Martin and Katharina (Schneider) Schwab came to this land with their family, arriving on May 7, 1889. Migrating with them, was their oldest son and his wife, Lorenz and Regina (Wald) Schwab. Together, these two, with nine other families, emigrated from the Kutschurgan District near Odessa, in modern-day Ukraine. They completed the journey from Russia, by train, to northern Germany. From there, they traveled by ship to the United States. After arrival, they again traveled by train from New York to Eureka, South Dakota. In Eureka, they purchased wagons, oxen, and provisions for the roughly 50-mile journey to their homesteads located in present day Emmons County, North Dakota.

Soon, they began the work of constructing their first homes of sun-dried adobe blocks. The house standing today may not have been the initial house built on this homestead. However, it was most likely constructed sometime during the 1890s and is the last remaining structure from that farm. By the late 20th century, the house and barn were all that remained. The barn was razed in the recent past. The early years were very hard, and what little crop grew, and wasn’t scattered by the notorious Dakota wind, had to be painstakingly gathered, by hand, and hauled by ox-drawn wagons, a round trip distance of 100 miles, to Eureka to be sold.

In 1902, Martin and Katharina Schwab moved their family north to McHenry County where they were among the founders of the town of Karlsruhe. Lorenz and Regina stayed on the Schwab farm and raised their family, eventually having 17 children together. The first two children died in infancy in Russia. Maria Eva, born in Russia as well, grew up to marry Karl Bosch. Katharina, the last child born in Russia, was married to Lawrence Klein from Hague, North Dakota. Son Egidi was born that first summer in North Dakota on August 30, 1889. He married Agatha Mitzel. Another daughter, Agatha, married Peter Jahner. Barbara, the next child married Joseph Weichel. Son, Lorenz, married Regina Keller. He died of flu during the pandemic of 1918. His widow Regina then married her late husband’s brother, Ludwig. Joseph, born after Lorenz, was married to Katharina Schwartzenberger. Elizabeth, born after Joseph, was wed to Ben Moser. John, born after Elizabeth, was married to Magdalena Baumgartner. Christina was the next child. She married Jacob Wiest. Martin was born next, who died when he was a young boy. He was followed by Adam who took Mary Deringer as his bride. Anton, the next child, was married later in life to Edna Berry. The baby of the family, Peter, died in childhood.

After working the farm for nearly 28 years, Lorenz Schwab died in 1917 from diabetes. His widow Regina eventually moved into Strasburg, ND. Their son John, with his wife Magdalena, bought the family farm and raised their own children beginning in 1925. They raised 10 children on the farm, one of whom, Joseph (known as Juddy), married to Imogene Schwahn, took over operation of the farm around 1948. Of the other children, Lawrence (Larry), married Evelyn Welk. John moved to Milwaukee where he married Elizabeth Whitworth. James married Edna Welk (sister of Evelyn). Florence moved to California and married Strasburg native, Gerald Klein. Irene was married to James Lipp. The youngest son, Clarence, married Adeline Mattern. LaVerne married James Feist. Antonia was married to Leroy Baumgartner. And Clara, the youngest and the only one of the 10 born in a hospital, wed James Huber.

John and Magdalena worked the farm for 23 years from 1925 to 1948, then moved into Strasburg. In addition to farming, John made part of his living as an accordion player. He passed away at age 55 in 1956. Magdalena lived a much longer life and passed away in Strasburg at the age of 95. Joseph and Imogene Schwab operated the farm, beginning in 1948, and had 10 children. Dennis, Duane, Daryl, Daniel, Cheryl, John, Mary Jo, Lanette, Charlene, and Joseph, were all born in the house. This was the third, and final, generation of Schwabs who lived on the Schwab farm.

Once there were several outbuildings on the farm, including a summer kitchen, chicken coop, granary, barn and an outhouse. The old house is all that remains, having stood faithfully for well over 100 years. Other than the kitchen, which replaced the original small entrance (forheisl) in the 1950s, the house is, essentially, as it was built in the late 1800s. Vacated when Joe and Imogene moved into Strasburg in 1974, the Schwab House fell into disrepair and suffered some minor vandalism. Magdalena, who still owned the farm, did her best to keep up with basic maintenance, but her resources were limited. Daughter, Antonia and grandson Daryl Baumgartner did a great job of restoring the interior of the house, in 1988, to reflect the way it had been when she was growing up. By 2009, major decisions were needed about the Schwab farmhouse roof and exterior repairs that could no longer be delayed. Antonia began serious restoration and completed the work in May 2010 which included a new metal roof, new windows and white vinyl siding. She had great help from Leonard Weichel and his son, Dean, also descendants of pioneers Lorenz and Regina Schwab.