Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Schirm, William Philip 1836 - 1896
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 23, 2004, 11:43 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 944-945

   WILLIAM PHILIP SCHIRM. Savannah has known few citizens more worthy of the
unqualified esteem and regard of the people as a whole than was the late William
Philip Schirm, and it is a matter of great pleasure to record here that he never
failed to receive his just meed of appreciation and esteem at the hands of the
citizenship of the city and of the surrounding community. Foreign born, he came
to these parts in early manhood, and at no time in his remaining years did he
fail in his duty toward the country of his adoption. His life was from first to
last one of the utmost usefulness and when he died on May 31, 1896, Savannah
lost one of her most honored and loved citizens.

   William Philip Schirm was born in the year 1836 in Schernern bei Nassau a/d
Lahn (now known as Hessen-Nassau) Germany, where was also born his father. He
came to America in 1857, and settled in Georgia in that year. He was a young man
of excellent education and had served in the German army. After coming to
Savannah his occupation was that of a teacher, and he was identified with a
private institution in north Georgia of some repute, where he was known as an
educator of exceptional ability. Some well known citizens of Savannah and other
Georgian cities were his pupils in those early days. With the outbreak of the
Civil war Mr. Schirm enlisted in the Confederate army and he served with
distinction and valor throughout that conflict. Concerning his military career,
it may be further said that he entered the service in February, 1862, with the
rank of first lieutenant, Troop A, Georgia Cavalry, Clinch Light Battery, and
was later detailed ordnance officer for the City of Savannah under General
Anderson. Maj. G. W. Anderson, commander of Fort McAllister, says of him in his
official report: "Lieut. William P. Schirm fought until the enemy entered the
fort, and, notwithstanding a wound in the head, gallantly remained at his post,
discharging his duties with a coolness and efficiency worthy of all
commendation." He was taken prisoner on December 13, 1864, and was in prison at
Hilton Head and Washington, and was released on June 6, 1865, at the close of
the hostilities. He later became a member of Camp No. 756 Confederate Veterans,
of which he was elected secretary, on March 6, 1894, and was re-elected on April
26, 1895.

   Mr. Schirm was a director in the Chatham Real Estate & Improvement Company,
and at the time of his death was a member of the Savannah Benevolent
Association, a society the members of which are loved and respected by every
true Savannahian. The following resolutions were adopted at the time of his
passing by this well known society:

   "The life he had led and the services he performed are all the legacies he
could bequeath to us who remain, and when we examine these legacies and find
that the life has been active, correct, exemplary and consistent, and the
services well timed, practical and useful, we hold them in kindly remembrance
and pay willing tribute to their worth.

   "As a member of this association, Mr. Schirm was active and faithful, and as
one of its directors he aided by his sound judgment and conservative business
methods in advancing and establishing the prosperity and present financial
strength of our Association. Quiet, modest and unobtrusive in all his ways, he
never sought to attain higher positions than those allotted to him, and in every
position acquitted himself honorably and well, always exhibiting those strong
and commanding traits of character, which, through his long and eventful life,
secured for him from time to time marked and substantial evidence of confidence.

   "We mourn his loss and cherish his memory."

   On January 20, 1876, Mr. Schirm married Ellen M. Lovell. Her parents were
Edward and Mary (Bates)  Lovell, both of whom passed, away these many years
gone. Mrs. Schirm is still living in Savannah.

   After the close of the war, William P. Schirm returned to the quiet of
civilian life and at the time of his death was connected with The Willcox and
Gibbes Guano Company. He was a prominent member of the First Presbyterian church
of this city, and a deacon of that body.

   Among the sons of William P. Schirm may be mentioned in further detail,
Edward L., the eldest son of his parents. He was born in Savannah in 1877; he
was here reared and here he has passed all his life thus far. In 1900 Mr. Schirm
entered The Citizens Bank of Savannah, beginning his labors there as junior
clerk. In 1904 The Citizens Bank of Savannah established a branch office at
Liberty and Montgomery streets and chose Mr. E. L. Schirm to be assistant
cashier thereof, from which position he was in 1910 advanced to be cashier of
the Liberty street branch of The Citizens and Southern Bank, which responsible
office he now holds to the entire satisfaction of that institution.

   On December 19, 1899, Mr. Schirm was married to Miss Elizabeth Brady. They
have two children, Ellen L. and William Philip Schirm.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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