WILLIAM F. SCHWING
                Lake Charles, Calcasieu Par., LA


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Source: Southwest Louisiana Historical and Biographical by William Henry Perrin
published in 1891; page 192.
Typed by Margaret Rentrop Moore


WILLIAM F. SCHWING, Lake Charles.- Wiliam F. Schwing, a prominent attorney, and
editor of the Lake Charles Echo, was born in Assumption parish, December 20,
1837. He received his education in Centenary College, graduating with first
honors in a class of eighteen graduates in 1858. 
After leaving school he was for some time engaged in teaching in Feliciana
parish. At the opening of the war he assisted in organizing a company, which was
afterward commanded by Capt. Keep. He assisted this company in capturing the
barracks at Baton Rouge. From there he went to Fayette, Mississippi,
and took charge of the Phoenix Academy. He only remained here a short while,
however, when he joined the Thomas Hinds Guards," which afterward became Company
D, Nineteenth Mississippi Regiment. The last two years of the war he was captain
of the company in which he had enlisted. During service he was wounded four
times; the first time at the battle of the Wilderness; second, Seven Days' Fight
around Richmond, in which he was severely wounded from the explosion of a shell;
third, the evening after Gen. Jackson was killed, and near the same spot;
and fourth, at the battle of Antietam.
At the close of the war Mr. Schwing returned to Mississippi, and resumed charge
of the Phoenix Academy until 1870. During this time he had pursued a course of
law study, and in I870 removed to New Iberia and began the practice of his
profession, in which he continued until 1881, when he removed to St. Landry
parish and established an oil mill, which was burned down in 1882, but rebuilt
the same year. By an accident in his mill, in 1885, Mr. Schwing lost an arm. He
retired from the oil mill in 1887 and removed to Lake Charles, where he resumed
the practice of his profession. In 1876 Mr. Schwing was elected a member of the
legislature from Iberia parish, but was unseated by " powers that were."
He was married, in 1876, to Miss Alma C. Knight.   Mrs. Schwing died in Lake
Charles in 1889 having become the mother of six children, five of whom survive
her, three sons and two daughters. Since locating in Lake Charles Mr. Schwing
has given his exclusive attention to the practice of his profession, until the
spring of 1890 when he assumed charge of the Lake Charles Echo as manager and
editor, still, however, continuing the practice of the law.