CHAPTER FOUR Friedel and Friedl Albert’s Schwab History in

OUR KNOWN FAMILY HISTORY STARTS WITH ANTON SCHWAB. Our history comes from the Alberts. When they were staying with us in 1981, I asked if they would write it down so we all could share in our history. Many years later they finished the Schwab History in Germany. The following is that story.

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The Village Astheim The Carthusian Monastery - Astheim The Secularization of 1803 The Schwab History - Astheim

Written and edited by Friedel and Friedl Albert Volkach/ -- August 1988

Copied as written by Louis B. Schwab Jr. For the family book---September 1994 Revised April 1999 Page Break Astheim The Franconian ferry place “” (Eastheim) was donated to the Benedictine Monastery at Fulda by Carolingian King Arnulf in 888. Later it passed on to the Grafen zu Castell and then to the Herren von Seinsheim and his wife Anna of Bibra. The latter founded a Carthusian Monastery here in 1409. The very austere Carthusian Order with its 250 odd monasteries rendered outstanding benefit to the development of Germany. In 1803 the Carthusian Monastery was secularized and sold to the Schwab-Clan (Valentin Jörg, Johann Gedeon Schwab and his sisters). The monastery church was bought by the Fürst von Schwarzenberg, also the Prokuratie in 1868 by Valentin Schwab. In 1954 the community of Astheim bought back the monastery church and the Prokuratie (as the town hall) for 6,000 DM from the Fürst von Schwarzenberg with the condition to preserve and to care for the buildings. Since 1972 Astheim became part of the town of Volkach and since 1978 the “Prokuratie” is used as the archives. The Village Astheim numbers about 730 inhabitants and is well-known for its wine , fruit, (plums) and white asparagus production. Astheim is located on the inside of the Loop of the Main River opposite of Volkach. The loop of the Main is one of the jewels of our countryside. In order to carve its way through the hard rocks of the Franconian Plateau, the river had to twist and turn in all directions. The Loop of the Main at Astheim/Volkach originated in its most enchanting caper. It was already populated in the dim and distant past. The monks of the Benedictine Monastery at Fulda assisted the Franconian peasants, who had in the meantime introduced grape vines to the sunny slopes of the Main valley and transformed what had been a primeval forest into cultivated land. the wine is one of the greatest treasure of this little paradise at the Loop of the Main.

Page Break The History of the Carthusian Monastery in Astheim 1. St. Bruno, the founder of the Carthusian Order Bruno was born 1032 in Koeln. After his studies in Reims, France he became a at St. Kunibert in Koeln. In 1075 he became the chancellor of the Archdiocese. In 1080 he resigned from his duties and moved back with his six companions into the emptiness of “Sene-Fontaine” (France). There he founded a hermit settlement which later became the Grande Chartreuse, the main monastery of the Carthusians. He Died on October 6, 1101 and was declared a saint in 1623. 2. The Carthusian Order The concept of Saint Bruno, was, to live in a community in a monastery as a hermit, it was well received even after his death. Many Christians wanted to live ascetically like him. During the 12th. century many monasteries were built for monks and nuns to live in according to the statutes of “Chartreuse”. A Carthusian Monastery is lead by a prior. The monks are or laymen. Around the main buildings are cells. These are small houses with a garden for one monk, the small houses or cells do not connect with each other. The cells lie at the cloister, which goes into the main buildings: the church, the assembly, the refectory and library. The life of the Carthusians is a mixture of hermits and a community. They take a strong vow of silence broken only on Sunday, holidays, during the common meal and on the common walk once a week. Their fast is very strong and they don't eat meat products. Daily the monks assemble in the church for mass and prayer, which is said day and night. On their agenda are study, immersion and hard work. 3. The Carthusian Monastery Astheim In 1409 Erkinger von Seinsheim and his wife Anna von Bibre founded the Carthusian Monastery Astheim, called Marienbrück (bridge to Mary). To this monastery belonged many fields, vineyards and forests, so the monks could live very well. After 70 years of prosperity it was time to replace the wood buildings with stone buildings. In 1520 the new doctrines of Luther excited the people and he had many followers. Also behind the monastery walls his doctrines were discussed. First of all the peasants misunderstood him. In 1525 There were many revolts in . The Carthusian Monastery was attacked and plundered. It was a bad time. After the defeat of the Peasants Revolt the destroyed monastery was rebuilt. In 1583 was the beginning of the house of the prior- later the Prokuratie - today the archives for the town of Volkach, and once the birth place of the Schwabs. In 1584 the Chapel of St. John was built- at the place of the old small monastery church. In1603 The main monastery church was built. In 1633 The "Thirty Years War" started and it plunged the whole land into ruin and poverty. In 1633 the Swedes occupied the monastery and chased away the monks. After 1647 an economic upswing followed. New buildings were constructed and the monastery church interior was changed into Baroque. This splendid time was broken with the peace of Luneville (in Lorraine), February 9, 1801. Its chief provisions were those of the Treaty of Campo Formio: all the territory west of the , from Basel to the sea, was given to France, together with all northern