rschwald@t-online.de <rschwald@t-online.de>

Mrs. Grady Phillips is deceased. Below is her obituary and also some

additional info. that we have on the Schwald/Kronenberg family.

Elizabeth "Elsie" Phillips, 90, formerly of Milton-Freewater, died July 4,1995 at the Park Manor Convalescent Center in Walla Walla. At her request, there will be no funeral services. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army through Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main St., Milton-Freewater, OR 97862.

Mrs. Phillips was born Dec. 28, 1904 on Appleton Rd., near Winesap Rd., near Milton-Freewater to Charles and Margaret Kronenburg Schwald. She attended Ferndale Grade School and high school at St. Vincent's Academy in Walla Walla. She then attended Whitman Conservatory of Music for a year, studying piano and pipe organ.

Mrs. Phillips played organ at the old Strand Theatre, later the Roxy Theatre in Walla Walla for the Sterling Theatres of Seattle, WA. She played piano in a traveling dance band for many years and nighclubs in Kansas City, MO and Wenatchee, WA. In 1935 she played the piano in the dance band for the Walkathon held in the Community Building in Milton-Freewater.

On May 4, 1939 she married Grady A. Phillips in Wenatchee. The couple homesteaded in Anchorage, Alaska in 1940. Mrs. Phillips worked later for General Electric in Richland, WA in 1948 and 1949. The couple returned to the Milton-Freewater area in 1959 and lived on Crockett Rd. for many years where she was noted for her beautiful flowers.

Mrs. Phillips is survived by two nieces, Margaret Duff Thompson of Pendleton and Frances Dill of Walla Walla; and several nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 17, 1983; two sisters Minnie Duff and Annie McAllister; and two brothers, Pat Schwald and Charles Schwald.

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Charles Schwald in the US Social Security Death index as follows:

Born 17 Jul 1896

Died May 1963. SS# was 326-05-7927. It was issued in Illinois. (This could

be the brother mentioned in her obit.)

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The following article appeared in a 1912 edition of 'Who's Who in the Walla

Walla Valley':

CHAS. SCHWALD

No visit to the Valley is complete wtihout having seen "Pleasant View Ranch". Here with his delightful family, resides Charles Schwald, one of the leading men of the Sunnyside District.

Born in Baden, Germany in 1883. (I believe this date is a misprint as our information states that he and his wife came to the Walla Walla Valley in 1886)Mr. Schwald came to the United States 26 years ago, and four years later located on his present farm. He started operations with $600. and has now 100 acres, worth from $250. to $300. per acre. This fine ranch produces over 200 tons of alfalfa yearly, as well as large quantities of fruit and vegetables.

Two years ago Mr. Schwald built the beautiful residence in which he now lives, which stands as an eloquent testimony of the thrift and industry of its occupants. The house has nine rooms with every convenience, including hot and cold water, up and downstairs, electric lights and all that could make living conditions pleasant.

Twenty-four years ago Mr. Schwald married Miss Kronenberg, one of the most desirable young ladies of Walla Walla. This union has been blessed with six children, two boys and four girls. Certainly this valley is fortunate in having a man of the sterling character, and business ability of Charles Schwald.

At our museum we have discs containing passenger and immigration lists for

Germans to America---1850-1888. Ifound a Margaret Kronenberg listed with the

following info.: Age 21, Country of Origin: Germany, Arrival date: June 14,

1883, Port of Entry: New York, Ship's name: Waesland, Mode of travel:

Steerage, Manifest ID# 37385. It is possible that this could be your

ancestor, but without having more definitive dates, I can't be sure.

We also have a Nov 1,1995 newspaper clipping stating that the

Milton-Freewater Area Foundation received $52,000. from the estate of Elizabeth Phillips to create two perpetual funds in the name of Grady and Elizabeth Phillips to be used for scholarships and library books.

I hope all this helps you with your search. Let us hear from you!

Diane Biggs, Frazier Farmstead Museum Director

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Marie Dorion and the trail of the Pioneers

Page 39 – CHARLES F., MARGARET SCHWALD

1886

Charles and Margaret Schwald emigrated from Germany in 1883 but did not meet each other until they had arrived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which was a sort of information and dispersal area for many of the German immigrants.

Mr. Schwald went to North Dakota to homestead and worked on a horse-breaking ranch but did not stay long as he said the country was too flat and too cold. He then went to the Willamette Valley and it was too rainy. He arrived in Walla Walla in 1886 and worked on the wall around the Penitentiary. After much correspondence he coaxed Margaret Kronenberg (she was afraid of Indians!) to come from Wisconsin and they were married in Walla Walla in 1887.

From 1892 to 1910 Mr. Schwald peddled fruit and produce in Pendleton with team and wagon. It was an all-day trip – he sold his load the following day, and would start home in the evening, sleeping in the wagon-bed, as the team knew the way home from making two trips a week.

