William Schwehr was born October 19, 1875 to Herman and Christina Schwehr at Mildmay, Ontario, Canada. His father passed away at the age of fifty leaving the mother with fourteen children. His oldest brother Joe stayed at home and helped his mother on the farm. William and three of his brothers came to Valley City in 1896. Leopold, Fred and Robert homesteaded and purchased land in the Sanborn and Spiritwood area, but William remained in Valley City, working as a carpenter with Philip Schoefter and Nick Hesch. These three young men constructed many of the earlier homes in Valley City. A few years later his brothers Ed and Cosmas and his sister Minnie came to this area and after looking over the various opportunities here, decided to homestead at Belfield, North Dakota. In 1901, William purchased 320 acres of land, the east half of section 15 in Cuba Township from Wilhelm Heinen. In 1904 he returned to Canada to marry Mary Lambertus also of Mildmay, Ontario. She was born July 22, 1876 to Joseph and Catherine Lambertus. He soon brought his bride to the farm home he had built for her.
Mr. Schwehr farmed in the neighborhood of Joseph Ritzke, Charles Ertelt, Joseph Kunze, and Joseph and John Gruman. Carl Fieber also farmed in the vicinity.
William Schwehr was always active in community affairs, served on the township board for many years, was a trustee of St. Bernard's Catholic Church of Oriska and a member of the Eagles Lodge of Valley City.
Mr. and Mrs. Schwehr retired to Oriska in 1950. They raised seven children: Hildegard (Mrs. Jack Roys, Akron, Colorado; Loretta (Mrs. Joe Ertelt, Fingal,, North Dakota); May (Mrs. Joe Kohler, Valley City, North Dakota); Edmond of Fargo, North Dakota; Angeline (Mrs. James Roys, Yuma, Colorado); Harvey of Glenwood, Iowa; Walter of Mesa, Arizona; Adelbert, who passed away in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Schwehr celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary on February 2, 1964. He passed away on April 7, 1964 at the age of 89 and she passed away on November 11, 1968 at the age of 92. Mr. Schwehr has two living sisters who are now members of St. Joseph's Order. They are 92 and 93 years of age. They reside in Toronto, Canada.
He has one brother, Ed who lives in Billings, Montana. He is now 96 years of age. Mrs. Schwehr has one sister who is also 96 years of age who lives in British Columbia. Two step brothers also are still living.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 220