Italy west of the Adige. The Duke of Modena received part of , and the Duke of Tuscany Salzburg. Other temporal princes of Germany, who lost part or the whole of their territory by the treaty, were compensated by secularizing the dominions of the ecclesiastical rulers and divided them among the former. Thus the states governed by archbishops, bishops, abbots, or other clerical dignitaries, nearly one hundred in number, were abolished at one blow. Many monasteries of Franconia then belonged to the state of - also the Carthusian Monastery Astheim. On June 20th, 1803 the monastery in Astheim was dissolved. The monks had to leave their home. The public sale of the monastery and its fields was fixed for October 24th, 1804. The Fürst von Schwarzenberg (former Seinsheim), bought the church of the monastery, because many tombs of his ancestors were buried there, in the floor. 1801 Peace of Luneville-- The Emperor passes the Secularization. 1802 December 1st The new "Kurpfalz-Bayern" seizes prossesion of the monastery by sticking seizure documents as posters to the monastery walls. 1803 June 20th The monastery life ends. 1804 Oct. 20th The monastery is auctioned off and Kanzleidirektor Valentin Jörg buys from the State all buildings situated within the walls (excluding the church) and all the fields and meadows ,162.5 acres. Valentin then turned over to his nephew Johann Gedeon the job of administraitor, age 30. 1805 April 17 The Earl of Schwarzenberg buys the monastery church, because his ancestors are buried there. 1876 April 11 Flash of lightning- church and chapel are damaged. The Earl demolished the library building and part of the cloister. 1877 Kaspar and Anna Maria Schwab sell land for building a school- behind the Prioratshaus The Earl buys the garden at westside of the church- so that it is not surrounded by buildings 1900 Aug. 23rd Lightning hits and burns 11 houses in and near the Carthusian Monastery 1951 The coummunity of Astheim buys the Chapel and Prioratshaus from the Earl of Schwarzenberg. The Prioratshaus becomes the townhall 1954 The Carthasian Church is handed over to the coummunity of Astheim 1972 Astheim becomes a part of Volkach. The Prioratshaus becomes archive of Volkach 1999 June 10-13 The Prioratshaus becomes the of Würzburg Museum holding about 60 Million Marks ( 33 Million Dollars U.S.) of sacred art. Many U.S. Schwabs were in attendance.

Figure 6: Schwabs at Karthause Church June, 1999

The Secularization of 1803 (Secularization - the expropriation of ecclesiastical landed property and fortune and to take over with secular ruler.) The church history knows many secularizations, but there was no one to compare with the revolutionary secularization of 1803. Since the middle of the 18th century the idea to do that was brewing. In 1789 the Great Revolution in France had broken out of the idea of the enlightenment. The church in France was expropriated and persecuted. The last motivating force of the secularization was self-interest and hate against the church. On February 20th, 1799 in the new Kurfürst Maximilian Joseph (later the King of Bavaria) began with his reign. With him was his most important Secretary Graf von Monteglas. Now he was head of the Bavarian politics for many years. already got in 1795 ecclesiastical landed property as compensation because it lost on the left Rhine side land to France. The German Emperor had to agree to the demand of France in the peace of Campo Formio 1797 to indemnify the princes with secularization of church estate. In the peace of Luneville (1801) the secularization was passed. Nobody could do anything against Napoleon. He was the most powerful man in France. With the “Reichsdeputatationshauptschluß” (February 25th., 1803) to Regensburg, the decline of the German church territories was sealed. The abolition of the monasteries and the destruction of many churches made a confusion in the religious life of the people. In Bavaria the Johanniterorden was declared illegal (1799), also the Monastery of Carmelites at Munich was abolished on January 15th,1801 and in 1802 more monasteries. On September 3rd,1802 our diocese was occupied by Kurfürst max Joseph von Bayern with troops. The Prince Bishop Georg Carl von Fechenbach had abdicated the throne. This was the end of 1000 years . The “Reichsdeputationshauptschluß” of 1803 made the events legal belated. The carrying out of the secularization took place irreverently. Churches and monasteries were moved out and the State sold cheaply what you could sell: estates, fields, forests, lakes, buildings, furniture, stocks, cattle, bells, gowns for Mass, chalices, relic shrines, tomb monuments… The treasures of libraries in monasteries were brought to Munich partly, but most books came to factories for paper or they were used like stones to repair the bad paths across the fields. But it didn't stop with the secularization of the monasteries and churches. The Secretary Graf von Monteglas also forbade the church traditions, so: the palm donkey- the Holy Grave-the Nativity Scenes- the Christmas Midnight mass had to celebrate in the morning- all religious Christmas masses had to be on one day- many church holidays were forbidden- also pilgrimages and more The Secularization had a good side There was formed the Bavarian State today out of 83 new big and small countries. The church was free of what it had to do- to reign over subjects. At the top of the came again popular priests instead of prince-bishops. The famous Bishop Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832) said about Secularization: “from the bottom it was a great wrong, from the top it was a great right. The Lord used the evil to make good from that. Strong powers of religious renew were to see.”

