Posted on: Oneida Co. NY Obituaries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/NY/OneidaObits?read=117 Surname: Teller, Schwab, Drury, Sweet, Hart, Phillips, Kimball, Saunders ------------------------- August 31, 1909 Deputy A. J. Schwab Died in Hospital Had Recently Won Promotion in the Fire Department He devoted himself to the City's-Was an Energetic Very Capable Young Man-His Death a Loss to the Service "Albert J. Schwab a deputy chief of the Utica Fire Department, died at 10 o'clock this morning in St. Elizabeth's Hospital, where he had been a patient for some time." "Mr. Schwab was born in this city Feb. 20, 1864 and resided her practically all his life. He was the son of John D. Schwab and Christina C. Schrader. He attended the Utica Public schools, winning promotion in the lower grades until he entered the Academy. After remaining there for a short time he was employed in the grocery store of William McTiernan on Bleecker street. Not long afterwards he went to Detroit where he remained for one year. He then returned to Utica and took a position in the freight office of the New York Central Railway Company and held it continually for 16 years. While in that position he became a call fireman in the Utica Fire Department on July 10, 1896. On May 20, 1899, he was promoted to captain and assigned regular duty at No 2 engine house." "His ability as a fireman, coupled with never-failing faithfulness in the performance of his duty and efficiency in handling men, won Capt. Schwab deserved promotion and on Jan. 16, 1909 he was named deputy chief of the fire department. In that position; he gave excellent satisfaction and by the efficiency of his work and supervision proved an able assistant to Chief Sullivan. He had the implicit confidence of his superiors and likewise the confidence and respect of the men who were subject to his authority. He was a strict disciplinarian but at the same time he was fair and impartial, and the firemen who were faithful in their work always found him a good superior and friend." "Practically the entire time of Deputy Chief Schwab was given to his work, in the fire department. He had no outside interests to conflict with his work and devoted himself entirely to the labor of his life. It was his ambition to give the best service of which he was capable and to do his part any making the Utica Fire Department efficient and capable in every way. His interest in this work never flagged and until the time his fatal illness came upon him he was a strong factor in maintaining efficient organization in the department." "During the past two years the health of Deputy Chief Schwab was never very rugged, and about five weeks ago he was obliged to discontinue his work and go to the hospital for treatment. His trouble was diagnosed as gall stones and a consultation was held when there was no relief during treatment. An operation was decided upon and was performed a week ago. The deputy chief's trouble was other than as anticipated and his condition was such that no hop was entertained for his recovery and during the past tow days he had been failing rapidly. His passing away brings sincere sorrow to many friends, and particularly to those who had been his companions since boyhood and who had watched his work and advancement with no little pride. They had known him as a congenial youth and a youngman, and in his mature years had found him a good citizen, an upright man, and a friend who could be relied upon in all situations." "Deputy Chief Schwab was a member of Oriental Lodge Nol. 224 F. & A. M., and was faithful to the principles that society and loyal to its obligations and its purposes. He is survived by his father, John D. Schwab of 75 Lansing St., by his step-mother and by three sisters, Mrs. A. D. Gould of Eldred, Pa., Mrs. George W. Gradually of Buffalo and Miss Nellie C. Schwab of this city..." Flags at Half Mast "Commissioner of Safety Church this morning directed the fire chief to half-mast the flags at the fire engine house and to direct the firemen to wear mourning on their shields for thirty days. Delegations from each fire company will attend the funeral." "Commissioner of Safety Church had only good words to speak about Deputy Chief Schwab to-day. He said: "he death of the deputy chief is a loss to the Fire Department. He had proved to be very competent as an officer in the department in that he knew and appreciated what was and what was not wanted in the service. He was a good disciplinarian and it was there that his service added to the department. Whenever there was what might be called an unruly house, where it was hard to govern the men in the different companies under one building, Deputy Chief Schwab was sent there to straighten, out the conditions and he always did it. I was for these very qualifications that he was advanced to the position of deputy chief. He was a good fireman, brave in the discharge of his duties and always willing to go wherever he order the men. He was always on the inside of a building during a fire and he wanted the men to do the same, if necessary. He was good to the men who served under him, but he was a strict disciplinarian and a man who held to the rules. He was a sticker on this subject and every lieutenant who served under him as a captain bore the testimony that he was one of the best commanding officers. When Deputy Chief Schwab was in command of a house any trouble which existed there was reported by him, not by outsiders who had learned of the dissensions within the company. The deputy only saw the straight line, the department rules and his duty. His loss to the department is a distinct one. I deeply regret it. " "Capt. Wl. F. Dacy who has been in charge of No. 1's house in West Utica is serving at headquarters temproarily in place of the deceased. Contributed by Colette Hook Grower