Sweet, Miss Julia J. 1920

SWEET, PIERCE, VANETTEN

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 6/17/2017 at 11:49:25

From the Clintonian 1920
MISS JULIA J. SWEET.
"Semper Fidelis"

The Chicago Tribune recorded the death of Miss Julia J. Sweet, at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chicago, February 2, following an illness of pneumonia. To the present generation of High School students this announcement cannot have so great significance, but to many hundreds of men and women, former students of Clinton High School, it will bear memories of a very noble woman.

Miss Sweet was born in Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Martin Pierce and Catherine Van Etten Sweet, early and highly esteemed settlers of Illinois. She was educated in an eastern college. She taught school first in Freeport and later in Oak Park, Illinois. In 1876 she became principal of Clinton, Iowa, High School and she served in this capacity until 1895. During her nineteen years of administration she, together with the superintendent, the revered Henry Sabin, so worked in the interests of Clinton schools that this city led in the state of Iowa in the matter of high school curricula, equipment, and scholastic standards. The best days of Miss Sweet's years were spent in Clinton, and those who knew her in the give and take of every day life realize that she was indeed "A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort and command." Hundreds of boys and girls came under her influence at the most critical age for the upbuilding of character. The debt of gratitude they feel for her can not be measured. The affection with which they greeted her wherever she found them in and out of school, is one priceless token of their esteem for her. General W. D. Conner in his recent visit to this city said in his address before a great group of citizens, "Whatever of success I have had, whatever I have attained I owe in large part to two of my teacher in Clinton schools, Miss Julia J. Sweet and Miss Ardella M. Billings."

After Miss Sweet severed her connection with Clinton schools, she associated herself with her sister Ellen Sweet, in business in Chicago, in which she continued until only about two years before her death.

Miss Sweet's personality was strong and charming, her intellect keen, her sympathy never failing, and her principles high. It is peculiar to her chosen profession that there is seldom any timely form of compensation for the service given, but in no wise is the influence of Miss Sweet's gracious womanliness and fine scholarship lost. It continues in the lives of those who came into contact with her.