THE SCHWAB FAMILY HISTORY – ASTHEIM 1788 Anna Maria Schwab- second wife of Anton Schwab from Damm/ Aschaffenburg comes to her brother, Kanzleirat (chancellor, lawyer or goverment official) Valentin Jörg, at Wiesentheid and hands over her stepson Johann Gedeon (age14) for eudcation. In autumn of 1804 Johann Gedeon Schwab ( 30 years old) arrives in Astheim from Aschaffenburg / Main with his father Anton Schwab and his stepmother Anna Maria widowed Kress, born Jörg. (They married on February 18, 1787). It is the time of the secularization and the Carthusian Monastery is offered for sale by the Bavarian state KanzleidirektorThis place lies at the river Main making here a big loop. The people are fishermen and poor farmers. They had to scrounge two days a week for the monastery in Astheim. Valentine Jörg of Wiesentheid, uncle of Johann Gedeon, is working for the Graf von Schoenborn, this time an influential house. The winding up of the Carthusian Monastery was announced on June 20th., 1803 and the sale was fixed on October 24,1804 by the Bavarian state. According to our documents, Written by Theresia Schwab (Friedel Albert's grandmother), Kanzleidirektor Valentin Jörg bought the Carthusian Monastery with all buildings , fields, meadows, vineyards and forest (ca 80 ha. [ed. about 197 acres]), - not including the monastery church, having the tombs of the founder family, the Fürst von Schwarzenberg - for himself and his relatives: Johann Gedeon Schwab, Rentameisterwitwe [rent mistress] Ursula Friedrich, Volkach; Rentameisterwitwe Eva Schubert, Volkach (both sisters of Johann Gedeon); and the heirs Kress (stepsisters of Johann Gedeon). Between the years 1814 - 1840 Johann Gedeon bought the shares of his relatives for 25,800 fr. Gulden. Six years latter he sold the half of the monastery estate with buildings for 24,600 fr. Gulden. 1811 November 22nd Johann Gedeon married Anna Maria Schwab, a cousin from Zeilitzheim and he rents the monastery from his uncle. 1817 Death of Valentin Jörg. The heirs are: Johann Gedeon Schwab his sister Eva Maria Schubert, Rentamtmeisterswitwe-Volkach, his stepsister Ursula Friedrich, Rentamtmeisterwitwe-Volkach and the stepsisters Kress. 1817-1840 Johann Gedeon buys the shares of his relatives. At last he is the only owner. 1818-1821 Johann Gedeon was elected mayor of Astheim. 1819 Johann Gedeon's stepmother Anna Maria Schwab and widow of Anton Schwab dies in Astheim 1824-1833 Johann Gedeon organized the first fire brigade and he was the leader. 1831-1833 Johann Gedeon was elected for a second term as mayor of Astheim. 1846 April 23rd Johann Gedeon sells half of his real estate to 21 people of Astheim 1847 July 5th Johann Gedeon dies (age 73) 1847 August 12th Johann Gedeon wife Anna Maria dies 1848 April 12th Ursula Schwab dies. 1848 April 26th After the death of the parents the children took up the inheritance. Every child got a part of the property according to Franconian law. On April 26, 1848 they personally signed the sharing out: Dorothea - Valentin - Könrad - Kasper - Ludwig and the son in law Michael Englert (husband of Ursula Schwab defunct on April 12, 1848). Residence with former monastery buildings, two stables, four cellars, a barn, a distillery, an extra house, a pig stall, a well in the courthouse and “gardens”-kitchedgarden, vineyard, the Vogelburg fields, the Beuther meadows, and lower fields. On February 28, 1850 this sharing out was officially acknowledge. This document is also personally signed- except Ludwig. In all probability Ludwig was at this time emigrated to the USA. 1848 Ludwig emigrates to America-age 24 1850 Feb. 28th Date of document of the inheritance 1850 April 10 Kasper Schwab sold the shares of his sister Dorothea Schneider- Hassfurt and his brother Ludwig in Astheim acted on their behalf. Kasper Schwab stayed in Astheim in the Carthusian Monastery. He is the progenitor of all Astheim Schwabs and relatives, living today. 