He was born in Kalldorf, Lippe-Detmold, Germany and was baptized 10 April 1842 in the Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche, Langenholzhausen, Lippe-Detmold, Germany. His "paten" or godparents were: Heinrich Schöskersmeier and Friedrich Strate.

While living in Germany he worked in a brickyard. At the time the young men of the land were required to join the German Army when they turned 18. Henry did not want to do this. So he and his older sister, Lottie, became the next two (the fourth and fifth) of the Schwarze family to emigrate in 1860. They left London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving at the Castle Garden Immigration Station, New York on 5 December 1860. He was a tailor (the same occupation as his father and brothers).

Ironically, four years later he joined the Army of the United States in Illinois and became a participant in the Civil War - one of 3,168 men who fought from Stephenson County. He was enlisted by Captain Arno, on 26 January 1864 in Freeport, Illinois as a Private in Company "C", of the 46th Illinois Volunteer Infantry for 3 years. Henry was mustered in at Freeport, on 01 March 1864. Companies A, B, C, G and K of the Forty-sixth were recruited in Stephenson County. The men of Company C were of German descent and the officers of the Company had all been born in Germany. Heinrich was described as being age 21, 5' 4", with brown hair, grey eyes and light complexion. His job was that of a tailor. He would have served with Christian Mensenkamp.

The Regiment was sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi. "In May and June the Regiment was on expedition to Yazoo City and Benton, Mississippi and July skirmished with the enemy at Jackson, Mississippi. In August the Forty-sixth dropped downriver to Morganzia Bend, Port Hudson and Clinton, Louisiana. On September 1 the Regiment moved to Memphis. January 2, 1865 the Regiment proceeded to Louisiana then into camp at Dauphin's Island, Alabama. The remainder of the time of service the Forty-sixth saw action at Spanish Fort, Fort Blakely, Mobile and New Orleans. While at Baton Rouge January 20, 1866 the Regiment mustered out and embarked for Camp Butler." Heinrich was one of those mustered out on 20 January 1866 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by Lt. Mitchell. After he left the Army he worked as a carpenter contractor. He was a skillful cabinetmaker.

Henry married Minnie Kanne. They both came from the same part of Germany but were from different towns. Henry's sister, Louise Schwarze, married Minnie's brother, William Kanne. Minnie came to Freeport, Illinois when she was five years old.

Henry built the family home at 717 West Pleasant Street in Freeport IL in 1867.

He and Minnie had 12 children. Four died very young. Henry Schwarze had a large headstone placed in the family plot, City Cemetery, Freeport, Illinois where the four children are buried. The Schwarze children attended Columbia School in town. They all went through the 8th grade and did not go any farther. All of the children lived with the parents until they got married.

"When son Henry planned to move to Washington State it was decided to have a family photograph taken. The only time Simon could leave his work was on Sunday. It took the entire family to persuade Grandfather to go to the photographer's on a Sunday and his downcast look on the picture is testimony of his deep disapproval.

Henry was the only one of the first family to leave the county. He, together with his family moved to" the State of Washington. They landed in Bellingham in March of 1891.

The family attended the German Lutheran church where Henry sang in the choir. Grace Daesner Higgerson (granddaughter of Henry and Minnie) recalls being in the Schwarze home many times. "The entire family would get together at the Schwarze home every Sunday. She said they never locked their door. You walked into a large kitchen that had a big long table with benches on either side. There was a clock on the wall and a map of the United States under the clock. Henry Schwarze loved to play the card game "500" and take rides on Sunday afternoons." Grandson Carl Schwarze, Jr. recalls "the Schwarzes all said what was on their minds."

