Edwin F. Sweet | |
|---|---|
 Edwin Forrest Sweetc. 1915 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | |
| Preceded by | Gerrit J. Diekema |
| Succeeded by | Carl Mapes |
| Mayor ofGrand Rapids, Michigan | |
| In office 1904–1905 | |
| Preceded by | W. Millard Palmer |
| Succeeded by | George E. Ellis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edwin Forrest Sweet (1847-11-21)November 21, 1847 Dansville, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 1935(1935-04-02) (aged 87) Ojai, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sophia Fuller (after 1876) |
| Alma mater | Yale College University of Michigan |
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Edwin Forrest Sweet (November 21, 1847 – April 2, 1935) was an American politician from theU.S. state ofMichigan.
Edwin F. Sweet was born inDansville, New York. He was the son of Sidney Sweet and Hannah (née Redmond) Sweet.[1] He attended thecommon schools and Dansville Seminary. He graduated from the literary department ofYale College in 1871, where he was a member ofSkull and Bones. He was a brother of theDelta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Phi chapter).[2]: 15
After graduation, Sweet engaged in a tour of Europe and theHoly Land. Departing from New York city October 9, 1871, he went toLiverpool,Wales,London,Paris,Marseilles,Rome,Naples, andBrindisi. He then sailed toAlexandria,Egypt, went up theRiver Nile to thefirst Cataract, and then spent a month inPalestine. On his return, he passed throughSyria,Constantinople,Athens,Venice,Switzerland,Austria,Prussia,Sweden, andScotland. He returned to New York City one year to the day after his departure. In January 1873, he entered the law department of theUniversity of Michigan atAnn Arbor and graduated in 1874.
He was admitted to thebar in 1874 and was employed as a clerk in the law firm of Hughes, O'Brien & Smiley inGrand Rapids, Michigan. In April 1876, he formed the law firm of Stuart & Sweet. Sweet was a member of the board of education from 1899 to 1906.
He served asMayor of Grand Rapids from 1904 to 1906. Sweet defeated incumbentRepublicanU.S. RepresentativeGerrit J. Diekema, to be elected as aDemocrat fromMichigan's 5th congressional district to the62nd United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1911 to March 3, 1913. In 1912, he lost in the general election to RepublicanCarl E. Mapes.[3]
In 1913, Sweet was appointed byU.S. PresidentWoodrow Wilson to be AssistantSecretary of Commerce, where he served until 1921. In 1916 he was an unsuccessful candidate forGovernor of Michigan, losing toAlbert Sleeper. In 1919-1920 he served as vice chairman of theFederal Electric Railways Commission.[4] He was member of the board of education of Grand Rapids from 1923 to 1926 and a member of the city commission from 1926 to 1928.
In the early 1880s, he invested in the Sweet Ranch inDickey County, North Dakota. He is listed as the founder ofFullerton, North Dakota which was named in honor of his father-in-law and owner of theCarroll House Hotel in Fullerton which is now listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[5][6][7]
In 1876, Sweet was married to Sophia Fuller Sweet (1854–1923), daughter of Grand Rapids attorney Edward Philo Fuller (1820–1886). Together, they were the parents of:[1]
He resided in Grand Rapids until 1928 when he retired and moved toOjai, California where he died on April 2, 1935. He is interred in Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids.[8]
Upon learning of Sweet's death, Carl Mapes said on the floor of the House of Representatives on April 3, 1935: "Mr. Speaker, the morning's paper carries the notice of the death, in California, of a former distinguished Democratic Member of the House, who represented the Fifth Congressional District of Michigan in the Sixty-second Congress, Hon. Edwin F. Sweet. He died at the ripe old age of 87. After his service in the House, he served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce during the 8 years of the Wilson administration. He was an honored and highly respected citizen and a capable and patriotic public servant."[9]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Michigan 1916 | Succeeded by John W. Bailey |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by W. Millard Palmer | Mayor ofGrand Rapids, Michigan 1904-1905 | Succeeded by George E. Ellis |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | United States Representative for the 5th Congressional District of Michigan 1911 – 1913 | Succeeded by |