1850 Aug 20th Konrad Wilhelm buys some buildings of the Englert children (from the late Ursula Schwab) 1852 Valentin Lorenz gets the Prioratshaus 1862 Konrad Wilhelm Schwab sells the former library and a part of the cloister to the Earl of Schwarzenberg Kaspar Lorenz too, sells the gothic Chapel and part of the cloister to the Earl of Scharzenberg 1868 Valentin Lorenz sells the Prioratshaus to the Earl of Schwarzenberg 1868 Konrad Wilhelm emigrates with his family (5 children) to America – Ohio, Iowa 1870 (?) Valentin Lorenz emigrates to America – Iowa, Colorado Three families are living in the Carthusian Monastery and they cultivate with some cousins ca 15 ha. [ed. about 37 acres] vineyards, fruit trees (plums) and asparagus fields. by Friedel and Friedl Albert When we visited the Alberts in 1982 Friedl had some work to do at the school. He was vice principal and wanted to show me his school, so I accompanied him. While I was waiting for him, I picked up a history book. It opened to a page with the name of Johann Gedeon. I asked Friedl why Johann Gedeon was in a history book. Friedl told me, when Johann purchased the Carthusian Monastery, the monastery church was within the walls and on his property. The town of Astheim wanted the use of the church as a parish church. The Archdiocese in Würzberg got involved along with the court of the king of Bavaria. A great amount of paper went back and forth between Johann, the Archdiocese and the court. In fact, it became a great paper war. Johann was so unyielding that everyone finally gave up. Johann didn't want a lot of people coming onto his farm/home and disrupting the everyday routine of a working farm. In 1814 Prior Josef Maria Schwab late of the Karthausein Limbach died after living 11 years in Astheim. He was 73 years old. Could Prior Josef Maria Schwab have been an uncle or some other relation of Johann Gedeon Schwab? I think this is a very good possibility. Although on our 1998 trip to Astheim Friedl and Friedel took us to visit Friedel's cousin Ottmar Binzenhöfer. Ottmar is a historian for the town of Astheim. Ottmar did not think Prior Schwab was related to Johann because when he moved to Astheim he moved into the town and not the Kartause with Johann. Third Generation From Anton Schwab Ludowicka Dorothea Schwab Died at the age of twelve. The priest (Father Schneider) who, at the funeral said of Dorothea, “Dorothea was the ‘crown’ of the pupils here, excellent what a talent, diligence, eagerness to learn, fear of God and concerned with modesty. O that this beautiful flower had to be broken so early by the cold hand of death!” Ursula Maria Schwab Married: Johann Michael Englert – February 19, 1843. Witness to the marriage: Michael Ungemach – school teacher from Helmstadt Philipp Pfeiffer – school teacher from Helmstadt Born: January 18, 1815 – Astheim Died: April 09, 1849 – Astheim Michael was a Master Baker and Inn-keeper of the Schwane (Swan) which is located across the street from the main door to the Kartause. Children: Valentin Joseph Englert Born: March 18, 1844 – Astheim Godfather: Valentin Schwab Died: ------Christoph Johann Englert Born: September 13, 1845- Astheim Godfather: Christoph Englert Valentin Wahrmund Schwab Born: April 3, 1817-Astheim Died: March 3, 1818-Astheim Anna Dorothea Schwab Married: Adam Schneider in 1818 He was a Mariner Godmother:- Dorothea Kress – Aschaffenburg Valentin Laurentius (Lorenz) Schwab Born: – September 17, 1825 -Astheim Married: Anna Maria Krämer April 26, 1847 -Astheim Witness to Marriage: Michael Englert, master baker, Astheim Josef Wirsching, vine grower, Astheim Parents of Anna Maria: Michael Krämer, vine grower, Astheim Rosina Wirsching, Astheim 1849,—Lorenz was a Landowner 1853,—Lorenz was property administrator in the castle of the nobleman von Boderkschen at monastery Heidenfeld near . We have no idea at this time when Valentin left Germany and came to America, but it had to be sometime after his younger brother Conrad. Children: Ludowicke D. Schwab Born: Dec. 26, 1849, Astheim Died: No date Maria A. Schwab Born: April 30, 1853—Astheim Died: May 18, 1853—Astheim Rosina Schwab Born: 