My Genealogy Hound

HON. WILLIAM L. SWEET, who deals in grain at Waterloo and in coal at Syracuse, was born in Seneca County, N. Y., October 25, 1850. His father, Abraham L. Sweet, was born in this county in 1818. The grandfather, Lemuel Sweet, who was also born in Seneca County, was the son of Col. James Sweet, who was one of the pioneers of the county. The Sweets represent one of the oldest families of the entire region and, upon coming from England, first settled in Rhode Island. Abraham L. Sweet married Charlotte Louise Cook, who was born in Seneca County, and who is the daughter of Abiel Cook, also a native of this county. His father, Stephen Cook, was a pioneer of English descent. The father of our subject died in Waterloo in 1891, but his mother is still living and is in her seventieth year.

Hon. William L. Sweet, whose name opens this article, is the second of four children. He has two brothers, who are somewhat widely scattered, according to the American fashion of seeking the ends of the earth. James A. is now at Kansas City, Mo.; and Charles C., who turned his face to the East, is now a commission merchant in the city of New York. Our subject’s only sister was married to R. A. Parke and died early in her married life, leaving one daughter.

Mr. Sweet, our subject, passed his boyhood in work and play, study and fun, and attended the Union School at Waterloo, finishing his school experiences at Cazenovia Seminary. On leaving school he entered his business career at Waterloo as one of the firm of Cook & Sweet, dealers in grain, seed and wool. Later, in connection with his brother Charles, he organized the firm of C. C. Sweet & Co. in New York City and the partnership still exists. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the New York Produce Exchange. In 1885 he bought the Waterloo Flouring Mills, organized the firm of Sweet, Mongin & Cook, and engaged in the manufacture of flour up to 1892, when the mills were burned. This was a calamity, but it did not discourage his indomitable spirit, for he at once entered the grain and coal business in a large way, his main office now being at Syracuse.

In 1874 Mr. Sweet was married to Mary A. Cook, daughter of George Cook, of Waterloo. To them have been born five sons and four daughters. The family has a beautiful home life, and Mrs. Sweet has been a helpful wife to her husband and a strong force in the social life of the community.

In politics Mr. Sweet has been a stanch Republican and has been the recipient of not a few party honors. He has served as President of the village two years and has also been President of the School Board. In 1886 he was elected Assemblyman, representing Seneca County, and the following year witnessed his election as State Senator. He served in the session of 1888-89, and was a member of several important committees, one of which was Canals, and was Chairman of the Committee on State Prisons. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church, and accomplish much good in moral and religious directions. Their home, which is a social center, is a commodious and substantial brick structure.