The 1880 United States census showed William Schwartz (age 40, dry goods merchant) married to Magdalena (age 40) and living in Brainerd, Minnesota. An adopted son, William (age 8, born in Minnesota), also lived with the couple.
Brainerd Journal. Wm. Swartz and wife have made arrangements for a permanent separation, being unable to live together in the peace and tranquility that is essential to the enjoyable matrimonial life. They divided their property, Mrs. Schwartz taking the brickyard and the addition to Brainerd known as Schwartz addition, and agreeing to pay all indebtedness standing against Mr. Schwartz’s business. – the latter takes $1,000 in cash and certain real estate as his share. This morning he and his son, aged twelve years, started for Hanover, Germany, where the boy, who is a very smart little fellow, will attend school. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday Morning, September 3, 1884, Volume VII, Number 247, Page 3)
He Will Skip the Country. Special to the Globe. Brainerd, Minn., March 16. – The Thies-Schwartz adultery case has been compromised, Thies, the gay young bookkeeper, agreeing finally to leave the country forever. He was employed as a bookkeeper at the Schwartz steam brick yard, and during the absence of William Schwartz, the proprietor, in Europe, it is alleged he supplanted the husband in the wife’s affections. Both parties were charged with adultery, but the charges have been withdrawn upon the condition that Thies take his immediate and final departure. Schwartz, who returned from Germany a few days ago, began proceedings for divorce immediately upon his arrival. (The Saint Paul Daily Globe, Tuesday Morning, March 17, 1885, Volume VII, Number 76, Page 5)