Alcinous Y. Sweesy, b 20 Jan 1853

KING, LEGGETT, JAMES

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 11:19:10

~ ALCINOUS Y. SWEESY ~

Alcinous Y. Sweesy, one of the most able and intelligent of the young farmers of Jackson County, is a fine representative of the agricultural interests of Perry Township, his birthplace, where he owns a valuable farm, and is quite largely engaged in raising blooded stock and in cultivated the soil. He is the son of a well-known farmer pioneer of this county, and an early settler of this township, who was an important factor in developing the agricultural resources of this part of Iowa, and contributed much to its material prosperity.

Our subject was born on his present homestead in Perry Township, Jan. 20, 1853. His father, Thomas Sweesy, was born in Middlesex, Pa., in 1813. His father, who was of German descent, was born in the eastern part of Pennsylvania, and when a boy crossed the mountains to Mercer County, of which he thus became one of the early settlers. He bought land near Middlesex, and resided there, engaging in farming and stock raising until death closed his earthly career. The father of our subject was reared to the life of a farmer, and when a young man bought wild land and cleared a farm out of the Pennsylvania forests. He was married in Pennsylvania, and continued to live there until 1849, when he came with his family by boat to Iowa. Landing at Bellevue, and making his way to Perry he bought a tract of Government land on section 6. He located on his purchase, and with characteristic energy at once set about its improvement. He met with more than ordinary success in his ventures, and became quite well off. He bought other land adjacent to his homestead, and at one time owned 600 acres of valuable farming land. He was a man of great enterprise, far-seeing and shrewd, and he was one of the first to see the advantages of the full-blooded Durham cattle, and to introduce them into the State. He had a large herd, and took a number of premiums at the county and State fairs. In 1861 he moved to Andrew to engage in the hotel business, which he carried on quite successfully until 1866. That year he moved back to his farm, upon which he resided until 1868.

He then rented his place and moved to Mt. Vernon, Linn County, for the purpose of educating his children. In 1873 he went to Kansas, and buying a large tract of land, laid out the town of Halstead in Harvey County. In 1874 he came back to Perry, and taking up residence on his farm, was busily engaged in its management until 1878, when he moved to Andrew and lived in retirement until the fall of 1881, when he again went to Kansas to visit with his children and spend the winter, and there his eyes closed to the scenes of earth, in March, 1882. He was a man highly thought of by all who knew him, possessing decided views and a strong mind. He was a active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early days he was a Whig, and in times of the anti-slavery agitation an earnest abolitionist. He joined the Republican party on its formation, and was staunch in the support of its principles his remaining days. He was twice married, and by his first untion had five children: Elizabeth, dead; Marilda, in Preston; George W., in Eureka Springs, Ark.; John W., in California; Sarah, in Harvey County, Kan. George was an officer in the late war, serving as Sergeant in the 2d Iowa Cavalry from September, 1861, until after the cessation of hostilities. He was taken prisoner at one time, but was released on parole, and subsequently joined his regiment. Mr. Sweesy's second marriage was to Elizabeth King, the mother of our subject. She was born in Lawrence County, Pa., her father being a farmer in that county. To her and her husband were born two children - Mathias V. and Alcinous Y. She makes her home with the former in San Bernardino, Cal., and is now sixty-nine years old.

Our subject remained on the old homestead, where he had first opened his eyes to the light of day, until he was eight years old. His father then removed to Andrew, where our subject attended school until the return of the family to the farm. In 1868 his father took up his residence in Mt. Vernon, that his children might have higher educational advantages, and our subject became a student in the preparatory department of Mt. Vernon College. He remained in that institution until his sophomore year, in 1873, and in the spring went to Halstead, the town his father had just founded in Kansas, and there he and his brother engaged in the hotel business two and one-half years. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Sweesy returned to Perry to take charge of his father's farm. He managed the place until 1877, and then bought 190 acres of it, 150 lying on section 6 and forty on section 7, and here has ever since been successfully engaged in general farming. He has made many valuable improvements, has set out a fine orchard, has erected a windmill, tank, etc. The farm is watered by Spring Branch, and it is provided with a good set of buildings, including a commodious house 30 x 36 feet, and a barn 36 x 46 feet. Mr. Sweesy devotes much of his time to raising stock, and has one of the finest herds of Red-polled, full-blooded cattle, twenty-five in number, to be found in the county. He has full-blooded Berkshire hogs, and from twelve to fifteen Norman and Clyde horses, two teams for working his farm.

Mr. Sweesy was married in Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa, Sept. 26, 1877 to Miss Phoebe Leggett, and to them five children have been born - Luella, Frank G., Walter J., Harry and George T. Mrs. Sweesy is a daughter of George and Mary A. (James) Leggett, natives of Norfolkshire, England. Thomas James, her maternal grandfather, came to America, and locating in Rutland County, Vt., resided there until his death. Mr. Leggett, the father of our subject, was born near Win Farthing, in the aforementioned shire, and when a young man he came to America. After spending a short time in Canada he crossed the border into Vermont, and settling in Rutland County engaged in farming there until 1866, when he removed to Iowa. He established his home near Independence, and owning a farm of 200 acres was engaged in farming there until his death, in September, 1885. He was a strong partisan of the Republican party, and was in every respect a good citizen. Mrs. Sweesy's mother is still living in Independence, and is now sixty-seven years old. Eight children were born of her marriage - John A., William (dead), Phoebe, James, Frances, Emma, George, and Alice. John and William each served three years in the late war, and were members of the 37th Massachusetts Infantry. William was killed at Sailors' Run, near Appomattox Court House, April 7, 1864. Mrs. Sweesy was born in Fairhaven, Rutland Co., Vt., Aug. 18, 1852, and was fourteen years old when she came with her parents to Iowa. She received fine educational advantages, and was a student for two years at the Hopkinton College, in Delaware County. After leaving college she taught school very successfully some seven or eight years. She is a lady of true culture, and her home is a centre of attraction for her and her husband's numerous friends.

Mr. Sweesy is a man of superior intelligence and education, whose well-trained intellect enables him to cope successfully with the problems that confront the agriculturist of today, who would conduct his farming operations in conformity with the most scientific and approved methods. He is a man, honest, straightforward and even dealing, and he has held various positions of public trust solely through merit, discharging his duties with characteristic fidelity. He has been Township Trustee five years, School Director some ten years, and has been Supervisor of the road. He is one of the leading Republicans of this part of the county, and has been a delegate to county conventions. Socially, he is identified with the A. O. U. W. at Andrew.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)