William A. Schwartz, manager of the Inter-State Mercantile Company, of Louisburg, Kan., is of the very first rank of Miami county's influential business men. He is a native son of Miami county, born in Wea township, Dec. 22, 1868, a son of William and Anna (Doherty) Schwartz. He was reared on the farm and was educated in the public schools of his locality and at St. Mary's College. His business career began when he was about twenty years of age by his entering the employ of the Louisburg Mercantile & Manufacturing Company as a clerk. This was a mercantile corporation, in which his father was interested, and after proving his business ability through a little over a year's service as clerk, he was made manager of the business, to succeed the former manager, who resigned. At that time the firm handled hardware, implements, and seeds, and thus continued until 1903, when it bought the Inter-State Mercantile Company and the grocery stock of F. S. Goebel, combining the business of the three concerns and assuming the firm title, the Inter-State Mercantile Company. The present officers of the firm are: William Schwartz, Sr., president; La Fayette Lee, vice-president; and William A. Schwartz, manager and also secretary and treasurer. The business forms an almost complete department store, as its stock consists of dry goods, men's and women's ready-made clothing, and a complete line of hardware and groceries. The business has commodious quarters, occupying a two-story building, with a frontage of 110 feet, and 92 feet deep, besides which they have two ware houses. They employ a force of about fifteen people and their business territory includes not only the eastern part of Miami county, but also the adjoining territory in Missouri as well.

Few residents of Louisburg have been more closely identified with its business interests than has Mr. Schwartz, during the nearly a quarter of a century that he has been manager of the business with which he is still connected, during which time he has built up a mercantile establishment that is one of the most complete in Miami county and a credit to Louisburg. The responsibility of managing and carrying forward the business of this firm has rested largely with Mr. Schwartz, and to his business acumen and untiring energy is due in no small measure the splendid success of the business. The financial activities of Mr. Schwartz also embrace other projects, and he is one of the directors of the Bank of Louisburg and interested in other enterprises.

In 1893 Mr. Schwartz wedded Miss Clara Strausbaugh, of Paola, Kan., a daughter of Anthony Strausbaugh, an old and respected Kansas pioneer who came to this state from Tiffin, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz enjoy the respect and esteem of all who know them.