Julius Schwerin (1812-1875) immigrated to the United States from Kurnick, Prussia. Around 1840, Schwerin moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he met Caroline Suares (1819-1904), whom he would soon marry and raise a family with. To provide for his growing family, Schwerin ran a store. According to the 1850 Census, Schwerin enslaved three women of African descent, ages 38, 22, and 13, respectively. These women likely helped run the store, or perhaps maintained the Schwerin home under Caroline’s supervision. Schwerin’s ability to provide for his family and purchase enslaved individuals indicates the profitability of his store. By 1860, the Schwerin family moved to Sumter, South Carolina, where Schwerin worked as a merchant. By this point, his personal estate was valued at $3,000, and that of Caroline’s was valued at $1500. By 1870, Schwerin, who remained a merchant, owned real estate worth $4,000 and other property worth $300.