1819—Astheim Died: 1947—Council Bluffs, Iowa Joseph Schwab Born: Astheim Died: Denver, Colorado Children: Margaret Schwab Born: ? Died: Council Bluffs, Iowa Elizabeth Schwab Born: ? Died: Council Bluffs, Iowa Louise Schwab Born: ? Died: ? Mary Schwab Born: ? Died: ? Rosina Schwab Married: Herman Tieben Born: ? Children: Louise Tieben Born: ? Died: 1932 Elsie Tieben Born: ? Died: 1981 Marie Tieben Born ? Died: 1934 Rosina Tieben had written the last letter that we know of to the relations in Germany. It was written to Friedel Albert's grandmother, Theresia Binzenhöfer-Schwab, dated February 13, 1937. That was the last contact with Germany. The letter was given to Friedel's mother, Mathilde Lachner-Schwab, and then passed on to Friedel for safe- keeping, with the hope of some day finding some of the relations of the "Three Brave Brothers" that left Germany and went to America. Friedel and her sister Hedwig both told me that when the Americans were coming through their area during World War II and some of her neighbors were being contacted by American solders who were distant relatives, Mathilde, Friedel's mother kept telling the family that "some day the Schwabs would make contact and they would be one family again". They thought this might happen at that time in 1945, but it didn't happen until 1981. Both Friedel and Hedwig told me more then once that they wished their mother had lived to see this happen. Rosina Schwab-Tieben had three daughters and only one had any children. Louise married Bert Taffe. They had only one child. His name is Gilbert Taffe who is the last living decedent of Rosina and Herman Tieben. Harry Schwab Married: ? Children: Mary Ann Mary Ann Married--Ohler Children: Shella Ohler Eddie Ohler Conrad Wilhelm Schwab Conrad became a large landowner of the Kartause. Married: Gertrud Fackelmann, in Dimbach, a very small village close to Astheim. Her father was a farmer. Born: July 5, 1825, Strehlof Died: Dec. 11, 1896, Custer Ohio Witnesses to the marriage of Gertrud and Conrad were Konrad Schwab an innkeeper, Gaibach Johann Peter Pfriem a Master Baker, Volkach Parents of Gertrud: Jakob Fackelman, Volkach Barbara Altenhöfer, Gaibach Children Johann Jakob Schwab Born: Feb. 25, 1857 Died: 1939 John Schwab Born: Nov. 27, 1859 Died: 1942 Peter Schwab Born: Nov. 28, 1861 Died: 1907 Kaspar Schwab Born: Aug. 18, 1864 Died:.1939 Franziskus Schwab Born: July 31, 1864 Died:.1900 In 1867/68 Conrad sold his land. Then, with his wife and five children, he went to the United States sometime in 1868 to 1870 and settled in Custer, Ohio. A brother of Gertrud, named Peter also accompanied them. Around 1880 Conrad and Gertrud moved from Ohio to Dunlap, Iowa where his brother Louis and family were living. Conrad never purchased any land from Louis. In fact, he settled in Monona County and Louis lived in Harrison County. The first piece of land that Conrad purchased was 160 acres from A. B. Judd and his wife for $800. The deed was signed on July 11, 1877 in the State of Connecticut by the Judds, and recorded July 22, 1878, book ,pg. 513 Monona Co. The second piece of land Conrad purchased was 47 acres from William Muir for $100 on February 13, 1882, filed February 20, 1822, book M page 546. Monona Co. The third piece of land that Conrad Purchased was 6.85 acres from a Mr. and Mrs. Baird for $50 on February 13, 1882, filed on Feb. 20, 1882, book M page 545 Monona Co. On the February 13, 1882 Conrad sold back to Malcolm 5.65 acres, for ten dollars. It was filed on February 28,1882. Book M page 571. Conrad had a net gain of 1.21 acres. The fourth parcel that Conrad purchased was ¼ of a section (160 acres) from L. H. Pepper and his wife for $820 on Jan. 24th. 1883, book P page 463, Monona County. Author Note: When I was in Dunlap, Iowa in 1994, I went to the County Courthouse in Harrison County to find what property Louis had owned. I looked to see if Conrad had purchased land in Harrison County, I couldn’t find any. I then went to the County courthouse in Monona County and found the above.

THE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY ASTHEIM AND THE SCHWAB FAMILY

1409 Erkinger of Seinsheim and his wife Anna of Bibra founded the Monastery 1525 The Peasant Revolt - the monastery is plundered 1583 The "Prioratshaus" is built 1584 The Chapel of St. John is built - at the place of the old small monastery church 1603 The big monastery church is built 1633 The "Thirty Years War" - the Swedish in Astheim 1788 Anna Maria Schwab - 2nd wife of Anton Schwab from Damm/Aschaffenburg comes to her brother, Kanzleirat. Valentin Jörg, at Wiesentheid and hands over her stepson Johann Gedeon (aged 14) for education 1801 Peace of Luneville - The Emperor Napoleon passes the Secularization 1802 Dec. 1st The new government "Kurpfalz-Bayern" seizes possession of the monastery by sticking seizure documents as posters to the monastery walls 1803 June 20th The monastery life ends 1804 Oct. 20th The Carthusian Monastery is auctioned Kanzleidirektor Valentin Jörg buys from Carthusian Monastery all buildings situated within the walls - not the church - furthermore fields and meadows - 162.5 acres The administrator of the monastery is his nephew Johann Gedeon (aged 30) 1805 April 17th The Earl of Schwarzenberg buys the monastery church, because his ancestors are buried there 1811 November 22nd Johann Gedeon gets married with Anna Maria Schwab from Zeilitzheim and he rents the monastery from his uncle 1817 Death of Valentin Jörg. The heirs are: Johann Gedeon Schwab and his sister Eva Maria Schubert, Rentamtmeisterswitwe-Volkach, his stepsister Ursula Friedrich, Rentamtsmeisterwitwe-Volkach and the stepsisters Kress 1817-1840 Johann Gedeon buys the shares of his relatives. At last he is the only owner 1846 April 23rd Johann Gedeon sells half of his real estate to 21 people of Astheim 1847 July 5th Death of Johann Gedeon (aged 73) August 12th death of his wife Anna Maria 1848 April 26th The heirs are: Dorothea - Valentin - Konrad - Kaspar - Ludwig and Michael Englert (husband of Ursula Schwab + April 12th 1848) 1849 Ludwig emigrates to USA - aged 24 1850 February 28th Date of document of the inheritance 1850 April 10th Kaspar Lorenz Schwab sells the share of his sister Dorothea Schneider-Haßfurt and his brother Ludwig on their demand 1850 August 20th Konrad Wilhelm buys some buildings of the Englert children (from the late Ursula Schwab) 1852 Valentin Lorenz gets the Prioratshaus 1862 Konrad Wilhelm Schwab sells the former library and a part of the cloister to the Earl of Schwarzenberg Kaspar Lorenz too, sells the gothic Chapel and a part of the cloister to the Earl of Schwarzenberg 1868 Valentin Lorenz sells the Prioratshaus to the Earl of Schwarzenberg 1868 Konrad Wilhelm emigrates with his family (5 children) to USA – Ohio, Iowa 1870 (?) Valentin Lorenz emigrates to USA Iowa / Colorado # Iowa 1876 April 11th Flash of lightning - church and chapel are damaged The library building and a part of the cloister are broken down by the Earl 1877 Kaspar and Anna Maria Schwab sell land for building a school - behind the Prioratshaus.The Earl buys the garden at the westside of the church - so that it is not surrounded by buildings 1900 Aug.23rd Flash of lightning - 11 houses in and near the Carthusian Monastery burn out 1951 The community of Astheim buys Chapel and Prioratshaus from the Earl of Schwarzenberg - the Prioratshaus becomes townhall 1954 The Carthusian Church is handed over to the community of Astheim 1972 Astheim becomes a part of Volkach - the Prioratshaus becomes archive of Volkach Kaspar Lorenz Schwab stayed in Astheim in the Carthusian Monastery. He is the progenitor of all Schwabs and relatives in Astheim and all over in Germany today. Three families (Schwab - Flößer - Krämer) are still living in the Carthusian Monastery. They cultivate about 37.5 acres of vineyards, orchards (plums) and asparagus fields together with cousins and relatives . Friedl Albert Volkach