My Genealogy Hound

REV. ROBERT de SCHWEINITZ is an old and prominent minister of the Moravian Church, and is Treasurer of the Northern District of the Moravian denomination in the United States, an incorporated society, and was President of the Executive Board for about twelve years, or until 1886, when he was elected Treasurer, which post he is still acceptably filling.

The birth of our subject occurred in Salem, N. C., September 20, 1819. His father, Louis de Schweinitz, was born in Bethlehem, Pa. He had charge of the financial affairs of the Moravian Church in the United States, holding the title of their whole church property in trust. A man of great ability and wide information, his services were invaluable to his denomination. His death occurred in the year 1834, while he was still in the last-named position, he being only fifty-four years of age at the time of his demise. He was educated in Europe, and on his return to this country experienced a great deal of difficulty in running the blockade in New York harbor, as it was during the War of 1812. His wife was with him on this trip, and at one time they were captured by the British cruisers, but managed to make their escape. His wife, whom he married in Germany, was a native of that land and of French descent, her name being formerly Amelia le Daux. Rev. Louis de Schweinitz was a man of national reputation as a botanist, and was the author of several works on the subject. A great scholar, and acknowledged to be a most learned man, he was a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, to which he bequeathed his fine herbarium. Of his children we note the following: Robert is our subject; Emil was a Doctor of Divinity and was Bishop in the Southern District, where his death occurred; and Edmund was also a Bishop of the Moravian Church, having the title of Doctor of Divinity, and being well known as a man of great ability. His death occurred in this city.

Reared in Bethlehem, the subject of this sketch received a good education at Nazareth Hall, making a study of the classics. He then entered the Theological Seminary, being ordained about 1848 in Bethlehem. In 1846 he made a journey to Europe and traveled extensively for the two succeeding years, his return voyage to the United States consuming some seven weeks. Receiving a call as Professor of the theological seminary of this place, he accepted the same and occupied the chair of Theology for two years, after which, for a period of four years, he was in charge of a congregation at Lancaster. For the next fourteen or fifteen years he was in charge of the Female Boarding-school in Salem, N. C. The principalship of Nazareth Hall was next offered to him, and he accepted the position, which he occupied for about one year, at the end of which time the synod elected him President of the Executive Board, and as such he remained until 1886, when he became Treasurer. In Herrnhut, Saxony, the marriage of Rev. Robert de Schweinitz and Miss Mary Tschirschki was celebrated in 1846. The lady was born in Saxony, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, of whom three sons and two daughters are living. Louis is a merchant in Los Angeles, Cal.; Paul was educated at Nazareth Hall, and graduated from the university; Robert, Jr., is a resident of Bethlehem; and Helen and Clara reside in the pleasant family residence on First Avenue, which the father erected in 1880. The mother of this family was called from this life in 1881, leaving many friends who truly and sincerely mourn her loss. In his political affiliations our subject is a stanch advocate of the Republican party.