Charles William Schwartz, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon of Topeka, is a native of Adams county, Illinois, where he was born near the town of Golden, Sept. 26, 1870. He is a son of John Gay Schwartz, who was born in Pike county, Illinois, Feb. 17, 1841, and died in Adams county, Illinois, May 16, 1897. John G. Schwartz was a farmer by vocation and, during the memorable struggle of 1861-65, he was one of the brave and gallant defenders of our national life. George Schwartz, father of John G., was a native of Switzerland and immigrated to the United States when he was nineteen years old. He married Mary Gray, a native of North Carolina, and a descendant of a family of Revolutionary fame. John Gray Schwartz married Martha Jane O'Neal, who was born in Pike county, Illinois, April 22, 1848, and now resides at Golden, Ill. She was the daughter of John O'Neal, a native of Ireland, whose wife was a Miss Sapp, a native of Missouri.

Dr. Charles W. Schwartz was reared on the farm near Golden, Ill. He was the fourth child in a family of thirteen children—six sons and seven daughters—eight of whom are living. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Golden, and his literary education was continued at the Western Normal College, Bushnell, Ill. He next matriculated in the medical department of The Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill., and was graduated in that department in 1897. In 1901, after practicing his profession four years in the State of Illinois, he came to Topeka, where he has since been actively engaged in his professional labors and has built up a large practice. He is in touch with the latest developments in the science of medicine and of surgery and, being a member of the Shawnee County Medical Society, the Kansas State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association, he gives and receives the inspiration and knowledge to be obtained by association with others of his profession. He affiliates fraternally with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Scottish Rite degree, and his religious faith is expressed by membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Topeka. He is a member of the Topeka Commercial Club, and in political affairs, he gives his support to the men and measures of the Republican party but he has never sought official honors for himself.

On July 20, 1898, Dr. Schwartz and Miss Josephine Mary Strickler were united in marriage. She also was a native of Adams county, Illinois, where she was born July 4, 1872, to Jacob L. and Elspey (Scott) Strickler, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Schwartz was a former schoolmate of her husband and, like him, was one of a family of thirteen children. Dr. and Mrs. Schwartz have five children: Charles Laurent, born May 24, 1899; Martha Elspey, born Jan. 17, 1901; Josephine Jeannette, born Nov. 22, 1903; John Dale, born June 1, 1907, and Scott O'Neal, born Oct. 28, 1909.