Burton E. Sweet Biography, Waverly, Bremer Co., Iowa ======================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for their private use as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 12, 2000. Questions, please Email: seawave8@hotmail.com ======================================================================= The following biography was taken from a book entitled: THE HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY, IOWA. It was published in 1914. The book was located in the Waverly Public Library, Waverly, Iowa. BIOGRAPHICAL _________ BURTON E. SWEET. Burton E. Sweet, a prominent and able representative of the legal fraternity in Waverly, has continuously practiced his profession in partnership with Edward A. Sager since 1895. He has also been active in public life, representing the seventy-second district in the state legislature during the sessions of 1900 and 1902. His birth occurred near Tripoli, in Fremont township, Bremer county, on the 10th of December, 1867, his parents being Alpheus E. and Isabelle (Lyon) Sweet, the former born four miles east of Painesville, Ohio, on the 11th of November, 1830, and the latter in Vermont, near Lake George, on the 15th of February, 1835. The father, familiarly known as Jack Sweet, was captain of a wagon train which crossed the plains from Chicago in 1853, and for a period of thirteen years he was engaged in mining and in the lumber business in California. He was married on returning to Illinois and in the spring of 1867 came to Iowa, locating in Fremont township, Bremer county, where he acquired land and began farming. He likewise devoted his attention to stock-raising and also to banking, becoming one of the organizers of the Tripoli Savings Bank, now the Tripoli State Bank. His demise occurred near Tripoli on the 11th of December, 1904, after a residence of almost four decades in this county, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 31st of July, 1894. Mr. Sweet gave his political allegiance to the republican party and served as school director and in various other township offices, ever discharging his public duties in a prompt and capable manner. Unto him and his wife were born two children, namely: Burton E., of this review; and Eva A., the wife of Dr. Jungblut, a practicing physician of Tripoli. Burton E. Sweet obtained his early education in the district schools of his native township, later attended the Tripoli high school and afterward spent two terms in the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls. Subsequently he entered Cornell College of Mount Vernon and was graduated from that institution in June, 1893. To further prepare himself for the practice of his chosen profession he matriculated in the law department of the State University of Iowa, which institution conferred upon him the degree of LL.B. in June, 1895. On the 9th of July of the same year he opened an office in Waverly in partnership with Edward A. Sager, who has since remained his associate in the general practice of law in the state and federal courts. They have been accorded a liberal clientage and enjoy an excellent reputation among their professional brethren as well as with the general public. Mr. Sweet is a stockholder and director in the Tripoli State Bank and a stockholder in the State Bank of Waverly and the Waverly Savings Bank, while he likewise owns stock in and acts as attorney for the Hampton-Kelly Canning Company at Hampton, Iowa. He is, moreover, a stockholder and president of the Willow Lawn Farm, Inc., comprising two hundred and fifty-one acres and equipped with electric light and sewerage systems. There is barn room for seventy head of cows, while chickens and hogs are also raised. Fifty head of pure bred Jerseys are kept on hand, and the land is kept in a high state of cultivation through the rotation of crops. The place is operated according to the most modern and progressive methods and a full set of books is used in which to keep accounts. Mr. Sweet is the owner of other valuable real estate, being interested with his sister in more than twelve hundred acres of land in Bremer county and likewise owning property in Minnesota and Oregon. He also has valuable town property at Shellrock, Butler county. His various interests are capably managed and have brought him a measure of prosperity which has won him a place among the leading and influential citizens of his native county. On the 12th of December, 1900, Mr. Sweet was united in marriage to Miss Lola F. Riseley, who was born in Albion, New York, on the 24th of December, 1868, her parents being Frank and Laura (Flint) Riseley, both natives of New York state. The father early became a hotel proprietor of this state, owning at one time the old Iowa, which he conducted during the administration of Governor Gear. He was likewise proprietor of the Savary Hotel at Des Moines and the Clifton at Cedar Rapids, the latter being now known as the Allison. Both Mr. And Mrs. Riseley are now deceased. Mrs. Sweet, who passed away on the 8th of August, 1906, was the second of their four children. She became the mother of one child, Esther Riseley, who was born on the 8th of October, 1901. Mr. Sweet is a republican in politics and was chosen to represent the seventy-second district in the state legislature for two terms, during the sessions of 1900 and 1902, his popularity being attested by the fact that he was the only republican elected from a democratic county. He fell only a little short of election at the time of Henderson's resignation and was a close second to Pickett when the latter was nominated. He was for four years a member of the republican state central committee from the third congressional district and was twice offered the chairmanship, but refused on each occasion. He is well qualified for political leadership by reason of his comprehensive knowledge of the important questions and issues of the day and his devotion to the public welfare and it would not be difficult for him to obtain political honors. He recognizes and meets all the duties of citizenship and his record in this connection is most exemplary. In 1912 he was elected one of the trustees of Cornell College of Mounty Vernon, from which he had been graduated nineteen years before. Mr. Sweet is a worth exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Waverly, and is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks at Waterloo, His entire life has been spent in harmony with the basic principles of these organizations, for he has ever recognized the brotherhood of man and has labored untiringly to secure its actual realization. Social and fraternal interests maintain in him an even balance to his great professional activity and make his a well rounded character. Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 12, 2000. Questions, please Email: seawave8@hotmail.com