My Genealogy Hound

HON. JOHN B. SWEETLAND, M. D., a successful medical practitioner of Edwardsburgh, Cass County, Mich., is also the able editor of the Argus. Engaged in the complex duties of professional life, he has likewise discharged with efficiency the obligations of public office. Our subject was born in Dryden Township, Tompkins County, N. Y., July 4, 1834, his parents being James and Frances (Wakely) Sweetland. The paternal grandfather, John Sweetland, whose ancestors emigrated from England to the United States in the Colonial days, was a Revolutionary soldier and fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. His home was in the State of Vermont, and amid the Green Mountains he reared five sturdy sons: John, William, Bowen, James and George. He also had one daughter. The father of our subject, born in Rutland, Vt., early located in New York, where he cleared and improved a farm of over two hundred acres. He died upon his homestead in 1862, aged seventy-three years. His wife passed away in 1863 in Michigan. James Sweetland served as a Lieutenant in the War of 1812. He was in politics a Democrat and in early life was a strong Abolitionist. Six sons and two daughters who blessed his home survive. Jervis, of Anthony, Kan., was the eldest-born; Lafayette lives in Dryden; Angus is next; George J. is in New York; William W. served as Adjutant in Scott’s Nine Hundred; John B., the youngest, is our subject. The daughters are Evaline A. and Sarah G. The parents were active and influential members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Father Sweetland was a counselor, a true friend and a peace-maker among his neighbors.

Dr. Sweetland received a good common-school education in central New York. He taught school three terms during the winter months, and being an ambitious and enterprising young man, he resolved to fit himself for a profession, and began the study of medicine. In 1859 he entered upon a course of lectures in the University of Buffalo, and also studied under Dr. Aldrich. During the spring of 1861 he graduated with honor and received his degree of M. D. In 1862 he enlisted in Company M, Fourth Michigan Infantry, as private, and after the battle of Perryville was detailed as surgeon. He remained at Lebanon until the spring of 1863, when he was sent to Louisville, where he had charge of a ward until the close of the war. Dr. Sweetland had charge of the surgical cases nine months. While employed in this capacity he received from his patients a case of fine surgical implements — a precious souvenir of those troublous days. The attendants of the branch of Clay Hospital were also among the donors who thus exhibited their appreciation of the valuable services of our subject. After an examination at Cincinnati, the Doctor on reaching Louisville received a commission as Assistant Surgeon, and in the fall of 1864 was given his honorable discharge from the service of the Government.

In 1861, our subject drove from his native State to Coldwater, Mich., and at the close of the war made his permanent home in Edwardsburgh, where he has been actively and constantly engaged in professional duties ever since. Dr. Sweetland takes a high place in the social and professional life and is a valued member of the County Medical Society. In the spring of 1879, he bought the Edwardsburgh Argus and has since prosperously conducted this spicy and readable paper, which enjoys an extended circulation in Cass County, having over six hundred regular subscribers. The paper, at first neutral in politics, has for the past ten years been a strong temperance organ. In the fall of 1874, Dr. Sweetland was elected upon the Republican ticket to the Legislature of Michigan. He gave excellent service as a member of important committees and materially advanced the interests of his constituents. In 1880, he was a delegate to the Temperance convention which nominated St. John, and has pluckily made the race for the Legislature, Senate and Congress on the Temperance ticket. Dr. Sweetland enjoys the comforts and luxuries of a pleasant home on the banks of Pleasant Lake.

The accomplished wife of our subject was Miss Frances Bacon, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Van Arny) Bacon. The lovely home has been blessed by the birth of four children: Jennie, LeRoy B., Eva and John. The latter was killed by a fall at the age of eight years. Mrs. Sweetland is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is active in the social and religious work of that denomination. Dr. Sweetland is a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and affiliates also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Actively engaged in the practical duties of his medical profession and devoting much time to the Argus, he is a busy man, but is never too hurried to lend his personal presence and influence to further all enterprises tending to local advancement and the promotion of the public welfare.