Except for one child, Helen, who died in infancy, all the children finished eight grades at Ferndale School.

William died in 1904 in Spokane, the victim of a typhoid epidemic. Frances, a student nurse at St. Mary’s, died during the flu epidemic in 1920. Charley died in 1963 in Walla Walla, shortly after returning to the Valley to retire. Both Pat and Charley served in World War I; Minnie was a clerk in Schmidt’s Dept. Store (now the Pastime Club); Anna was bookkeeper for the Walla Walla Creamery and Elsie played the pipe organ in the old Strand Theatre (later the Roxy) in Walla Walla. Mrs. Schwald died in 1926. Mr. Schwald remarried and continued to live on the old home place (51 years total) until his death in 1942, shortly after he had sold the 100 acres to the Jake Kessler family.

Information provided by MRS. GRADY (ELISE) PHILLIPS

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1900 Census OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 16B

Schwald,Charles,head,MW,July 1863,36,m12,im 1883,GER,GER,GER,Fruit farmer

Margaret,wife,FW,Feb 1862,38,m12,6,6,im 1883,GER,GER,GER

William,son,MW,Apr 1889,11S,WA,GER,GER

Annie,daughter,FW,Aug 1891,8S,OR,GER,GER

Minnie,daughter,FW,Nov 1893,6S,OR,GER,GER

Charles,son,MW,July 1895,4S,OR,GER,GER

Frances,daughter,FW,June 1898,1S,OR,GER,GER

John,son,MW,Jan 1900,5/12S,OR,GER,GER

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1910 Census OR Umatilla Ferndale Pct ED 267 Pg 243A

Schwald,Charles,head,MW,47,m1,21,im 1883,GER,GER,GER,Farming,Farm

Margaret,wife,FW,47,m1,21,8,6,im 1883,GER,GER,GER

Annie,daughter,FW,19S,OR,GER,GER

Minnie,daughter,FW,16S,OR,GER,GER

Charles,son,MW,13S,OR,GER,GER

John P.,son,MW,11S,OR,GER,GER

Fransciska,daughter,FW,9S,OR,GER,GER

Elsie,daughter,FW,5S,OR,GER,GER

Anderson,John,sevant,MW,35S,SWE,SWE,SWE,Farm laborer

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1920 Census OR Umatilla Pct 3 ED 147 Pg 1A

Schwald,Charles F.,head,MW,56,m,im 1883,Na 1908,GER,GER,GER,Farmer

Margaret,wife,FW,57,m,im 1883,Na 1908,GER,GER,GER

Charles F Jr.,son,MW,23S,OR,GER,GER,Farm laborer

Patrick,son,MW,19S,OR,GER,GER,Farm laborer

Elsie,daughter,FW,15S,OR,GER,GER

Burial: Mt View Cemetery, Walla Walla, WA³

Census 1: 1900, OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 16B

Census 2: 1910, OR Umatilla Ferndale Pct ED 267 Pg 243A

Census 3: 1920, OR Umatilla Pct 3 ED 147 Pg 1A

Pioneer Step: 1886, Step #73 Pd by Ms Grady Phillips⁴

Germans to America - 1850-1888, Passenger and Immigration Lists.

Margaret Kronenberg listed with the following information: Age 21, Country of Origin Germany, Arrival date June 14, 1883, Port of Entry New York, Ship's Name Waesland, Mode of travel Steerage, Manifest ID#373.85.

1900 census shows both parents born in Germany. Shows she had 6 children, 6 living.

Burial: Mt View Cemetery, Walla Walla, WA⁵

Census 1: 1900, OR Umatilla Milton ED 114 Pg 16B(See Husband)

Census 2: 1910, OR Umatilla Ferndale Pct ED 267 Pg 243A(See Husband)

Census 3: 1920, OR Umatilla Pct 3 ED 147 Pg 1A(See Husband)

Pioneer Step: 1886, Step #73 Pd by Ms Grady Phillips⁶

Divorce: 1913, Umatilla, OR⁷

Marriage: Abt. 1888, 1900 census shows they were married 12 years

Walla Walla Union Bulletin (Walla Walla, Washington) > 1947 > July > 8, page 7

Funeral services were held Monday for Mrs. Birdie Schwald, 74, who died at her home after a short illness.

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Walla Walla Union Bulletin (Walla Walla, Washington) > 1947 > July > 17, page 13

The estate of Birdie O. Schwald who died on July 1947 has been admitted to probate with the approval of the appointment of Nellie Holman as administrix. The heirs are Samuel E. Oliver, Son of Dayton and Nellie Holman, daughter of Pendleton. The appraisers are G. F. Hodges, Roy Alexander and William Glass.

Census: 1920, OR Umatilla Pendleton ED 165 Pg 11B(See Husband Samuel A Oliver)

Marriage: 01 Sep 1927, La Grande, Union, OR⁸