In taking up the medical profession Dr. James W. Sweet has followed in the footsteps of his ancestors. He comes of a family that has furnished many notable representatives to the profession and today there are various ones of the name who are devoting their time and energies to the practice of medicine and surgery with good success. Dr. Sweet of this review was born in New Haven on March 3, 1881. He is descended from one of three brothers, all of whom were surgeons in England and came to the new world to practice their profession. The eldest of these, Dr. James Sweet, had in his possession a sign inscribed, ”Dr. Sweet, Bone Setter,” and this sign was handed down through successive generations, ultimately becoming the property of Dr. James W. Sweet, the father of him whose name introduces this review. Dr. Benoni Sweet, the great-grandfather of Dr. James W. Sweet, now practicing in New Haven, devoted his life to the same profession in Guilford, Connecticut, and became the father of three sons, Benoni, Gideon and James W., who also became surgeons, Gideon practicing in Middletown, Connecticut, where he passed away, while James W. settled in Milford, Connecticut. The latter was born in Guilford, June 15, 1828, and practiced in Milford until his death, which occurred in April, 1877. He married Emmeline Walkley, who was born May 7, 1830, in Guilford, and who was called to the home beyond, June 17, 1853. She was a daughter of Walter Walkley, who was killed while serving in the Indian war about 1830. He came of English ancestry.

     Dr. James W. Sweet, son of Dr. James and Emmeline (Walkley) Sweet, was provided with excellent educational advantages, attending public and private schools in Milford, and later he turned to the profession in which his ancestors had won success and prominence. He took up the study of surgery under the instruction of his father and upon the latter’s death in 1877 took over the large practice of Dr. Benoni Sweet. His life from that time forward was a very busy and useful one. His fame as a surgeon, especially in bone setting and in the care of dislocations, won him distinction and patients came to him from all parts of the United States.

     On the 18th of May, 1878, Dr. James W. Sweet, father of the subject, was united in marriage to Miss Emmeline S. Barber, of Elkhart, Indiana, a daughter of James M. Barber, and to them were born three children: James W., of this review; Grover C.; and Minnie E., the last of whom died at the age of six years. Dr. Sweet gave his political endorsement to the democratic party and was a prominent Mason, attaining the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and he was identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Order of Red Men, the Patriotic Sons of America, the Sons of Temperance and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He was a devoted member of the Episcopal church and in that faith passed away in 1907, his last days being spent in New Haven. His life had been one of great benefit to his fellowmen, not only because of his professional skill, but because of his benevolence, his philanthropy and his broad humanitarianism.

     Dr. James W. Sweet, son of James and Emmeline S. (Barber) Sweet, attended the public schools of New Haven and later entered his father’s office, where he was specially trained in the setting of broken bones and dislocated joints, also in the making of X-ray pictures of such. This is indicative of the fact that the family had continued in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress. The methods employed today by Dr. Sweet, of this review, bear little resemblance to those in vogue in his great-grandfather’s time or when the three American progenitors of the family came to the new world. From the age of fifteen years he was under the watchful eye and careful instruction of his father, who taught him every phase of the delicate work of bone adjustment and the work of overcoming dislocations. So proficient has he become in this line that his services are in constant demand by other physicians of New Haven who desire his work in the adjustment of dislocated joints and bones and also his work with the X-ray machine. There is no phase of the work in its modern scientific connections with which he is not familiar.

     Dr. Sweet was married on the 27th of June, 1906, to Miss Susan L. Gallagher, of New Haven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Gallagher. He is well known in Masonic circles as a Knight Templar and he is also identified with the Mystic Shrine. He likewise has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. These, however, are side interests in his life, for he subordinates everything to his professional activities, recognizing fully the obligations and responsibilities devolving upon him in this connection.