Schweitzer - Fred - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Mr. Fred Schweitzer, who recently died at Columbus, Ohio was a native of Germany and was born Dec 6, 1838 at Stahlberg in the Rhineland Palatinate, Bavaria.  In 1855 he came with his father to this country and located at Columbus, Ohio where they had relatives living. At an early age he had shown a decided talent for music and his father, who also was a fine musician, instructed him on the cornet, for which he had a preference. After coming to Columbus, Mr. Schweitzer became a member of the then famous Gutman’s brass band of Columbus and later, after the Civil War broke out, this band of which Mr. Schweitzer was yet a member enlisted in the 18th Regiment of regulars, USA which became the band of that regiment. After being disabled while in service he received his honorable discharge.  He came to Crawfordsville in 1865 and took charge of the Montgomery Guards’ band which was considered at that time to be one of the best in the state.  Since coming to Crawfordsville Mr. Schweitzer has been engaged in organizing and teaching bands with the best results and had grown very popular in his profession as a teacher and bandmaster. Many musicians in this county and friends here will kindly remember him for his geniality as a companion and deplore his sudden death.  CS (wonder if this is Chris or would he be dead already – no he’d not and DO think it would be Chris but why oh why didn’t he say the dad’s name – grrrr )