Hiram SWEET
(Photo in source book)
"A history of Fayette county, and particularly of the town of Fayette, would be very incomplete without a record of the career of this early pioneer and prominent business man whose life-work is ended. Hiram Sweet was a man of resources, a most capable business man, and a citizen above reproach. He began his life career practically unaided after his seventh year, when his father died. The family was poor, and the young boy had to depend largely upon his own resources. He was a student and close reader all through his life, and to this characteristic, rather than to educational opportunities, is due the fact that he became thoroughly well-informed, and always kept abreast of the times in matters of general information.
Hiram Sweet was born in Pleasant Valley, Fulton county, New York, on the 5th day of November, 1828. He was the son of Amon and Cynthia (NILES) Sweet, who were natives of Rensselaer county, New York, and descendants of English ancestors. The family settled in Rhode Island prior to the war of the Revolution. The father of Hiram Sweet died in New York in 1834, but the mother long survived her husband and died in Fayette, Iowa, in 1873. The boyhood days of the subject were spent in Washington county, New York, where he was moderately successful in the various employments open to him, even in early youth; and on Christmas day, 1854, he was married in his native county to Diana SWEET, a distant relative, and daughter of Simeon and Maria (SHERWOOD) Sweet. She was born in Washington county, New York, in 1833, and was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church through life. These young people began their domestic career in the Empire state, but after one year they came to Fayette, Iowa, arriving here in 1855.
Here Mr. Sweet soon began the career in stock raising, and in buying and selling stock, which was his principal business through life. In this he was phenomenally successful, though meeting several severe reverses; but his indomitable energy and inherent pluck kept him afloat, even through the most trying reverses, and enabled him to speedily recover and turn "defeat into victory." He was largely interested in wheat growing in Minnesota during the palmy days of that industry, and was not only an extensive producer, but largely interested in buying and selling that commodity. During the war of the Rebellion he handled many thousands of sheep from Michigan and Wisconsin, and sold them throughout Iowa and Minnesota, and at the same time was extensively engaged in farming in this county. His three-hundred-acre farm in Smithfield township was the admiration of all interested in the material development of the county, even in the early days.
Mr. Sweet was called to mourn the death of his wife on the 12th of August, 1869, and two children were thus left motherless. These are Ensign S., born in Momence, Illinois, October 16, 1855. He was educated at the Upper Iowa University, at Fayette, and was engaged in business with his father until the death of the latter. Ensign Sweet married Agnes CLARKE, and located at Chinook, Choteau county, Montana, near which point were the stock ranches in which father and son were jointly interested. The other child born to Mr. Sweet's first marriage was Estella M., born January 8, 1863. She was educated at the Upper Iowa University, and became the wife of T. H. KEMMERER, a merchant in Fayette. Hiram Sweet returned to his native state and there married the lady who now survives him, who was Elizabeth RANSOM. The marriage was solemnized on the 11th of January 1870, in White Creek, Washington County, New York. Miss Ransom was born in Rensselaer county, New York, March 14, 1847, and is a daughter R. J. and Eliza (HARRIS) RANSOM. Her father was born in Rensselaer county, New York, October 12, 1812, and died in Iowa in July, 1887. The mother of Mrs. Sweet was born in Hartford, Vermont, January 16, 1825, and during her remaining years, after the death of her husband, made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Sweet. She died in Fayette county in 1891. These were the parents of two sons and one daughter. In Fayette county their father bought a farm and established a home in 1870, after the marriage of their daughter to Mr. Sweet.
Dean Hiram, the only child born to the union of Mr. Sweet and Miss Ransom, is now a successful farmer and stock raiser in this county. He was born November 12, 1871, and, like his brother and sister, enjoyed the advantages of a college education at the Upper Iowa University. He married Lulu PRIME of Maquoketa, Iowa, and daughter of O. G. and Catherine (VOSBERG) PRIME. To this union one daughter, Helen E., was born, her birth occurring on the 10th of November, 1901. She is a bright little girl now wrestling with the intricacies of the public school system.
Hiram Sweet, after a sojourn here exceeding the allotted span of human life, and a career of great activity and usefulness, was called to his reward on the 18th of January, 1905. He left an enviable record as a man and citizen, and his demise was mourned by a very large circle of life-long friends. He possessed a generous nature, and was kind and liberal with the poor and unfortunate. He was a public-spirited man, and did much to encourage and assist the upbuilding of the town and community where half a century of his life was spent.
In political views Mr. Sweet was a strong Republican, active in his way, in the promotion of the principles of his party, and always loyal to his friends in every avenue of life. The sympathy of the entire community went out to his devoted wife in this sore bereavement, as well as on account of the public loss of an honored and worthy citizen from among the activities of life.
Mrs. Sweet is a lady of culture and refinement, and it is a source of pleasure to her friends to know that she still has the love and kindly care of a dutiful son, and the embraces of a loved and loving granddaughter."