El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-30
The old Family Album

---JEs-tJN A. schwartz, president
OF the Popular DRY Goods Co.
VIII celebrate his 58rd birthday an
niversary. having been born Deem
Der 81, 1856. The accompanying pic
ture Of Dir. Schwartz was taken
when the future FL Paso merchant
prince was about IS years Of age, Nv
ing In Cincinnati. Ohio.
Lr. Schwartz was born in Austria
Hungary and came to the United
states at the age OF &c. The first job
he ever had in America was in a
paper factory in Cincinnati, at IS
cents a day.
In the spring Of 1880 he came to FL
Paso and went to work for Joe Good
man in the Porto de Liverpool dry
goods store in Juarez
In two years the young clerk had
saved $50 Mexican pesos and he and
simon Picard. who had saved 500 or
twice as many, opened store Of
their own in Juarez, Simon Picard
owning a tWO-thirds interest and A
Schwartz a one-third interest. Picard.
like Schwartz, has since accumulated
q fortune in business and IS now re-
siding in Switzerland.
Twenty three years ago A Schwartz
sold his interest with Picard and de-
cided TO cast his lot IN El Paso, so he /
moved over 20 this side OF the river
and established the first store on
Overland street. 1t was located in
the Hammett bull ling and A. P. Coles /
was the agent for the property. Mr.. I
Schwartz paid S35 a month rent. Z
The Lion Grocery company was next /
door A. Goodman owned the grocery !
store
The Schwartz store was called The I
1alrs and il was the beginning OF I
rna mwnEHwH HHAnwrr|aH EHnHa fer
several ears on Overland street. AR 4
schwartz secured location on the I
corner where the Popular now stands ]
and moved his stock into the building. .
then owned by the 1Iasons- He occu-
pied only a small part OF the Masonic D
building and only one 1oor-not
nearly as much space as the pres
enr first floor OF the Popular occu-
called The Fair"
IL 1903 Nr. Schwartz sold out the
business 70 J. ~ Cannon and Carl
klrCher- For awhile A. Schwartz re-
NAMED out OF the mercantile bust
ness and made his money buying and
selling real estate. He bought and 9
improved the old Myar opera house
property after the theater was de-
srroyed by fire. Another piece OF
property that he bought and later
sold at a big profit was the old ket-
-elsen and DeEetau property at Fif-l .
ana ~ faso streets, which ne bought
While he was out OF the mercan-
tile business. some OF his nephews
and other relatives organized The
Fopuiar Dry Goods company" and
opened a store where the Greci~l
theater is now located After a couple
or quite successful years-Joe Eel
man, sam Schwartz. j. C. Zozaya and
J. weiss were among the organizers 3
or the compauy-it acquired the old
Fair store at Mesa and San An :
tonic. Cannon and Kircher having
dissolved partnership and The Fair"
having gone out OF business. The
Popular moved back into the old {
Fair location and A. Schwartz took Z
stock and became the 81 lH.
lt was not long until more space had
70 be ADDED and this was repeated
several times FINALLY, Mr. Schwartz {
bought the property from the Masons +
and erected the present handsome E
Popular building.
A Schwartz Is a Mason, a Shriner, (
an Elk director in the chamber OF /
commerce, a Rotarian and is generally Z
leLlEe IN city aIIalrs- he was chairman
Of the recent Red Cross membership
lrlFe and took leading part In all
patriotic work during the war. He
is deeply interested IN parks and
recreational centers for the city and
Is member Of the city planning
commission.
A. Schwartz is married and has a
tine home on Mesa avenue Mr.. and E
llrs- Schwartz have two sons and
laughter, Manuel Erwin and Mss
As a recreation and relaxation, A.
sen Warlz rises every morning at
o'clock winter or summer, and takes
q long walk into the mountains. He
says it has given him perfect health
and keeps him in fine physical con
lition-