Obituaries for Ralph and Alice Sweet, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan

Copyright © 1998 by Cindy Bryant. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Obits for Ralph Sweet and his Wife Alice Nicles:
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OBIT-1-Battle Creek, Hand dated Aug 22, 1928, found in Battle Creek library collection:
Dr. R.C. Sweet passes away, Well Known "Bonesetter" Had Nervous Breakdown.
    Dr. Ralph C. Sweet, practicing chiropractor in Battle Creek for many years and widely
known as "Bonesetter" Sweet, died yesterday at the Kalamazoo state hospital.  Death was
due to a weaked physical condition brought about by a nervous breakdown suffered less
than a month ago.
    Coming to this city nearly nineteen years ago, Dr. Sweet had lived here continously
and had enjoyed one of the largest chiropractic services in the community.  He is
survived by his widow; one son by a former marriage, Walter J. Sweet, now living in
Detroit; two brothers, William J. of Coldwater, and Arthur of San Gabriel, Calif, also
three sisters, Mrs. E.O. Smith of Fredericktown, Ohio; Mrs. Charles Walley of Elkhart,
IN, and Mrs. Curtis Ford of Coldwater.
    Dr. Sweet, who practiced his profession for 22 years, developed early in his career a
gift which made him widely known as "Bonesetter."  Many of his patients were major
league baseball players who often made special trips to Battle Creek for treatments. 
Many times, however, he was called to Detroit to treat patients among whom were "ty"
cobb and "Babe" Ruth. Dr. Sweet's office has been located for a number of years in the
Post building where he and his wife also had an apartment and made their home.
    Due to his increasingly heavy professional practice, a nervous breakdown was suffered
several weeks ago which was one of the principal factors leading to his death.  The body
was removed from Kalamazoo to the Spaulding undertaking palors late yesterday. 
Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed.
    Dr. Sweet was throughout his life a communicant member of the Episcopal church and
served for many years as vestryman at St. Thomas church.  He also enjoyed membership
in the Knights of Pythias lodge, having held nearly all of the chairs.  Before studying at
the Michigan School of Chiropractic in Grand Rapids, from which he was graduated in
1906, Dr. Sweet served actively as a registered nurse.  He worked in this capacity at a
number of hospitals for the insane, among which were Harper hospital, Detroit; Soldiers
Home hospital, Grand Rapids; and the State hospital at Traverse City. ##
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OBIT-2-Battle Creek paper Thurs, Aug 23, 1928
HIS LIFE ONE OF UNIQUE SERVICES - Dr. R.C. Sweet of Battle Creek Dies After
Three Weeks at Austin Hospital.- KNOWN TP SPORT WORLD - As Bonesetter He
Kept Big League Players in Condition - Formed Scout Troup.
    Dr. R.C. (Bonesetter) Sweet, 50, whose unique understanding of Human nature known
in the baseball world, died in Austin hospital, Kalamazoo less than three weeks'
confinement there for observation and treatment.
   Picturesque Career
   A member of the eleventh generation of a family of bonesetters, dating back to old
England, Dr. Sweet had lived and practiced in Battle Creek for the last 19 years, during
which time he acquired friends and acquaintances innumerable in all walks of life.  His
career has had a picturesque quality truly deserving of that term, but his name was
mentioned most often in connection with the noted ball players of the present as well as
earlier days - Wally Pipp, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth were only a few of the
many stars of the diamond who came to him at his Battle Creek office or whom he
visited to treat for sore, strained or dislocated tendons in arms or legs.
    Funeral on Saturday
   His funeral arrangements were completed this noon and provide for services to be held
at 2:30 Saturday afternoon from St. Thomas Episcopal chapel, conducted by the Rev.
G.L. Pennock, with burial in the family lot at Coldwater.  Friends may view the body at
Spauding's up until 1 pm,it was announced.
    Ralph Clay Sweet - his full name - was born June 19, 1878, at Coldwater, a member of
a large family of whom the following survive him: two brothers, William J, Coldwater;
and Arthur N., San Gabriel, Calif; and three sisters, Mrs E.C. Smith, Fredrickstown,
Ohio, Mrs Charles Walley, Elkhart, Ind, and Mrs Curtis Ford, Coldwater.
    He married Alice Nicles of Grand Rapids on Huly 24, 1906, and she survives him. 
Mrs Sweet is stenographer in the office of the Calhoun circuit court reporters.  In
addition to the survivors given he has one other, a son, Walter J., by a former marriage,
residing in Detroit.
    His father, who died 12 years ago, was  prominent in Branch County politics for a long
time, having served as sheriff of the county for three terms.  His mother died about four
years ago.
    Started Scout Movement
    Outside of his practice Dr. Sweet found time for other activities.  It is said that he
brought the boy scout movement to Battle Creek about 19 years ago when he moved with
Mrs. Sweet from Grand Rapids, receiving the inspiration for the activity from the son of
Bishop McCormick of grand Rapids.  The first troup, the old original number one, was
formed at the St. Thomas Episcopal church with Dr. Sweet as scoutmaster.  It was
recalled today that the charter papers were secured from England, that country having
been the scene of Sir Baden-Powell's first efforts at founding the movement.
    Pocessed of an excellent Physique Dr. Sweet was interested in almost all kinfs of
athletics, but particularly baseball and football.  In his youth he fought in the ring and his
understanding of pugilism was quite extensive.  As a young man he entered training at
Grace hospital, Detroit, and became a registered nurse, taking up this line of work in
Grand Rapids, where he went to make his home.  From this time on his practice spread
more and more toward manipulation and study of the muscular troubles of athletes.  He
studied chiropractic at Grand Rapids, and eventually was licensed by the state under the
drugless healing act, being one of the few to acquire the license.
