Sweet

(submitted by Dr. Greg Stott)

A native of New York State, Alonzo Sweet (1810–1869) moved to Upper Canada’s Niagara Peninsula, where he married Sophia Silverthorn (1815–1878). He worked as a labourer on the building of the Welland Canal. The Sweets had 12 children, John (1835–1870), Henry (1837–1885), Mary Ann (1839–1907), Susannah (1841–1873), Aaron (1843–), Albert (1845–1864), Harriet (1847–), Ellen (1849–), Richard (1851–), Alonzo (1853–), Charlotte (1855–1922), and Sophia (1857–).

In the mid 1850s, the family moved to Warwick Twp., settling on the north half of Lot 24, Con. 5, NER. They were heavily involved in the founding of Arkona’s Methodist Church. Alonzo was one of the seven original trustees to oversee the construction of the new church building in 1861.

When Alonzo died his second son Henry took over the farm and Sophia remained at home. Eventually Sophia left Arkona for Dayton, Michigan to be with her eldest son and his family. Henry and his family continued to live on the farm at Arkona until his premature death from heart disease. While Susannah (Sweet) Jackson remained in the vicinity of Arkona for many years, most of the other family members moved away. Howerver, on July 29, 1929 T.M. Russell Dunham (1912-2005) recorded in his diary:

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Smith were here to-day from Edmore, Michigan. His father Josiah Smith married Mary Sweet oldest daughter of Mr. Sweet the first settler on this place. They got a picture of the house and barn and was in the house. They are on a motor trip to Niagra.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Sweet Family

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