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- Biographical Memoirs of St. Clair County, Michigan, 19
Henry J. Sweet
A prosperous farmer of Smith, Berlin township, St. Clair county, Michigan is
the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biographical notice. He
was born in the state of New York November 4, 1831, a son of Joseph C. and
Polly (Clark) Sweet, of Dunham, Lower Canada, of which the father, Joseph C.
Sweet, was an early settler. Joseph C. Sweet came to Michigan in the thirties
and settled in Berlin township, St. Clair county, on an eighty - acres tract
of wooded land, the country at that time being one vast wilderness. He,
however, crossed the line into Macomb county, where he passed two or three
years, but returned to St. Clair county and purchased another tract in Berlin
township, also in the wilderness. The family sheltered itself in a diminutive
log cabin, that had neither fireplace, chimney, door or window, and after a
great deal of hard work succeeded in clearing off the timber from the forty
acres tract, to which they later added a tract of eight acres. Joseph C. was a
skillful axman, was a sure shot with his rifle, and was courageous and daring
as a pioneer. He was a Democrat in politics and active in his support of his
party, was a Freemason, a consistent member of the Methodist church, and
passed away in this faith December 3, 1887, in his eighty-third year, his wife
dying on July 12, 1892 in the eighty-sixth year of her age. To this respected
couple were born nine children, namely; Melvina; Betsey, deceased; Chastina,
deceased; Henry J., whose name heads this sketch; Hannah; Nancy, deceased;
Edmund; Maria, deceased; and Alma, also deceased. The children all received
good common school educations and Chastina and Maria became successful and
popular teachers.
Henry J. Sweet assisted his father on the home farm in his early days, doing
his share in clearing off the superfluous timber, and in the winter also
worked in lumber camps. At his father's death he took charge of the old
homestead. March 6, 1860, he was married to Miss Harriet Allen, daughter of
Douglas and Phebe (Conger) Allen, of Dangerfield, Oneida county, New York, who
came to Armada, Macomb county, Michigan, in 1836, and reared one of the most
respected families in the district. To Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Sweet have been
born two children, viz: Will J., who was born September 22, 1864, and died
February 25, 1901. He was a young man of great promise, was respected by all
who knew him, and was the youngest member who ever served as chairman of the
board of supervisors, of which he was a member at the time of his death. He
had served as town clerk for some time and was supervisor for four years. His
wife, Myrtle Gaskell, survives him, residing at Mount Clemens. The daughter,
Effie, became the wife of Adam Mackie, who died October 29, 1893, leaving her
with a daughter, Aubrey A. Mackie, aged nine years. Mrs. Mackie is now the
wife of J.B. Curry. Mr. Sweet owns a well-improved farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, and has recently purchased a one-hundred-ten-acre farm at Smith,
which he operates. He is an active Democrat and has served as township
treasurer several terms, and was moderator of the school for twenty-one years.
He has always been controlled by the spirit of industry, a virtue inherited,
no doubt, in a great degree from his mother, who was an indefatigable spinner
and weaver of wool, not only for her family, but very often in shares with
others. She made the clothing for the household, and was one of the most
respected ladies that ever lived in Berlin township.
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