Henry had two cows, one of which was named Betsy. He had a beautiful flower garden and he loved his garden and his cows. He made wine and beer in the basement of his house. He used to say that anyone who was in the Civil War could make all the wine and beer they wanted.
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HENRY SCHWARZE

"Henry Schwarze, a veteran of the Civil war and one of the old time building contractors now living pleasantly retired in Bellingham, has been a resident of this city for more than thirty-five years and there are few men in Whatcom county who have a better or wider acquaintance than he. Though of European birth Mr. Schwarze has been a resident of this country since the days of his young manhood, served as a soldier of the Union before he had acquired his citizenship papers and has thus accounted himself as much an American as though indeed native and "to the manner born." He was born in Germany, in 1842 and was eighteen years of age when in 1860 he came to the United States, landing at Baltimore from a sailing ship. He proceeded westward to Freeport, Illinois, where he was employed as a carpenter, being thus engaged when in the next year the War Between the States broke out. Though not yet a citizen of the country to which he had attached himself by adoption, Mr. Schwarze's freedom loving heart was stirred by the call for soldiers to defend the Union and he enlisted as a member of Company C, Forty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with that gallant command rendered service for two years, coming through without hurt.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Schwarze returned to Freeport and resumed work at his trade. On April 3, 1866, he secured his final citizenship papers and a year later married and established his home at Freeport, continuing there as a carpenter and builder for more than thirty years until 1890 when he came with his family to the Sound country and became a resident of the settlements that thirteen years later became consolidated under the present corporate name of Bellingham. Upon his arrival here Mr. Schwarze bought the home site on which he still is living, 2500 Keesling Street, and built the house, which he and his wife now occupy. After he got his own house up he took an active part in the general construction work that was so rapidly progressing here and became one of the best-known carpenters and builders in town. This line he continued to follow until his retirement in 1913, when past seventy years of age, and his time since then has been pleasantly occupied with his garden, in which he takes much interest, this garden covering the vacant lots which he owns adjoining his residence.

It was on March 14, 1867, at Freeport, Illinois, that Mr. Schwarze was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Kanne of that place and when in the spring of 1917 this venerable couple celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, their "golden wedding", the occasion was made one of general congratulation and felicitation among their hosts of friends in the city and throughout the county. Mrs. Schwarze was born in Germany and was four years of age when her parents started with their family for America, bound for the port of New Orleans. Her father died while the vessel was making the passage over. Her widowed mother made her way with her children from New Orleans to Freeport, where kinsfolk were awaiting her, and she presently married again and settled down there, the daughter Minnie thus being reared in Freeport, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Schwarze. Of the twelve children born to this union seven still are living, namely: Christina, who married the Rev. Bard, now living in Missouri, and has one child; Mrs. Lydia Daesener of Bellingham, who has a daughter; George, a Bellingham carpenter, who married and has two children; Mrs. Louisa Cameron, living in Bellingham; Carl, a Bellingham carpenter, who married and has four children; Edwin, who is connected with the milling industry in Bellingham; and Otto Schwarze, a veteran of the World war, who also is connected with the lumber mills industry in Bellingham, as a shingle weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Schwarze are republicans and have ever taken an earnest interest in local civic affairs. Mrs. Schwarze is a member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Schwarze is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and has for many years taken an interested part in the activities of that patriotic organization. Source: History of Whatcom County, Volume II, by Lottie Roeder Roth, 1926, pages 442-443.
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VETERAN IS CALLED
Henry Schwarze, G.A.R. Member, Dies at Age of 92

Henry Schwarze, Civil war veteran and a member of J. B. Steedman post No. 24, G. A. R., died Thursday at his home, 2500 Keesling street. He was 92 years of age, had resided in Bellingham forty-four years and had been ill a long time.

Funeral services will be held at the Bingham-Dahlquist funeral home Saturday at 2 p. m. Rev. C. Zimmerman will officiate. Burial will occur in Bayview cemetery.

Mr. Schwarze is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Fred Daesner and Mrs. Ruth Cameron, Bellingham, and Mrs. Andreus Bard, Kansas City, Mo.; five sons, George, Carl, Edward and Otto, Bellingham, and Albert, of Tumwater, Wash.; one sister, Mrs. Lovisa Kaune, Freeport, Illinois; eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Source: The Bellingham Herald, Thursday, 06 December 1934.