saint Boniface R.C. Church on July 17, 1898.

    • Birth Certificate: Joseph Ohl, born November 19, 1899, natural born son of Joseph and Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, Buffalo, NY.

    • 1900 Census: Joseph and Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl. Census lists Gertrude and Rose, plus two additional siblings. Family resided at 53 Kingsley Street, Buffalo, NY.

    • 1900 Census: John and Julia Sarach. John was the brother of Anna.

    • Marriage Record: Gertrude Veduga Schwert to Alfred Saunders, Saint Boniface R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, June 16, 1915.

    • Marriage Record: Rose Schwert to Henry Kreutzer, Saint Gerards R.C. Church, Buffalo, NY, November 29, 1917.

    • Death Certificate: Joseph Ohl, died January 11, 1929.

    • Interment Record: Joseph Ohl, died January 11, 1929, interred January 14, 1929, Lot 600, Section B, Line 2, Grave 8, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY. Per his death certificate, the age record of "54" on his interment record is apparently an error, plus the couple resided at 9 Wood Street.

    • 1930 City Directory: Buffalo, NY, city directory listing, showing Anna Ohl (widow of Joseph) and some of her offspring residing at 9 Wood Street.

    • Obituary: Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, died May 17, 1941.

    • Interment Record: Anna (née Sarach) (Schwert) Ohl, interred May 20, 1941, South West corner, Lot 822, Section A, Mount Calvary Cemetery (Pine Hill), Cheektowaga, NY.

    Schwertfamily.net is maintained by Donald P. Schwert, great great grandson of Carl and Veronica (née Modrzejewska) Schwertfeger (Schwert). We seek your assistance in helping us to develop this family history. Correspondence can be mailed to: Donald P. Schwert, 300 Broadway N #204, Fargo, ND, 58102-4720 U.S.A.


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