Huntsville gazette., 1889-06-15
ease of the

Leonard S,oett. prove in health lit
tie, but he did not abandon his intention
of going abroad. Passage had been en-
gagged for Mr.. and Mrs. SWEET on the
steamship Werra, which will sail from
Now York June 10. 1t was planned that
they would leave for New York to- day
and spend three days there before the
vessel sailed.
Friday evening Mr.. and Mrs. SWEET took
short walk. Mr.. SWEET had not been
looking we'll during the day, but as even
ing approached he said he felt better.
About ten O'Clock at night the attack
began which resulted in his death. Short
ly after midnight Drs. Wescott, Johnson.
Lyman and Davis were called to the bed
side, but were unable to relieve the suf-
ferer. They saw at once that the attack
would soon prove fatal, and SO informed
the family.
Herbert SWEET arrived from Cornell
University at Ithaca, n. Y, about mid
night, and reached the bedside before Mr..
SWEET lapsed into Inconsistencies. The
sick man failed rapidly, and all the latter
part of the night was in a comatose con-
dition. He remained without regaining
consciousness until two O'Clock Saturday
afternoon, when he breathed his last. He
died so easily that those at his bedside
hardly knew the exact moment when his
heart ceased to beat.
Mr.. SWEET was born in Oxford County, Me,
near the little village of Turner, in 1926. His
early boyhood was passed on what was and is
still known as the Albn Richer farm, where,
on the old homestead, his mother, now nearly
ninety years Of age, is still living.
Until he was twelve years old he attended
the village and neighboring schools, but his
education was considerably advanced by in
struction he received at home. He came or a
typical New England family, strong in the ira
ditions Of the past, whose members accepted the
universal popular theory that at least one OF the
boys Of the family should enter the ministry. Ac
cordingly young Leonard was elected" by his
parents to follow that sacred calling. He was,
in furtherance Of this design taken from school
and placed under the care Of Rev. Thomas
R. Curtis for the purpose of learning Latin and
Greek. 1t is not known whether the ministerial
idea was abandoned at his request not, but
at the age of twenty-one he began the study OF
law in the office of Howard & Shepley in Port
land, after having pursued courses in Var
mouth Academy and Waterville College, now
known as Colby University. He read law for
two years and then began the battle of life and
started out to seek his fortune.
The young man came West in 1877, shortly
after war had been declared against Mexico
He enlisted private in the Fifth Indiana
Infantry. commanded by General James Fl.
Lane, afterward United States Senator from
Kansas. Although not commissioned officer,
he was practically Captain OF his company
while holding the rank OF orderly sergeant.
He served through the war and entered the
City OF Mexico with General Scott after its
capture by the United States forces. He re-
turned to the States in 1S49 greatly impaired in
health. In the same year he was admitted to
the bar at Bloomington, III.
At that time there were but few courts and
they were widely-separated by wild and track
less prairies. He rode the circuit OF the courts
with such men as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen
I. Logan, David Davis and others who after
wards rose to prominence in the history OF the
country. Through 5long association in court
with Lincoln friendship was formed between
them that lasted until the latter's death. Lin
coin was genial companion, a safe counselor,
and Mr.. SWEET found in him warm friend.
There were two men who took young SWEET
by the hand when he began the practice Of law
among strangers and helped him onward with
advice and counsel. These men were Abraham
Lincoln and David Davis. In the preliminaries
to the presidential campaign OF 1850, next to
Judge Davis, Mr.. SWEET was most influential in
securing Lincoln's nomination. Under their
management the nomination was secured by
the combination OF Illinois, Indiana and Penn
sylvania delegations and in forming this alli-
ance the diplomatic hand OF SWEET was power
full and predominating. In the remarkable
campaign which followed he was the prime
mover and central influence.
He was engaged in many Of the celebrated
cases in the annals Of criminal Jurisprudence,
and in thrty-three murder trials in which he
was retained he lost but two.
He came to Chicago in 1863, when he formed a
partnership with Van H. Hggens and Colonel
David Quiggo for the practice Of law. At the
time of his death he was the central figure of
the firm of SWEET Grosseuy & Mean.
Mr. SWEET was twice married. His first wife
died in 1854 In 1887 he married young wonl-
an who for some time had been employed in his
office as typewriter