    From then on his tendancy towards bone-setting work was more prounced.  The
peculiar ability to adjust the misplaced tendons and straighten out the various "kinks" in
the human body was said to be a direct inheritance from Bonesetter Sweets of many years
before.  He was said to be the only member of his family who took up the work however. 
He opened an office in Battle Creek, about 1909, and from then on his reputation for
treating athletes developed and spread along with his more private practice.
    Served During Two Wars
    During the Spanish-American war Dr. Sweet was a member of the national gueard,
Coldwater company, but with nany others failed to reach the scene of actual warfare.  He
served the government at Camp Custer during the World war, being an athletic trainer
and coach with the ?? division.
    Dr. Sweet, at the time of his death, was communicant of the Episcopal church and a
former vestryman, having been a member of the congregation for about 17 years.  He was
active with the Knights of Pythias lodge for about the same number of years and went
through most of the various positions.
  His decline in health became ------- in the last few months but it was not until August 4,
that it was decided he would have to be taken to Austin hospital at Kalamazoo for
observation and treatment.  He was never removed from there.  It was co-incidence of his
carrer that during his early days he had served as a nurse in the institution.  He also
worked as a nurse in Newburg and Traverse City, before coming to Battle Creek. ##
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OBIT-3-From family scrapbook of  Vi Lancioni, may be Grand Rapids paper, Under a
Column called Dick's Dope, sports section.
When Ralph C. Sweet, more popularly known as Bonesetter Sweet, passed away this
week the entire country suffered a great loss.  His skill was a gift such as made a
bonesetter at Youngstown, O,Reece, famouse the world over.  Bonesetter Sweet has
worked on hundreds of lame-armed and otherwise crippled  baseball players during the
past 10 years and no case has been reported of his failure to help all who came to him
whose ailments could be cured by hand.
    His skill in being able to locate knotted cords and strained ligaments was uncanny
because instinctively he seemed able to hit upon the affected parts almost from the first
touch.  Innumerable stories might be told of people crippled for months being able to
walk from his office after brief treatments at his hands.  Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and other
famous ballplayers were treated by him several times and seemed to have implicit faith in
his ability to relieve them whenever they suffered aches and pains.
   Walter Coe of the Grand Rapids police Department and one of the city's best semi-pro
baseball players had not been able to button a collar to the back of his shirt or reach
behind his head with his right hand until he visited Dr. Sweet for treatment at his offices
in the Post building one day last May.  The famous bonesetter worked over him less than
three minutes when something suddenly snapped, after which Walter found he could
move his right arm as free as he did before the lameness of several years' duration came
over him.
    Bonesetter Sweet lived in Grand Rapids for years and when a boy caught for leading
local amateur baseball teams.  He managed a team at Thompsonville that made a
wonderful record one year and at one time won considerable fame as a boxer in
Michigan rings.  His father was the sheriff of a southern Michigan county and he was one
of the force of deputies.  When at Mackinaw managing a laundry one summer he was
married to a Grand Rapids girl, Alice Nicles, who survives him.
    Bonesetter Sweet's physical and mental decline that ended with his death after an
illness of three weeks, is attributed to overwork.  He planned a home for crippled
children on the shores of a lake near Charlotte, where he expected to contribute his great
skill as a bonesetter to help many who otherwise would be forced to go through life as
cripples when they might be relieved by skilled treatment.  A blow on the head when an
attempt was made to hold him up a few months ago may have affected him badly.
    The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon from the St. Thomas Episcopal
chapel at Battle Creek.  Internment will be beside his parents in a family plot at
Coldwater, where he was born. Bonesetter Reece of Youngstown, as well as Bonesetter
Sweet, came from a family of bonesetters that came to America from Wales.  Bonesetter
Reese is a very old man and has practically retired.  There are no other outstanding
bonesetters in the country. ##
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OBIT - Paper may be Battle Creek, hand written Nov 18, 1949
FUNERAL IS MONDAY FOR MRS. ALICE SWEET
Widow of famed "Bonesetter" Sweet died at 65.
    Mrs. Alice Nicles Sweet. 65, widow of Dr. Ralph C. Sweet, a widely known
chiropractor, died in a local hospital at 2:30 a.m. Friday.
    After coming to Battle Creek in 1911, Mrs. Sweet acted as assistant to her husband,
whose fame as "Bonesetter" Sweet brought him an extensive clientele from many states. 
His services as an adjuster of muscular and physical human ailments were in demand
among ball players in both major leagues.  For many years, their office was on the sixth
floor of the Post building.
    Dr. Sweet died here in 1928 and is buried on the Sweet family lot in Coldwater.
    The body of Mrs. Sweet has been taken to Grand Rapids.  Funeral services will be held
at 10 a.m. Monday at the Eggebeen chapel and burial will be made in Oak Hill cemetery
at Grand Rapids on the Nicles family lot.
    Mrs. Sweet was born in Muir, Mich., August 2, 1884, the daughter of Charles and
Viola (Koutz) Nicles.  She and Dr. Sweet were married on Mackinac Island in 1910
(family bible says 1907).
    For a number of years Mrs. Sweet was a typist for the late Roy Eldred, circuit court
reporter.  From 1941 until 1948 she was a housekeeper at the Post building.  Since
September 1 she had been in a nursing home, but was transfered to a hospital after
suffereing a heart attack last Tuesday.
    She was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
    Surviving are a half brother, Ralph Norman; a half-sister, Miss Ruth Norman and two
aunts, Mrs. Alice Curtis and Mrs Fanny Nicles, all of Grand Rapids. ##
 



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