Bio: Barwig, Hon. Charles A. (1859 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Barwig, Swatzburg, Schwartz, Hellberg

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Barwig, Hon. Charles A. (1859 - 19??)

Hon. Charles A. Barwig, who is one of the prominent business men of Wausau, was born at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1859, and is a son of Charles and Eliza (Swatzburg) Barwig. Charles Barwig was a native of Germany and was young when brought to the United States but became a very prominent man in Wisconsin, both in public life as well as in business. His parents came to America with their family in 1847 and settled at Germantown in Washington County, Wis., where they spent the rest of their lives. In 1864 Charles Barwig moved with his family to Milwaukee and later to Mayville, Wis., where he subsequently became the leading citizen, mayor of the town, a member of the board of education, a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and thrice was elected to Congress. He died March 9, 1812, surviving his wife almost three years, her death occurring October 19, 1909, at the age of sixty-eight years. She was born in 1841 and was the first German child of her sex born at Milwaukee. The family consisted of one daughter and four sons: Eamelia, who is the widow of Fred Schwartz, resides at Mayville; Byron, who is in the wholesale liquor business at Mayville; Charles A.; and George and Robert, both of whom are in the furniture business in Chicago.

Charles A. Barwig was five years old when he accompanied his parents to Mayville and there he attended the public schools and the German and English Academy, after which he went into business with his father at Mayville, where he continued to reside until May, 1903, when he moved to Wausau, selling his interests at Mayville. Here he opened the first wholesale liquor house in the city. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens State Bank of Wausau and is vice president of the same; is secretary and treasurer of the Wausau Brick and Tile Company; is vice president of the Fire and Police commission; treasurer of the Wausau Advancement Association; and is president of the Marathon County Agricultural Society. For seven years Mr. Barwig served in the office of mayor of Mayville and has always been more or less active in politics, ever giving hearty support to the Democratic Party.

In 1879 Mr. Barwig was married to Miss Bertha Hellberg, of Milwaukee, her father being an early distiller and manufacturer there. Mr. and Mrs. Barwig have four children: Melville, who is a graduate of St. John's Military School, is working for his uncles in Chicago in the furniture business: Margaret, who is a student at Downer College: and Charles and Richard, who are yet at home and in school. Mr. Barwig and family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a Thirty second degree Mason and belongs also to the Elks and the Eagles.