John Sweatt abt 1851-1930
SWEATT, SHEPHERD, EHDE, GRANDPRE, EVANS, BLUE
Posted By: Janet Koozer (email)
Date: 4/27/2009 at 11:49:46
Chariot Swung Low and Took Him Home
Like the sentiment of the often heard negro spiritual song, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," it certainly followed when the soul of cheerful, good old John Sweatt passed into eternity on Thursday last, the aforesaid vehicle of melody and inspiration of his race bore him to the realms beyond. For all who knew him will say that John Sweatt truly deserved such a blessed trip, because of his rugged honesty, for his patient toil and industry and for the righteous spirit that marked his career on earth.
Deceased had been a well known resident of this vicinity for the past 50 years, and was one of very few of his color who have ever resided in the county. He was born in Logan county, Kentucky, March 15, 1857, of slave parents. He attained little or no education, and while a youth started his life of toil near Evansville, Indiana, where he became an expert at wood chopping.
His employer was one of the Granger family who later became residents of the Myron neighborhood in this county, One of them, Ed Granger, induced the sturdy colored youth to come west and here he arrived in the year 1871, and engaged in his occupation of cutting cordwood and clearing land. With his savings he in due time purchased the 160 acres three miles south of Waukon which remained his homestead nearly all of his life. It was timber land for which he paid $14. an acre and by constant toil he cleared it himself, becoming a husbandman and farmer.
He was married 50 or more years ago to Miss Mina Sheperd, of white birth, residing near Myron. They reared a family of eight children, but some years ago domestic troubles broke up the home and a legal separation of the parents followed. This was attended by litigation and the farm that was acquired by toil and thrift, became involved and has passed into other hands, which occasioned no end of sympathy for the luckless husband in his declining years which was attended by a lingering illness from an incurable malady.
He was cared for at the last by his son Merrill and daughter, Mrs. Evans, his death occurring in a little cabin near his former home. funeral services were held there Saturday afternoon by Rev. Olson of Forest City, of the Adventist faith, which had been reflected in the christian life of deceased.
The remains were interred in the Lawson cemetery located on the blufflands of the North Fork, about which John Sweatt had spent and exemplary life of neighborly cheer and righteousness. The esteem in which this good old colored man was held was shown by the large number of cars that accompanied his remains to the grave.
Surviving him are four daughters, Mrs. Carl Ehde of Postville, Mrs. L. L. Grandpre of Los Angeles, Mrs. Dora Evans of Waterloo, and Mrs. Minnie Blue, Los Angeles; and four sons, D. E. Sweatt of Post township, Elmer of New Albin, Merrill of Jefferson township, and Clarence of Los Angeles.
~source: Area newspaper clipping
~transcriber notes: the date of birth given in the obituary is in conflict with his gravestone inscription: 1851-1930. The clipping was found in my grandmothers papers, and since they lived close to Myron, I am sure they knew him well. The Lawson cemetery is better known as the Cleveland cemetery.
Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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