Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Andrew Sweet
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
ANDREW SWEET. Occupying a prominent position among the farmers and stock raisers of Grant Township, Riley County. is the above named gentleman, whose landed estate now amounts to about 876 acres, situated on sections 3. 4 and 9, and who is engaged in raising cattle, hogs, horses and mules for market. His ability both as an agriculturist and a stockman is acknowledged by all about him, and his upright character is equally well-known and valued.
His residence is a commodious stone edifice, situated on the high ground overlooking the Blue River Valley from the mouth of Mill Creek north, and the fine estate comprises bottom and bluff pasture land and valley. The dwelling contains an excellent library, and an organ indicates that music is regarded as one of the essentials to home cheer
and home happiness. The financial success of Mr. Sweet enables himself and family to gratify their tastes and display their hospitality, and frequent gatherings at the house indicate that it is a favorite spot, particularly with the music loving young people. The youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sweet has from her childhood been a collector of mineralogical and geological specimens, and now has a rare collection enriched by contributions from almost eveiy part of the world, and including also many other curious and interesting articles of vertu, the whole forming a valuable and highly prized embellishment of the home.
Mr. Sweet is a descendant of one of two brothers who came from England with William Penn and assisted in the early development of Pennsylvania, from which State his grandfather removed to Kentucky. There B. F. Sweet, the father of our subject, was born and grew to manhood, marrying Miss Jane Robinson, who was born in Virginia and became an inhabitant of the Blue Grass State when three years old. B. F. Sweet was a farmer and cabinet-maker. He moved to Ohio about the year 1832, and in Brown County our subject was born on Oct. 31, 1834, being the third in a family of five children. The first born of the parental family is Lucy M., now the wife of J. M. Sullivan, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Baldwin City, Douglas County, Kan.; they have four living children. Elizabeth F. resides in the same place and is the wife of James Hair and the mother of six children. Thomas served during the war in the 22d Ohio Infantry, and lost his health in the army, surviving, however, until 1881; he married Mattie Freyberger. and left two children; James, a twin of Thomas, was Color Sergeant in the 48th Ohio Infantry, and when Gen. Grant made an assault on the Confederate works at Vicksburg, on May 22, 1863, he was the first man to place the Union colors on the breast works, receiving a death wound from a bullet a few moments afterward.
Andrew Sweet was reared on a farm and received the usual common school education of a farmer's son on the frontier, where schools were "few and far between." He remained at home until of age, and then rented from his father for fifteen years, carrying on a successful agricultural life. Under the call for 100 days' men in 1864 he became a member of Company K, 60th Ohio Infantry, holding the rank of Corporal.
Turning his steps westward in the fall of 1870, Mr. Sweet arrived in Manhattan on Oct. 28 and made his home in that town until the following February, when he purchased 156 acres of land, which forms a part of his present estate. Learning that the adjoining 160 acres was government land. be soon after filed a claim upon it under the Homestead Act, making his residence thereon. This acreage was increased by purchase until his landed estate amounted to almost 1,000 acres, but having sold seventy-seven acres to a son, his own holding is at present but 876.
On March 27, 1856, in Brown County, Ohio, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between Mr. Sweet and Miss Mary P. Talley. who was also a native of the Buckeye State. The happy union has resulted in the birth of five children, only one of whom is now at home. Ann married Worth Nixon, a farmer in good circumstances, whose home is in the Blue Valley, in the southeast corner of Grant Township; they have one child, Benjamin F. married Lucy A. Knipe, daughter of the Rev. William Knipe, whose sketch appears elsewhere this volume; they reside in Montgomery County, and have three children. Thomas married Miss Jessie A. Pierce, and their home is near the Paul school house in Grant Township. John II. is unmarried and is employed as clerk in the hardware store of P. W. Zeigler in Manhattan. Lillie, who is at home, is well educated and accomplished, being an excellent performer on the organ and regarded as the best singer in the neighborhood, her sweet voice leading in the Sunday-school where her musical ability is very useful. All the children received their education at Baker University.
Mr. Sweet is a Republican and has served as delegate to county conventions. He has been Road Overseer for several years and is now serving as a member of the District School Board bringing the same qualities to bear in the management of township affairs, which have made him so successful in his own private work in life. Since childhood he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a valued assistant in the good work
of the denomination. His wife, in her own sphere, has shown herself as able as he in this, and shares with him in the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances.
.