Importer, North German Lloyds
Centurion, 1899–1899
Born 8 February 1867 in Stuttgart, Germany
Died 21 September 1899 in New York (Bronx), New York
Buried Woodlawn Cemetery
, Bronx, New York
Proposed by Charles Comfort Tiffany and Richard H. Derby
Elected 3 June 1899 at age thirty-two
Archivist’s Note: Son of Gustav Schwab; brother of Gustav H. Schwab, Hermann C. Schwab, L. Henry Schwab, and John C. Schwab
Century Memorial
The death of Benjamin William Schwab brought infinite sorrow to everyone who knew him; he was, both physically and mentally, such a fine specimen of young manhood. In the flower of his age and on the threshold of a brilliant future, when existence was fullest of brightness and the passing moment was so beautiful that he could bid it stay, the fable of Faust was repeated.
He received his education at Yale University, where his brother John C. Schwab is an honored professor, and immediately entered the house of Oelrichs & Company, in which his brothers, Gustav H., Herman C., his father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Caspar Meier, the founder of the firm in 1798, had preceded him. He had spent several years in the wool raising countries—Australia, Russia and South America—and in the woolen mills of Europe, qualifying himself for the management of that important branch of the business of the firm, and just as he had completed his thorough equipment for the work, and had entered upon it under most auspicious circumstances, by an untoward accident his life was ended.
Additional pathos attended its close, as it occurred on the eve of his marriage.
He had a bright, cheerful, hopeful nature, sympathetic and generous to the last degree; was athletic in his tastes, active in all good work, high minded and honorable, and was the idol of all his friends.
Henry E. Howland
1900 Century Association Yearbook
