Christian Cyclopedia

(April 5 [4?], 1819–May 29, 1905). B. Horneburg, Hannover, Ger.; educ. Göttingen and Jena; private tutor Dorum, Hannover; ordained 1843; miss. Leopoldina, Bahia, Brazil; to US 1850; pastor Neu-Bielefeld (now Black Jack), St. Louis Co., Missouri, September 1850; joined Mo. Syn. October 1850; pastor 1851–81, asst. 1881–99 Cleveland, Ohio; helped popularize use of Christmas tree in Am. chs. Pres. Cen. Dist. of the Mo. Syn. 1860–78; pres. Mo. Syn. 1878–99. Commissioned by the Mo. Syn. 1890 to prepare a catechism; it appeared 1896 and became known as the Schwan Catechism.

E. W. Meier, “The Life and Work of Henry C. Schwan As Pastor and Missionary,” CHIQ, XXIV, No. 3 (October 1951), 132–139; No. 4 (January 1952), 145–172; XXV, No. 2 (July 1952), 72–85; No. 3 (October 1952), 97–121; K. Niermann, “Did Schwan Do Mission Work in Brazil?” CHIQ, XXV, No. 3 (October 1952), 122–124.