My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES E. SWEET, Prosecuting Attorney of Cass County, and a prominent resident of Dowagiac, was born in Keeler, Van Buren County, Mich., March 11, 1860. He traces his lineage to good old Revolutionary stock, his paternal great-grandfather having served in the defense of the Colonies during the war with England. His grandfather, Ezra Sweet, was a native of Vermont, and the father of our subject. Dr. J. Elliott Sweet, was also born in the Green Mountain State. The latter was reared on a farm, and received his literary education at Townshend (Vt.) Academy. Coming to Michigan in 1844, he studied medicine in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and also under the preceptorship of Dr. Andrews, of Paw Paw.

Prior to beginning the practice of his profession, Dr. Sweet engaged in teaching in Eaton and Van Buren Counties and the cities of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo. He opened an office for general practice at Mattawan, Van Buren County, in 1855, and remained there about four years, at which time he removed to Keeler, Van Buren County, and was a general practitioner at that place until 1874. He has now retired from active professional work, and devotes his attention to a general insurance business at Hartford, this State. For a number of years he served as Superintendent of Schools, and his interest in educational matters has resulted in great good to the community, as he has succeeded in elevating the standard of scholarship and instruction. At present he is filling the position of Clerk of his township.

In 1853 Dr. Sweet married Miss Mary A. Adsitt, who was born in New York. She died during the infancy of our subject, and Dr. Sweet afterward married Miss Rachel E. Pletcher, who is still living. Dr. Sweet had three children by his first marriage: Elliott, deceased; Mary A., wife of Elmer Thayer, of Nebraska; and Charles E., of this sketch. Politically, the father was in former years a Democrat, but is now a Republican. He has held numerous official positions, including the offices of School Inspector, School Examiner and School Superintendent, having always taken a peculiar interest in educational matters. A man of strong religious convictions, he is at present a Deacon in the Congregational Church. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a carpenter by trade, and for a time resided in Paw Paw, Mich., but removed later to a farm near Bangor, and from that place to Benton, Eaton County, where his death occurred in 1876.

At the age of fourteen years our subject accompanied his father from Keeler Township, Van Buren County, to Hartford, Mich., where he remained until 1884. When nineteen years old he commenced to teach, and followed that profession in the schools of Keeler and Hartford Townships, Van Buren County, also in Cass County. Altogether he taught fourteen terms, a period of about six years. He ceased teaching in order to give his entire attention to the study of law, which he conducted under the preceptorship of Spafford Tryon, of Dowagiac. He pursued his studies from January, 1884, until April, 1886, when he was elected City Justice, after which he continued to read law in his own office until he was admitted to the Bar, October 4, 1886. Afterward he spent a year in the law department of the University of Michigan, graduating with the Class of ‘91, and taking the degree of LL. B.

The lady who in 1887 became the wife of Charles E. Sweet was formerly Miss Grace L. Rouse. Her father, Dr. Lyman V. Rouse, was a native of New York and a prominent physician of Dowagiac. Mrs. Sweet was born and reared in Dowagiac, and is an accomplished lady. She takes great interest in painting, for which she has a natural talent, and at the Dowagiac Union Fair last autumn (1892) many of her pieces were on exhibition and received first premiums, being universally admired. Mr. and Mrs. Sweet have one child, Elizabeth. They have an elegant residence on the corner of Courtland and Green Streets, which is embellished with lovely furnishings and all the modern conveniences.

Politically, Mr. Sweet is a Republican. In 1892 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and is still filling that position. From 1887 until 1891 he served as Circuit Court Commissioner, and he is now City Attorney at Dowagiac, having filled that office for three terms. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and is High Priest of the Chapter. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, and is Prelate of the lodge. For two years he was Commander of the Maccabees, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. On numerous occasions he has been delegate to State and congressional conventions. His library is one of the finest in the State, and he is continually adding to it. He has a large and lucrative practice, and is a hard man to find at leisure.