Barton Edwin Schwartz was born August 25, 1898 in New York, New York, the son of Edwin M. and Florence Schwartz. In 1900 the family was living at 59 Morningside Avenue in New York City. Edwin supported his wife and child in the business of cigar manufacturing. His company was called Edwin M. Schwartz Company, Inc., and was located at 29 E End Avenue in NYC.
Edwin died sometime before 1910. Florence and Barton were living at 133 W 140th Street. Barton attended the Townsend Harris High School in Flushing. Florence had an "income", likely from the cigar company, which was still listed under her husband's name in 1915.
By 1915, Florence and Barton were living at 611 W 156th Street. Barton, at the age of 16, was attending college. Two years later, while still listed as a student, Barton registered for the draft during World War I. He was described as being tall, slender, with black hair and grey eyes.
Barton began his military service on September 30, 1918, and was discharged with the rank of private on December 7, 1918. He did not serve overseas, but took part in Student Army Training C, College of the City of New York.
After his release from the Army, Barton returned to live with Florence on 156th Street. He was 21, and worked as an advertising agent for a newspaper. For the next five years he continued to work in "advertising".
On September 25, 1930, in Lynbrook, New York, Barton married Ruth Simon, the daughter of Maurice and Matilda Simon. In 1940, the couple (along with in-laws Maurice and Matilda) were living at 35 Fort Washington Avenue, in New York City. Barton stated he had finished four years of college, and was employed by Phillips Posters Inc., at 509 W 56th Street. He was a sales executive in charge of advertising displays and exhibits. Wife Ruth had finished two years of high school, and worked as a millinary designer. Barton's World War II draft card was slightly more detailed than the previous one, calling him 5' 10 1/2" tall, weighed 155 pounds, with grey eyes, brown hair, light complexion, and a "slight scar on left chin."
In 1944 Barton had undertaken some work for the Red Cross. He applied for an absentee ballot in New York State, (listing his choice of party for the primary as "Democratic") which he had sent to him at the office of Field Director, Rome Army Air Field, Rome, New York.
By 1950 Barton was back home on Fort Washington Avenue with Ruth and her father Maurice, now a widower. Barton picked up where he left off as an executive in the advertising business.
On July 11, 1952, Barton's mother Florence Schwartz died in Manhattan. In 1959 and 1960, the city directories place Barton at 120 E 36th Street in Manhattan. The next 20 years of his life are unknown, pending more available documentation.
Barton Edwin Schwartz died on October 19, 1985 at NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue. He was buried a year and a half later, March 12, 1987, on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; NY, US, Abstracts of WWI Military Service, 1917-1919; US, WWII Draft Registraction Cards Young Men, 1940-1947; NY State Address Notification and Absentee Ballot Application Cards, 1944; 1900, 1910, 1920, 1940 and 1950 US Federal Censuses; 1915 and 1925 NY, US, State Censuses; US, City Directories, 1822-1995; US, School Yearbooks, 1900-2016; NY State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967; NY, NY, US, Death Index, 1949-1965.