Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Sweet, William H.    
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


WILLIAM H. SWEET, a wide-awake, enterprising citizen of 
Saxton, Pa., is actively identified with its business 
interests as an extensive coal operator and as a general 
merchant.  He was born October 10, 1847, in Fayette County, 
Pennsylvania, a son of John and Mary E. (Willetts) Sweet.
  Mr. Sweet's father was born and bred in England and lived 
there until after his marriage with Mary E. Willetts. In 
1838 he came to America with his wife and family, and 
located in Fayette County, this State, where for a number of 
years he was busily employed as a contractor for sinking 
shafts in coal mines.  Removing to the Broad Top region, 
Huntingdon County, in 1856, he successfully plied his 
vocation until his death in 1859.  He left his widow with a 
large family of children, of whom the following survive, 
namely: Mrs. John Whitehead, Mrs. Hugh Rohland, Mrs. William 
Powell, Mrs. James Howells, Mrs. Hannah Howells, Mrs. Eliza 
Edmonds, Mrs. Emma Horton, William H., and John.
  William H. Sweet began active life with but limited 
educational advantages, having attended school but little 
after his tenth year.  In the Broad Top region in which his 
parents settled when he was a young lad, he grew to manhood, 
and from the age of nine years until twenty-five worked 
under ground in the mines.  The following five years he was 
superintendent at Dudley, Huntingdon County, of the coal 
mines owned by Wood & Bacon, of Philadelphia.  Going then 
into business himself as a coal operator, equipped with a 
thorough knowledge of mining and with good executive 
ability, he has since met with excellent success in this 
line of industry.  In 1883 Mr. Sweet took up his residence 
in Saxton.  He has here built up a large trade in general 
merchandise, and obtained a secure position among the 
leading men of the town.
 He is a Republican in politics, and has served a number of 
years on the school boards of both Saxton and Dudley 
boroughs.  In 1894 he ran as a candidate for the nomination 
of Representative to the State legislature, but in the 
convention lacked one and one-half votes of election, a 
defeat almost as good as a victory.  He is an Odd Fellow and 
a Mason, belonging to Coalmont Lodge, No. 561, I.O.O.F., of 
Coalmont, Pa., and to Mount Moriah Lodge, No. 300, F. & 
A.M., of Huntingdon.
  On July 4, 1870, Mr. Sweet married Sarah E. Barnett, of 
Huntingdon, Pa.  They have seven children living, namely: 
Jesse A.; Elsie J., wife of W. W. E. Shannon; Mary E., James 
H.; Cloyd E.; Ralph M.; and Martha E.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa