[1] Schweinfurth's father was an engineer and studied at the Stuttgart Polytechnic Institute before immigrating to America in the 1850s.

Afterwards, Schweinfurth moved to Boston, Massachusetts in 1879 and worked for the architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns.

[3] Upon his return to the United States in 1886, Schweinfurth rejoined Peabody and Stearns as chief designer.

[2] He also entered numerous design competitions such as for the American Fine Arts Society (1891),[5] the Minnesota Statehouse (1895), and the Boston Athenæum (1902).

[3] In addition to his architectural work, Schweinfurth was a skilled graphic designer, drawer, and watercolorist.