Bartholomew-Decatur County IN Archives Biographies.....Sweet, Abigail Pike 1826 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 24, 2007, 4:25 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) MRS. ABIGAIL SWEET. Mrs. Abigail Sweet, who is one of the oldest residents and highly respected ladies of Sand Creek township, Bartholomew county, bore the maiden name of Abigail Pike, and was born on the 29th of January, 1826, in Decatur county, Indiana. She was a daughter of Eli and Naomi (Duncan) Pike. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, having been born in that state around which cluster so many memories in connection with the history of the nation and the early settlement of New England. There he remained until eighteen years of age, when he left Massachusetts and went to New York, where he became acquainted with the lady whom he afterward made his wife. She was born in the Empire state and there they were married. As their financial resources were limited they believed that they might better their condition by removing to the west where opportunities seemed to be greater and where land was cheaper. Making their way to Decatur county, Indiana, in 1820, Mr. Pike there entered forty acres of land from the government and began the development of a farm. The tract was entirely unimproved and was covered with a native growth of timber, which he at once began to clear away. On their way west Mr. and Mrs. Pike had remained for a short time in Ohio, living upon the farm of General William Henry Harrison. He sold and then bought eighty acres of land near Greensburg. He remained thereon for some time, when he again sold and purchased two hundred acres of land near Sardinia, Decatur county, taking up his abode thereon in 1852. He continued its cultivation and improvement throughout his remaining days and for long years was numbered among the leading and highly respected agriculturists of the county. In his work he prospered and although he and his wife started out in life in very limited financial circumstances, at the time of his death he was possessed of a very desirable property. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pike were eight children, but all are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Sweet, who has now-reached the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. Her entire life has been passed in the state of her nativity and she has witnessed many remarkable changes here. She can recount many interesting incidents of pioneer life in Indiana, and can well remember when there were many log cabins throughout the county, and when much of the land was still uncultivated. Her educational privileges in her early girlhood days were somewhat limited, but after she was twenty-one years of age she had the opportunity—which she improved—of gaining a better education and for one summer she engaged in teaching school. She has always been interested in everything pertaining to the world's progress and yet keeps in touch with what is going on in the country as well as in the neighborhood in which she has long lived. It was on the 20th of March, 1864, that Abigail Pike gave her hand in marriage to William Sweet, who was a son of George Sweet, one of the pioneer settlers of Bartholomew county. William Sweet was born in Paris, Jennings county. February 19, 1820, and had been married prior to his marriage to Miss Pike, his first union having been with a Miss Nancy M. New, who died several years later. He was the owner of one hundred and five acres of land and thus had a good home to which to take the lady whose name introduces this review. Mrs. Sweet had been carefully trained in the work of the household and was thus well equipped to take up the duties which devolved upon her in the care of her own home. Unto this worthy couple was born a daughter, on the 12th of February, 1865. They gave to her the name of Ida, educated her in the public schools, and on the 1st of August, 1888, she became the wife of John Chrisman, a native son of Decatur township, where he is still living, being a resident farmer of Sand Creek township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman are members of the Christian church, to which Mrs. Sweet also belongs. Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman have one son, Norval, a lad of fourteen years. By his first marriage Mr. Sweet had six children: Amanda Jane, George, Sarah E., Laura E., Lewis Albert and Oliver, all of whom, excepting the first named, are still living. Mr. Sweet held membership in the Christian church and he gave his political support to the Republican party, having firm faith in its principles. He always carried on agricultural pursuits and thus labored earnestly and diligently for the support of his wife and family, being honorable in all his relations with his fellow men and especially straightforward in his business transactions. He passed away August 25, 1902, and many friends as well as his immediate family felt deep regret at his loss. Mrs. Sweet is still living with her daughter on the homestead. She is a lady of many sterling traits of character and her life has ever been such as to win her the confidence and esteem of those with whom she has been associated. Her true womanly qualities, her ready sympathy, her kindness to those in need, have all endeared her to her many friends and it is with pleasure that we present the record of her life to our readers. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/sweet768gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb