Pius Louis Schwert (1892-1941)

From the Buffalo News, October 6, 1938.

    Two-term U.S. Representative Pius Louis Schwert is profiled today, and it is worth noting that previous to political service he was a professional baseball player, playing for the New York Highlanders, later to be known as the New York Yankees. A popular figure in his home state, as well as the U.S. Capitol, Schwert's promising political career was curtailed by his death while in office in March 1941.
  Pius Louis Schwert was born in the village of Angola, New York on November 22, 1892, the son of Julius and Louise Ahlers Schwert. Distinguished in his own right, Julius Schwert was at various times a business owner, town treasurer, town clerk, and eventually deputy sheriff of Erie County, New York. Pius Schwert attended schools local to the Angola area and eventually graduated from the Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York. He later enrolled at the famed Wharton School of Commerce in Philadelphia, graduating from there in 1914. 
   While attending college in Pennsylvania, Schwert gained prominence as a stand-out ball player on the varsity team. He eventually made the All-American college team, and after leaving college went on to the Major Leagues. In 1914 he joined up with the New York Highlanders (later known as the Yankees) and played with the team for two seasons. Sources also denote Schwert as playing for professional teams in Jersey City and Newark, but dates aren't known for his time with those clubs. Schwert left the major leagues in 1916 and became an ensign in the Navy, being stationed at the Bremerton Navy Yard in Washington state during WWI. During his service he "had charge of submarine and ammunition depot payrolls", and continued with his baseball career during his Navy service, playing on a Naval District team.  In the succeeding years, Schwert looked back with fondness on his time in baseball, and reflected on its "power of fellowship" after entering politics, remarking:

"It was to the advantage of a young man in college to discover that when men unite for a common cause, whenever they feel the sense of fellowship and comradeship drawing them together, whenever they fight with their backs to the wall, a power comes into play that is greater than the strength of the individuals."

              Pius Schwert (1892-1941), as he looked during his tenure on the NY Highlanders, ca. 1915.

   At the conclusion of his naval service, Schwert returned to Angola and operated a general store for a short period. In 1921 he was named as the President of the Bank of Angola, serving in this position until 1931. In his first year as bank president Schwert had a brief return to the baseball diamond, playing twenty games as catcher for the Buffalo Bisons. Pius Schwert married in New York in February 1923 to Hattie Elizabeth Schwert. The couple were wed for eighteen years and would be childless.  

  After leaving the Bank of Angola in 1931 Schwert resided in Buffalo and was named manager of the Masonic Service Bureau, "in which he assisted many unemployed to find jobs." He first entered politics in 1933 with his candidacy as Erie County clerk and was elected to that post in November 1933 "by 7,000 votes." He was reelected in 1935 and served until 1938 when he announced his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. Hoping to succeed his old friend James M. Mead (who had recently been elected to the U.S. Senate), campaign notices for Schwert appeared in newspapers throughout Western New York, and in an October 1938 announcement Schwert's time as county clerk and his character were praised by the Springville Journal, which notes:

"As County Clerk, Mr. Schwert has proven that he is not a "Yes" man. He stands up for his rights. He has fought for his employees. He believes in serving the people of the community and would continue to serve and "fight for" the people of the 42nd district, if elected to represent that district. He will cater to no one group or individual but will work for all regardless of race, creed, or color. For proof of his loyalty any of his employees will testify in his behalf."

  In that year's congressional election, Schwert was opposed by John Cornelius Butler (1887-1953). When the votes were tallied, Schwert managed a nearly 3,000-vote win over Butler, 39,287 votes to 36, 326.

                                            From "Evans and Angola", by Cheryl Delano, 2009.

  Taking his seat at the start of the 1939-40 session, Schwert was named to the committees on War Claims and World War Veterans Legislation. He was reelected to Congress in November 1940 and on this occasion defeated his Republican opponent Edward F. Moss by a wide margin, 64, 250 votes to 44, 866. 

  An active club man in addition to politics, Schwert's memberships in civic groups and fraternal clubs are also noteworthy. A former vice president of the New York State County Clerk's Association in 1938, Schwert held the presidency of the Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen, was a past district commander of the Second Erie Masonic District, and was commander of the Newcomb-Long Post No. 928 American Legion.

  Schwert was only a few months into his second congressional term when tragedy struck on March 11, 1941. On that particular day, Schwert had just concluded giving a speech at a dinner party at the Hotel Annapolis in Washington, D.C.  Noting that he planned to run for Mayor of Buffalo, Schwert had just returned to his seat when he suffered a fatal heart attack at age 48 and died in the arms of U.S. Senator James Michael Meade of New York. Schwert's unexpected death "came as a distinct shock" to his friends and fellow congressmen, and shortly afterward his body was returned to Angola and interred in the Forest Avenue Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Hattie, who died in 1967 and was interred alongside her husband. In the days following his passing Schwert's brief career in politics was praised by his friend, James Michael Mead, who in a moving memorial remarked:

"Possessed of a pleasing personality and an edifying humilty, he made friends from every walk of life, and their number as well as loyalty increased and multiplied with the passing years. He was my neighbor, my colleague, and above all my sincere friend. My deepest sympathy goes forth to his wife  and to the members of his family." 

From the Tampa Bay Times, March 13, 1941.

                                      Schwert's death notice from the Troy, NY Times Record.

   Earlier today (February 5, 2012) I managed to make a visit to Pius L. Schwert's gravesite in Angola and after some searching discovered the quiet, well-kept Forest Avenue Cemetery on the outskirts of the town. Schwert's gravestone is located between that of his father and mother (as well as his wife, Hattie) and it indeed mentions his service in Congress from 1939 to 1941. An American Legion marker and flag indicate his service during the First World War. Some photos from that visit have been posted below.

                         With the SNIAPH Book at the gravesite of Congressman Pius Louis Schwert.