Louis Schwab was an ancestor of mine. He is my mother's great grandfather. The Abbey in Mt. Angel purchased their property from the Schwabs. Louis and his family moved to Mt. Angel because they heard that the Benedictine's were coming and in Iowa the Catholic church and schools were too far away. I believe all of the 'founding families' in Mt. Angel have their roots in Bavaria, the area, soil, climate reminded them of home and there was land to be had for pretty cheap.