This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Sweet Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/AW.2ADI/1300.1 Message Board Post: Could this be one of your Sweets . . . From the History of Humboldt County, California - 1915 GEORGE WILLIAM SWEET: Among the prosperous men in the Eel river section of Humboldt county is GW Sweet, who was born in Hants County, Nova Scotia, November 8, 1840, the son of John Sweet, also a native of Nova Scotia and a very successful farmer all his life. Mr. Sweet received his education in the public schools of his native country until thirteen years of age, when he left school to enter the ship yards of the vicinity, taking up the trade of ship carpenter. He did not serve an apprenticeship, but entered at once into the activity of carpenter and at this trade worked for eleven years. He was steadily employed by one company for seven years, by Church-Hill Company for two years and the reaming two years for other companies in the district. At one time he was carpenter on the barque Gazelle, but gave this position up to come to California. In 1869 Mr. Sweet came to Humboldt County and followed his profession in the ship yards, but in a few years he went to Bunker Hill, where for a time he engaged in building. While there he became desirous of engaging in farming and dairying for himself, and accordingly he rented the Lone Star ranch on Bear river from Joseph Russ. In the fall of 1869 he leased a ranch of 1,000 acres, and entered actively into farming and dairying. All of the cattle on the ranch were unbroken to domesticity and had to be broken to milk, an undertaking that took considerable time, but he persevered and succeeded in breaking them all, from which he selected a good herd of one hundred cows. After running the place for eleven years he gave it up, having purchased a ranch in 1882 of one hundred thirty acres of land on Pleasant Point. Of this only a few acres were improved, but the remainder being covered with dense growth of brush and timber, but this tract he ultimately cleared and improved. ! He was one of the first men in the vicinity of Grizzly Bluff to engage in dairying, and today his dairy is the model for all the valley to copy. In 1900 he purchased ten acres of land on the main road to Grizzly Bluff, upon which he built a fine home, which today is one of the best in the county. Later he purchased fifty acres adjoining the original purchase and to this small ranch he ha retired from all active labors, having rented the old home place, for he prefers to live on the smaller ranch in the neighborhood of Grizzly Bluff. He is one of the founders of the Grizzly Bluff creamery, and has been one of the directors ever since its organization. When they first operated the creamery they made their own butter and during this time Mr. Sweet was manager of all the affairs pertaining to the creamery. He was made a Mason in Ferndale Lodge No. 193, F&AM in 1875, and was exalted in Ferndale Chapter No. 78 RAM in 1897. He has always been interested in Republican politic! s and takes an active part in all matters for the good of the communit y. In Nova Scotia, November 28,1867, he married Mary Jane Fox, also a native of Nova Scotia and the daughter of Oliver Fox, a successful wheelwright of the province. They were blessed with seven children, namely: Harry G., a rancher near Ferndale; Maggie May, deceased; Sarah Inez, Mrs. Edeline, of Grizzly Bluff; Irene Amelia, at home; George A., deceased; Ralph Elmer, on the home place; and Mary Blanche, Mrs. Anderson. Mr Sweet has been very successful since coming to Humboldt County and is one o the leading men of his community. Hope this helps! Judy Senn Miller Eureka, Humboldt County, California